Following a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Hot Mess has made its way to Southwark Playhouse Elephant, bringing with it a wave of critical acclaim and audience enthusiasm. At the heart of this climate-crisis rom-com is Danielle Steers, whose performance has captivated crowds and helped cement the show’s reputation as one of the most exciting new musicals of the year.
Steers’ journey into theatre began early. “I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember,” she says. “My parents used to take me down to the local pub and I used to hide in the corner and sing on the karaoke. I just loved it.” From amateur dramatics at age ten to training at SLP College in Yorkshire, Steers’ path to the West End was forged through passion and persistence. “I got an agent in my third year and the rest is history really.”
Their involvement with Hot Mess began with a single song. “I had an email from Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote asking me to sing one of their songs in a new writing show,” Steers explains. “I ended up singing ‘What Did You Expect?’ – which Toby now sings in the show – and I thought I’d ruined it. I left thinking, well, that’s the end of that.” But the creative team clearly saw something special, and Steers was later invited to take part in a workshop. “I just fell in love with it doing that workshop. They asked me to do Edinburgh Fringe and I wasn’t sure I could make it work, because I have a child, but they made it work for me, and I’m so glad they did.”
Edinburgh Fringe was a first for Danielle, and an unforgettable experience. “I didn’t really know what to expect. I took my son with me, and he was with a babysitter while I was doing the show, which was scary. But we had a lovely time. It’s just so mad, the getting in, being in a little port-a-cabin, grabbing your costumes, doing the show, getting out. The team were incredible at making it work.”
The show quickly became one of the breakout hits of the festival, and was winner of Theatre Weekly’s Best of the Fest for Best Musical. “We sold out in the first week,” Danielle says. “I think people were intrigued; it’s about the climate crisis but it’s a rom-com. There was so much hype before we’d even opened. Jack and Ellie are such an incredible duo, and word of mouth just spread. We were spoiled, really.”
Hot Mess is a two-hander, with Steers performing alongside Tobias Turley. “Toby is amazing,” she says. “To start with, I was a little apprehensive, what if we don’t get on? But we clicked straight away. He’s up for anything, and because there’s only two of us, we had a lot of creative input. It was a really nice, relaxed rehearsal space.”
The show’s unique approach to storytelling is part of its charm. “It’s so wacky, it hasn’t been done before,” Danielle says. “When I first read the script I was unsure. It seemed niche, but it’s so funny that you sort of forget what it’s about. It never preaches, it never puts it in your face. It makes you think, but not because it’s pushing it onto you.”
That relatability is key. “People see themselves in our characters. Everyone’s going through it; climate-wise, relationship-wise. It’s universal, and that’s what makes it so special.”
The score, composed by Jack Godfrey, has also struck a chord with audiences. “The songs are very catchy,” Danielle laughs. “Even doing the workshop, I was singing them for weeks afterwards. Jack’s a genius.” Asked to pick a favourite, Danielle says, “It changes all the time, but I’d have to go with ‘My House’. I love Toby’s ‘Tomorrow’ too, it’s an earworm.”
The transfer to Southwark Playhouse Elephant was announced early in the Edinburgh run, and Danielle was thrilled. “I was so excited. People need to see this show, I thought, it can’t be the end. Audiences in London have been great, and everyone seems to be loving it.”
The move to a new venue brought some changes. “Some of the script was rewritten based on what we learned from Edinburgh,” Danielle explains. “The staging had to change too because we’re on three sides at Southwark. It’s quite a hard house to play, but it’s such an intimate space, you want to bring the audience in.”
With the London run being short, Danielle Steers has a clear message for anyone considering a visit: “You’re going to feel a roller coaster of emotions. You’ll come out with new favourite tunes, you might learn something, but ultimately you’re just going to have a really lovely, silly time. Come and see the show.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
