‘I am passionate about bringing new audiences to musical theatre and challenging them’: Maimuna Memon’s Manic Street Creature arrives at Southwark Playhouse

Anybody who saw the multi-Oliver Award-winning Standing at the Sky’s Edge either in Sheffield or at the National Theatre (transferring to the West End’s Gillian Lynne Theatre on 8 February 2024) will know MAIMUNA MEMON. Her Olivier-nominated performance as Nikki was a standout – and her performance of Richard Hawley’s ‘Open Up Your Door’ was astonishing in its power and clarity. Truly unforgettable.

Now lucky London can experience Maimuna’s multi-award-winning show Manic Street Creature at Southwark Playhouse Borough for a strictly limited run. In 2022 the production was a big hit at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning numerous awards, including The Fringe First, the Mental Health Fringe Award and The Stage Debut Fringe Award.

Here Maimuna is in conversation with Musical Theatre Review’s contributor Tina Foote.

What’s Manic Street Creature all about?

This is a personal story – straight from my heart. It is the most important story I have ever written. It was born during the pandemic and resonates still today. It focuses on mental health, but this time, the toll upon carers. Secondary traumatic stress exists, but I did not know about this before I embarked on this project. It’s a subject not often addressed on stage or screen. There is so little understanding of, and support for carers, who in turn are supporting family and friends battling mental health issues. Where do these people go? Who can they turn to when they are forced to admit: I cannot do this anymore; I cannot fix this?

When I discovered I was not alone in taking on the trauma of others – that this was a real thing – it was such a relief that I had to write this piece because it’s such an important story to tell.

You have written book, music and lyrics, plus you are performing for the full 75 minutes on stage, supported by two other performers. How does it feel to be performing your own work?

Performing this show gives me a sense of catharsis and release. Each night resonates differently with me: a different audience and different elements of the show that I connect with, there and then. It is one of the most creatively rewarding, but exhausting, things that I have ever done. Because it is so personal, there is a real need for my own self-care – both psychologically and physiologically – as the focus is upon me. I have no understudy – without me, the show does not happen – so I need to stay well and monitor myself: sleep; eat well, exercise, and my own therapy too.

This is a Concept Album Musical. It is unashamedly musical theatre. People are often afraid to describe their work as musical theatre, as they fear the prejudices that exist. But I am passionate about bringing new audiences to MT and challenging them. When people say I don’t like MT, I would ask them, do you like music? Because there is always a show for you. Manic has a folk, indie pop vibe, but it is not a gig. There is a strong narrative – it tells a story – it is theatre. Music can say what words cannot say. Theatre is a shared experience that brings people together. When music is combined with theatre, the stories we are able to communicate are so powerful.

I am really looking forward to sharing this with a new and larger audience at Southwark and connecting with this subject matter and story. At Edinburgh, one of the most moving experiences for me was the audience members coming and talking to me afterwards, because my story had echoed so strongly with them.’

This is part of Southwark Playhouse’s 30th anniversary celebration programme. Arguably this material could be described as dark. What does it celebrate?

Yes, the subject is dark, but I always seek to find the light in the shade. I have my own Northern humour influences, so I keep it light wherever possible – until it’s not. This show celebrates looking after yourself and loving yourself. You can find the balance between looking after those you care for; honouring your own humanity; and yet still protect yourself by establishing clear boundaries.

You are a much-lauded performer, and you also write. What next for you?

I love my multi-faceted career. Having a diverse skillset helps me to balance the uncertainty of this industry. I have agency when I write. It empowers me and gives me greater creative control. I have written music and lyrics for Portia Coghlan, currently running at the Almeida Theatre. I enjoy combining theatre-making, writing and performing. I’d like to continue this trajectory and write a bigger scale musical. I just love doing new and challenging things!

I’d also love to do a traditional musical. It’s my dream to play Dot, in Sunday in the Park With George.

[Producers, please take note, as I and many others would love to see this!]

• Manic Street Creature continues at London’s Southwark Playhouse Borough until 11 November 2023.
• There is a free after show Q&A on Thursday 26 October, hosted by Tyrone Huntley (Olivier Award nominee and Evening Standard Award winner for Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). The panel includes actor Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education); actor/writer Nell Hudson (Outlander); Dan Gillespie Sells (award-winning songwriter and front person, The Feeling); alongside Jane Caro, associate director for the Mental Health Foundation; as well as Maimuna Memon herself.

Over the past year, Maimuna has been releasing music alongside the build-up to the London debut of Manic Street Creature. Three out of the four tracks on her upcoming EP, More Than I Bargained For, were originally conceived for the show, including the final track ‘Father of Mine’ which didn’t make the final cut of the show, but its themes are ever present. Maimuna first made her mark in the theatre world when she wrote music and lyrics for the sell-out gig theatre show Electrolyte which took the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by storm in 2018 and 2019.