The acclaimed writing team behind Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Kit Buchan and Jim Barne, return with a bold new musical, Mona Loser, set to debut in workshop performances at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 16–19 July 2025.
Inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Mona Loser explores themes of viral fame, identity, and the monsters we create in the digital age.
The production is directed by Tim Jackson and produced by Tim Johanson Productions in association with Birmingham Hippodrome, whose New Musical Theatre Department supports the development of this original British musical.
Melanie-Joyce Bermudez will take on the title role of Mona in the workshop performances.
Bermudez’s previous credits include Love’s Labour’s Lost (RSC) and King Lear (Wyndham’s Theatre).
Writers Kit Buchan and Jim Barne said:
“We’re delighted to be premiering Mona Loser in this special workshop production. It’s a show about the pop industry, personas, and the stories we spin – and we can’t wait to see how it connects with a live audience.”
Director Tim Jackson added:
“I am thrilled to be directing the first-ever workshop presentation of Mona Loser. This work-in-progress sharing is a rare opportunity to experience a brand-new musical in its earliest form – alive, raw, and evolving. Kit and Jim have been busy creating something very special, full of their trademark wit, heart, and flair, and I’m delighted to be back working with them.”
All tickets are priced at £20, making this a unique opportunity for audiences to witness the early stages of a potentially groundbreaking new musical.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
