Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! returns with new Edinburgh and tour
A new version of musical Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! is to premiere at Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August.
Written by Jon Brittain and Matthew Floyd Jones, the murder mystery musical will run at Underbelly in Edinburgh from 2 – 27 August before touring to Bristol Old Vic (13 – 30 September) and HOME Manchester (5 – 21 October).
Previously a sell out hit at Festival Fringe 2022, the original cast will reprise their roles with Bronté Barbé (Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre) as Kathy, Rebekah Hinds (Oklahoma! Young Vic/ West End) as Stella, Jodie Jacobs (Rock of Ages, West End) as Felicia, TJ Lloyd (Guys and Dolls, Sheffield Crucible) as Justin and Imelda Warren-Green (Doctor Who: Time Fracture, BBC) as Erica.
Joining them will be Jacob Kohli, Chelsea Hall and Sarah Pearson.
“This is impossible! We’ve got no motives. No suspects. We don’t know anything! Who knew solving a murder would be so hard?”
BFFs Kathy and Stella host Hull’s least successful true crime podcast. When their favourite author is killed, they are thrust into a thrilling whodunnit of their own! Can they crack the case (and become global podcast superstars) before the killer strikes again…?
The full creative team includes Fabian Aloise as Co-director and Choreographer, Cecilia Carey as Set and Costume Designer,
Tingying Dong as Co-Sound Designer, Dan Samson as Co-Sound Designer, Peter Small as Lighting Designer, Charlie Ingles as Orchestrator, Charlie Martin as Associate Director, Caitlin Morgan as Associate Musical Director, Bethany Gupwell as Associate Lighting Designer, Ed Borgnis as Production Manager, Inga Davis-Rutter as Musical Supervisor, Anna Dixon as Costume Supervisor, Charlotte King as Props Supervisor, Gillian Greer as Dramaturge, Annelie Powell as Casting Director and Alice Walters as Assistant Casting Director. The Stage Management Team will be Titch Gosling, Caoimhe Regan and Rosie Bannister. The musicians will be Laura Browne and Philip Williams.
Francesca Moody Productions, Kater Gordon, Wessex Grove and Fiery Angel present the new expanded version.
Francesca Moody said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Kater Gordon, Wessex Grove and Fiery Angel to bring back this joyful, irreverent, and side-splittingly funny musical in an expanded, ambitious new version. Returning to the Edinburgh Festival always feels like coming home for FMP and we’re delighted to be able to share Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! with audiences in the Underbelly’s The Udderbelly as well as at Bristol Old Vic and HOME, Manchester in the autumn. Jon Brittain and Matthew Floyd Jones’ have created a musical filled with ear worms and so many gags you won’t have time to take breath – we can’t wait to see you there – it would be a true crime to miss it!”
Jon Brittain and Matthew Floyd Jones added: “Considering that this has all come from a totally casual lockdown text about true crime fans, we are overwhelmed (and delighted) by how well the show went down last year. Even though a story about two podcasters sounds like it should be small, the show has always been bursting with ideas. So it’s incredibly exciting that we’re now able to scale it up to the next level! And a joy to be reunited with all the friends we made last year – not least our wonderful returning cast. So, people of Edinburgh, Bristol and Manchester, we’ll see you next murder!”
For more information and tickets, visit kathyandstella.com
