Casting has been announced for public workshops of Mona Loser, a new musical from the creators of Two Strangers that explores themes of viral fame and identity within the music industry.

The musical Mona Loser features a score by Kit Buchan and Jim Barne, under the direction of Tim Jackson. Inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, it sets its narrative in the contemporary music world, examining issues of fakery and the impact of viral culture.

The workshops for Mona Loser follow earlier developmental presentations at Southwark Playhouse Borough in 2025 and more recently at Birmingham Hippodrome. These sessions provide audiences with an opportunity to see the musical in progress.

The cast for the workshops includes Natasha Merchant, Zoe Birkbeck, Jake Stewart, and Ruth Crafer. The project is supported by the Birmingham Hippodrome’s New Musical Theatre Department, highlighting its commitment to nurturing new work.

Mona Loser represents a continuation of the creative team’s engagement with new musical theatre, following their previous production Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). The workshops allow the team to refine the piece ahead of further development.