Picture: Mark Senior
Hot Mess, playing at Pleasance Two at Pleasance Courtyard, has won Musical Theatre Review’s Best Musical Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025.
Created by the award-winning creative duo behind 42 Balloons, Jack Godfrey (music and lyrics) and Ellie Coote (book and director), the high-energy original romcom musical examines the heart of the tempestuous relationship between Earth and Humanity.
West End performers Danielle Steers and Tobias Turley star as Earth and Humanity respectively in the show which reimagines the climate crisis as a story of love, hope and the ultimate break-up.
Edinburgh editor Fiona Orr who led the team of judges said: “The team were deeply impressed by the wonderful score and sharp, witty script. Directed with great assurance, it’s no surprise the production earned full houses and standing ovations.
“We also liked the whole idea of presenting planet Earth as a woman and Humanity as a man. Played as a two-hander, it is a very effective vehicle to convey such big concepts.”
The five-star review from MTR praised the show as “a polished, fully theatre ready production that’s funny and challenging in turn”.
Hot Mess is the first Edinburgh Festival Fringe production from the UK’s only in-house New Musical Theatre Department at Birmingham Hippodrome. The new musical is presented in association with Vicky Graham Productions.
Birmingham Hippodrome has declared that its mission is “to provide that ‘goosebumps’ feeling through memorable and extraordinary experiences”. The New Musical Theatre department launched in 2023, becoming the first in-house department of its kind in the UK. The team focuses on developing musical theatre talent, alongside commissioning, presenting and producing new musicals on Hippodrome stages and beyond.
Hot Mess cast members Tobias Turley and Danielle Steers with MTR reviewer James Bryce and MTR Edinburgh editor Fiona Orr
Orr continued: “The MTR reviewing team has seen a range of work this year from commercial successes to those shows struggling to attract an audience. The importance of financial backing has never been more apparent, with spiralling accommodation and venue costs.
“In an increasingly fragile financial world, 2025 has seen a steep increase in smaller casts and shorter runs for Festival Fringe shows. Competition for audiences is sharper than ever, making support from venues and media more valuable in the battle to be ‘seen’.
“Birmingham Hippodrome’s New Musical Theatre department is proof that there are green shoots of support appearing.”
Hot Mess will run at London’s Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 16 October to 8 November 2025, following its Edinburgh dates at Pleasance Courtyard.
Musical Theatre Review editor Lisa Martland added: “It is a privilege to highlight musical theatre across the Festival Fringe every August. We look forward to seeing how Hot Mess develops in the future. Not forgetting the shortlisted productions, it’s fascinating to see new talent progress.
“The MTR team (Fiona Orr, Steven Wren, Molly Glenn, James Bryce and Charlotte Purkis) has reviewed more than 50 productions this year so we know there is a lot to be celebrated around the future of musical theatre.”
Joining the Hot Mess creative team alongside 42 Balloons creative duo Ellie Coote and Jack Godfrey are Paul Gatehouse (sound designer), Joe Beighton (musical supervisor and co-orchestrator), Alexzandra Sarmiento (movement director), Shankho Chaudhuri (set and costume designer), Ryan Joseph Stafford (lighting designer), Issie Osborne (musical director), Deirdre O’Halloran (dramaturg), Lex Kaby (intimacy director), Charlie Smith (associate sound designer), Caroline Mirfin (costume supervisor), James Ashfield (producer), Vicky Graham for Vicky Graham Productions (executive producer), Finlay Carroll (assistant producer), Callie Barter (Stage One trainee producer), Emily Humphrys (deputy stage manager) and Christopher Ball and Emily Obasohan (production managers), with casting by Pearson Casting CDG.
Previous winners of Musical Theatre Review’s Best Musical Award include A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) (2017); Sparks, The Half Moon Shania (2018); Islander: A New Musical (2019); On Your Bike, Belfast (2021); Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder (2022) and A History of Paper (2024).
The other shows shortlisted for the award were: The Queen is Mad (Studio at Zoo Southside – Special Commendation, see separate story), 1457, The Boy at Rest (Studio One at Assembly George Square Studios), Driving in Circles (McIntosh at Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower), Footballers’ Wives (Music Hall at Assembly Rooms), Girlz (Jade Studio @ Greenside @ George Street), How to Win Against History (Udderbelly at Underbelly, George Square), Nerds (Cowbarn at Underbelly, Bristo Square), Ohio (Upstairs at Assembly Roxy) and World’s Greatest Lover (Pleasance One at Pleasance Courtyard).
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NEWS: Shortlist revealed for Musical Theatre Review’s Best Musical Award at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025.
REVIEW: Hot Mess at Pleasance Two at Pleasance Courtyard.
SHARE THIS POST:The awesome cast of @jjgodfreyy & @Ellie_Coote’s Hot Mess at @ThePleasance, @tobias_turley & @DanielleSteers, accept the Musical Theatre Review Best Musical Award at @edfringe 2025. With thanks to our Edinburgh Fringe editor @feeorr & the MTR reviewershttps://t.co/HJnesWegyg pic.twitter.com/fjmNsWiRLw
— Musical Theatre Review (@MusicalTheatreR) August 24, 2025
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