Tim Johanson Productions, in collaboration with Birmingham Hippodrome and Southwark Playhouse, has announced the full cast for the upcoming workshop performances of Mona Loser, a bold new musical by award-winning writing duo Kit Buchan and Jim Barne.
The workshop will run at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 16–19 July 2025.
The cast includes Melanie-Joyce Bermudez (Love’s Labour’s Lost, RSC), Ahmed Hamad (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, National Theatre), Chad Saint Louis (After the Act, Royal Court), Annabel Marlow (Muriel’s Wedding, Leicester Curve Theatre), Rumi Sutton (Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible), and Steven Webb (Shucked, Regent’s Park Theatre).
Mona Loser is a contemporary musical set in the music industry, exploring themes of viral fame, fakery, and identity. The show draws inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, reimagining the creation of modern monsters both online and off.
The musical features an original pop score by Kit Buchan and Jim Barne, and is directed by Tim Jackson. The creative team also includes Katy Richardson (Musical Director), Harriet White (Lighting Design), Rob Atkinson (Sound Design), and Olivia Laydon for Jill Green Casting (Casting Director).
“This is a sharp, satirical musical following an unsuspecting girl as she’s pushed into the spotlight to play the part of a viral sensation,” say the producers. “But as the spotlight gets hotter and DOC lurks just out of frame, the question is: how high can Mona climb—and how far can she fall?”
The workshop marks the first opportunity for audiences to experience this work-in-development. Due to overwhelming demand, a final allocation of tickets has been released today.
A video of Melanie-Joyce Bermudez performing “Dead or Alive,” a track from the show, is available to watch now.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
