Frances Ruffelle and Isy Suttie star in new musical at Southwark Playhouse

Comedian and actress Isy Suttie will make her musical theatre debut as Phyllis Pearsall, the creator of the A-Z, in a new musical at the Southwark Playhouse in February, alongside musical theatre stars Frances Ruffelle and Michael Matus.

The show, called The A-Z of Mrs P, is directed by Sam Buntrock, has a book by Diane Samuels (Kindertransport) and music and lyrics by Gwyneth Herbert. One of the songs from the show, "Lovely London Town", has won the Stiles & Drewe Best New Song Prize.

Described as a "love letter to London", it tells the story of the eccentric Phyllis Pearsall, who spent five years walking the streets of London creating the A-Z guide, and has musical arrangements by Sarah Travis, with design by Klara Ziglerova.

Diane Samuels said: "Gwyneth and I were outside the musical theatre world, and in writing and composing our take on Phyllis' journey we have faced her struggles and thrilled as she found her own feet, to create an intimate, epic work of psycho-geography that celebrates what it is to have a vision".

Isy Suttie is known for her roles in Peep Show and Shameless. She has also had several solo stand-up shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, and won the Sony Radio Academy Award for her radio show Pearl and Dave. Tony Award winner Frances Ruffelle originated the role of Eponine in Les Miserables. Her other stage credits include Piaf and Pippin. Michael Matus' theatre credits include The Sound of Music, Martin Guerre and Lend Me A Tenor.

They are joined in the cast by Stuart Matthew Price, Turlough Convery, Dawn Sievewright and Sidney Livingstone.

The A-Z of Mrs P runs at the Southwark Playhouse from 24 February to 29 March 2014 (previews from 20 February).