A joyful, contemporary new musical with romance on its own terms, Polly: A 21st Century Love Story lands at The Other Palace Studio for a spectacular one-night showcase this February. Part romantic comedy, part act of rebellion, this exciting new musical asks who gets to feel “appropriate” in family spaces, and what happens when queer people stop playing along with societies set rules.
The story begins like a classic rom-com: popcorn, sparks, and an ill-timed run-in with an old flame. But when Polly, a plus-sized, polyamorous northerner living in London, receives a wedding invite from her cousin Luke, the fantasy collides with reality. With family expectations closing in and a long-standing assumption that her boyfriend will be on her arm, Polly decides to stop editing herself and bring her girlfriend instead.
This cast will feature Natalie Durkin (Wuthering Hearts, A Studio Digital; Existential Fish and Dread, SH Productions) as Polly, with Aaron Lee Lambert (Evita, London Palladium; Hamilton, Original London Cast) as Adam. Mark Anderson (Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre; The Book of Mormon, Original West End Cast) plays Harry, alongside Adam Colbeck-Dunn (Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre; Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible) as Luke, Molly Lynch (The Sound of Music, Curve; Here We Are, National Theatre) as Emily, Claudia Kariuki (Six – The Musical, Vaudeville Theatre; Wicked, The Apollo Victoria Theatre) as Jen, Martin Callaghan (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, UK Tour; Sweeney Todd, Derby Playhouse) as David and Daniele Coombe (La Cage Aux Folles, Regent’s Park; The Witches, National Theatre) as Tina.
Written by Natalie Durkin and with music and lyrics by Joe Tapper (MELODY, The Space) and directed by Amy Anders Corcoran (SENIOR CLASS, Olney Theatre Center; THE GREAT EMU WAR, Goodspeed Musicals), Polly is a one-off musical workshop designed to introduce the piece to industry professionals, producers and the community Polly is a part of, as the team develops the show towards its next life. The workshop uses humour to interrogate authenticity, love and the politics of being seen.
Produced by Chris Darby for Daddy’s Money alongside Liam McIntosh Entertainment, with musical direction by Jordan Paul Clarke, the showcase aims to place Polly in front of industry guests, influencers and early supporters to build momentum for future development.
Writers Natalie Durkin and Joe Tapper comment, Dirks and Tapper can’t wait to workshop the musical with this phenomenal cast and creative team, and to keep building a show that feels representative, inclusive, and truly joyful. We’re so excited to finally play and explore a show we’ve poured our sweat, tears, and a lot of love into and share it with a room full of wildly talented people.