Baden Burns brings their riotous musical comedy Potty the Plant to London for its highly anticipated debut at Wilton’s Music Hall. Following two acclaimed runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, this genre-bending show promises a wild ride of music, mayhem, and mutant houseplants.
Set in a twisted children’s TV universe, Potty the Plant follows the antics of a singing, tap-dancing potted plant and the chaotic staff of Little Boo Boo’s General Hospital. With absurd humour, catchy songs, and a lovingly hand-crafted puppet, the show is a surreal theatrical experience like no other.
Potty the Plant runs from Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th June 2025 at Wilton’s Music Hall. Tickets are on sale here.
You’re starring in Potty the Plant at Wilton’s Music Hall — what can you tell us about the show?
Potty the Plant is a gloriously unhinged musical comedy set in a twisted kids’ TV hospital, where things are falling apart and no one seems qualified to fix them, especially not the singing, tap-dancing houseplant at the centre of it all. Potty’s the star of the show. But as chaos unfolds, secrets unravel, children go missing, and everything spirals into glorious musical madness. It’s absurd, with just the right amount of heartfelt.
Potty the Plant has been described as a “madcap fever dream” — what inspired the surreal world and tone of the production?
Honestly, it started with a puppet and a bad idea, and then things got out of hand. I grew up on old school musicals, but I also loved the chaotic energy of stuff like Tenacious D. Potty is the result of smashing those worlds together in the setting of a bastardised British children’s show.
You’re not only starring in the show but also directing, co-writing, and composing the music. How do you juggle all those roles?
It was done out of necessity. We are an independent theatre company so we do not have the resources to fill these roles. However, wearing all the hats means I can make sure Potty stays Potty. Plus, if something goes wrong, I’ve only got myself to blame. That, and the shoulder problems I now have due to being stuck in a box for the majority of the show.
The show blends musical theatre with irreverent comedy and puppetry. What were some of the biggest creative challenges in bringing Potty to life?
Well, all I can say is that it’s difficult to choreograph a tap number for a houseplant. One big challenge was making the show feel completely unhinged and tightly crafted. The humour of the show is ridiculous, but we believe it should come from the characters and plot. Puppetry adds its own chaos, especially when your lead character doesn’t have limbs or a spine, but still needs star power. Potty’s a diva after all.
You’ve mentioned influences like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Tenacious D — how do those inspirations show up in the music and staging?
The music is a blend of old-fashioned show tunes mixed with rock. The vibe is: sing with a smile while the hospital burns. Rocky gave us permission to get weird and theatrical, and Tenacious D taught us that dumb can still be musically tight. That sweet spot between chaos and craftsmanship is where Potty lives.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Potty the Plant?
Do it. Embrace the chaos with your friends and family. But don’t bring your kids. Potty the Plant is strange, loud, very inappropriate, and will leave you with annoying songs stuck in your head for a long time. If you’ve ever thought, “I wish musicals had more tap-dancing foliage,” this is your moment. Honestly, even if you haven’t — come anyway. It’s unlike anything else in London, and that’s kind of the point.
