New musical Mona Loser, from Two Strangers writers, to have public workshops next month – with lead cast and first listen revealed

Exclusive: A new musical by Kit Buchan and Jim Barne will be presented in workshop form at Southwark Playhouse Borough this July.

Mona Loser, set in the music industry and drawing inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, will run for four performances from 16 to 19 July 2025.

Directed by Tim Jackson, the piece features an original score by the writing duo behind Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).

Produced by Tim Johanson Productions in collaboration with Birmingham Hippodrome, the musical explores themes of viral fame, artificiality and identity in a contemporary setting. It marks the latest in a series of new British musicals supported by Birmingham Hippodrome’s New Musical Theatre department, established in 2023.

Melanie-Joyce Bermudez will appear in the title role of Mona for these workshop performances. A video has been released today of Bermudez performing a number, “Dead or Alive”, offering a sneak peek at the new show!

Full casting and creative team for the workshop is to be announced. Tickets are priced at £20 and are now on sale.

Buchan and Barne’s previous work includes Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), which opened in the West End in 2024 and is currently running an extended season at the American Repertory Theatre in Boston. Their earlier musical Catastrophe Bay was staged at Southwark Playhouse in 2023 with the National Youth Music Theatre.

Mona Loser is supported by Birmingham Hippodrome’s ongoing push to support new musical theatre, part of a broader programme of artist development and community engagement.

Tickets are available via the Southwark Playhouse website.