This is London Magazine July Edition 2026 - Flipbook - Page 32
Photo: Pamela Raith
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HOT MESS
After a billion years of bad dates,
Earth has finally found the one...
Humanity. Sparks fly. Seeds are sown.
Ground is broken. But what begins as a
passionate love affair between the
universe’s iconic couple quickly
descends into a hot mess.
Created by the award-winning duo
behind 42 Balloons, Jack Godfrey and
Ellie Coote, Hot Mess is a high-energy
original romcom that reimagines the
climate crisis as a turbulent love story
between Earth and Humanity.
Following its world premiere at the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 and
subsequent London transfer to
Southwark Playhouse last September,
Hot Mess has quickly become one of the
most exciting new British musicals,
winning a Fringe First Award, the
Popcorn Writing Award and Musical
Theatre Review’s Best Musical Award,
alongside widespread critical acclaim.
There will also be a new series of
post-show panel events and a workshop
for the musical, curated by Pollinate, a
new organisation developing musical
theatre focused on climate and nature.
Taking place as part of a limited
season until 6 September, the events –
offered free of charge to ticket holders
who sign up – will bring together artists,
theatre makers, songwriters and climate
and nature recovery leaders to explore
how musical theatre can help audiences
believe in fairer, greener futures.
Pollinate is a new UK-based
community interest company working in
partnership with leading organisations
across music, theatre and the
environmental sector. Founded on the
belief that climate change is a challenge
of culture and imagination, Pollinate
grows musicals that help audiences
move beyond anxiety or abstraction and
towards more hopeful, human ways of
engaging with climate and nature.
The partnership with Pollinate
extends the show’s conversation beyond
the stage, inviting audiences to engage
with the climate and nature themes at the
heart of Hot Mess through a series of
live post-show discussions.
Hot Mess is at the Other Palace in
Victoria. Box office: 020 7592 0302.
UNHEARD SONGS FROM
COMPOSER OF RENT
Musical fans – listen up! The Jonathan
Larson Project is a show about a young
man following his heart in New York City
trying to change the world. The show
offers a rare and exhilarating window into
Larson’s creative world, featuring
previously unheard songs from the late
composer’s archives. They illuminate the
artistry, activism, and restless imagination
of one of musical theatre’s most influential
voices.
The 2026 London production holds
special significance, marking 30 years
since Jonathan Larson’s death in January
1996 from an aortic dissection – just one
day before Rent’s first performance in New
York. This electrifying celebration of the
unknown and unheard songs of the
composer of Rent and tick, tick... BOOM!
is only the second production in the world
after the New York premiere.
Max Harwood, Marcus Collins,
Natalie Kassanga, Michael Mather,
Imelda Warren-Green, plus Georgie
Butler and Edward Flynn Haddon, were
chosen over 600 performers in an open
search led by Emmy-nominated casting
director Rob Kelly,
The show runs until 22 August at
Southwark Playhouse Borough.
The Jonathan Larson Project
Photo: Danny Kaan
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