Hot Mess musical, penned by 42 Balloons team, to transfer to London

Exclusive: Hot Mess, a new romcom musical from the team behind 42 Balloons, will transfer to Southwark Playhouse Elephant following its run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The musical has book and direction by Ellie Coote and music and lyrics by Jack Godfrey, who won Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer at The Stage Debut Awards in 2024 for the WhatsOnStage Award-nominated 42 Balloons. The production is the first transfer to London from Birmingham Hippodrome’s in-house New Musical Theatre Department.

Running from 16 October to 8 November 2025, Hot Mess stars Danielle Steers and Tobias Turley. The show tells the story of Earth and Humanity as lovers, exploring the climate crisis as a relationship on the brink of collapse.

The creative team includes Joe Beighton as musical supervisor and co-orchestrator, Paul Gatehouse as sound designer, Alexzandra Sarmiento as movement director, Shankho Chaudhuri as set and costume designer, Ryan Joseph Stafford as lighting designer, Issie Osborne as musical director, Deirdre O’Halloran as dramaturg, Lex Kaby as intimacy director and Charlie Smith as associate sound designer.

Caroline Mirfin is costume supervisor, James Ashfield is producer, Vicky Graham is executive producer for Vicky Graham Productions, Finlay Carroll is assistant producer, Callie Barter is Stage One trainee producer, Emily Humphrys is deputy stage manager and Christopher Ball and Emily Obasohan are production managers. Casting is by Pearson Casting and María José Ibarbo is sound operator.

Hot Mess is produced by Birmingham Hippodrome. It was commissioned by Vicky Graham Productions who co-produce in partnership with Aria Entertainment / TRW Production. The principal supporter is Charles Holloway.

Hot Mess runs at Pleasance Courtyard at Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 30 July to 25 August before its London dates. Tickets for Southwark Playhouse Elephant go on sale today.