Polly: A 21st Century Love Story Loving more than one person. Is that allowed?
POLLY is a story of what it takes to learn to love yourself. We’ve all been there. Polly knows she loves her boyfriend. And her girlfriend. And polyamory has been around as long as Morning Glory*. So why won’t the anxiety go away? A wedding invite might be the chance to fix things. But how do you get your girlfriend to a family wedding when everyone expects your boyfriend to attend?
With an STD (a Save The Date), family drama, a run through the rain, and an unwanted proposal, POLLY invites us to experience the orgasmic highs and heart-stopping lows of one person’s journey to acceptance. Did we mention both partners show up to the wedding?
Punctuated by Polly’s internal monologue, led by her mam Tina, get ready to laugh, cry and question your preconceptions in this “gorgeously authentic, laugh-out-loud exploration of unconventional relationships.”
*thanks to Wikipedia for this double entendre.
What people are saying
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“Polly is a heart-warming, hilarious journey, full of queer poly joy!”
Vaults Audience 2023
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“A rare treat. Funny, heartfelt and original!”
Canal Café Audience 2023
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“It felt like how a musical should feel - familiar but fresh.”
Hope Mill Audience 2023
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“The natural comedy made a topic like polyamory more accessible.”
Hope Mill Audience 2023
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“Unique and deserves a place on the stage.”
Hope Mill Audience 2023
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“Brilliant fun- gimme more!”
Canal Café Audience 2023
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“Amazing songs and music, the actors were all incredible and this is a show that everyone needs to see!”
Canal Café Audience 2023
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“Powerful yet not preachy.”
Hope Mill Audience 2023
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“What a gift to be handed characters and melodies that are so specific and detailed and music that feels so fresh and yet dripping in cultural influences. Polly might just be my new favourite musical.”
Workshop Cast 2024
Creatives
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Joe Tapper
MUSIC & LYRICS
Acting credits include Alfie (BAFTA-winning HOW TO GET AN ABORTION - E4) and Romeo (ROMEO AND JULIET - outdoors at Dartmouth Castle).
Joe Tapper (he/him) is a writer and creative who is passionate about making stories accessible. Originally from a working class, single-parent household, and now living in South West London, Joe has worked as an actor, poet, teacher and marketing manager.
Joe trained on the BA Acting Course at Italia Conti and received a First Class degree with Honours. During this time, he finished a version of Act One of his first musical, Alibretto.
Since then, his writing has been performed at scratch nights and cabarets across London. He is currently an Associate Artist with Anthroplay Theatre.
At his teaching work for Italia Conti Associates Guildford, he has co-written, directed and produced an acting showcase for 60+ students.
In 2023, he composed and co-wrote the lyrics for a song in Aidan Sadler’s 5-star show, MELODY, which played at theSpace for the Edinburgh Fringe before transferring to the Pleasance in London.
He has also recently completed the first year Composer & Lyricist BML workshop course.
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Natalie Durkin
BOOK
Acting credits include Ellie (EXISTENTIAL FISH AND DREAD), 2 (ULTIMATUM), and Woman 2 (I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE) and Chicken (TWIX).
Natalie Durkin (she/her) is an award winning creative and writer who is passionate about truthful storytelling. As a queer polyamorous multidisciplinary creative, originally from the North East and now living in North West London, Natalie has worked as a singer, producer, actor, stand up and teacher across the arts.
Natalie’s first foray into producing was a female led comedy festival ‘Standing Ovariation’ in 2016 which she took to Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022.
In 2019 Natalie co-produced Sa female led arts festival consisting of 10 venues over 30 days - championing female led work.
When not producing Natalie can be found in The Room Where It Happens (the UK’s Marie Crisis) as a host as well as regularly appearing in What Would Julie Do? a 5* cabaret therapy show.
In 2023 Natalie won Pegasus New Comedian of the Year Award at Edinburgh fringe for her show Angles of the North, which was met with great acclaim.
"She owns the room...a voice that drops jaws." - **** The Scotsman
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Amy Anders Corcoran
DIRECTOR
AMY ANDERS CORCORAN (Director) currently has a brand new adaptation of DISNEY THE LITTLE MERMAID on the Disney Wish, recently directed BEAUTIFUL at The Olney Theatre, WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME at KC Rep and the world premiere of CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT for Goodspeed Musicals. She was the associate director of ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE for Christopher Ashley on Broadway and she directed the national tour. Amy also directed versions of Mr. Ashley's FREAKY FRIDAY for the Alley and Cleveland Playhouse. Amy helmed the NYC off-Broadway and London premieres of UNEXPECTED JOY and received the SDC Noël Coward Fellowship for Comedic Direction.
Upcoming projects/works in development include: THE JOURNAL OF ADAM AND EVE, SENIOR CLASS, POLLY, TEACHER OF THE YEAR, and BEAUTIFUL (The Olney). A proud member of SDC, Amy has worked at Asolo Rep, ACT in San Francisco, The Guthrie, Cal Shakes, many projects for NAMT, and often with Aria Entertainment in London. Amy holds a B.A. in Psychology with Honors from the University of Kansas and an M.F.A. in Directing from Penn State.
You can find out more about Amy on her website at amyanderscorcoran.com
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Bronagh Lagan
CONCERT DIRECTOR
Originally from Northern Ireland, Bronagh is an award winning director. She has directed around the world, working on; Classical texts, Musicals, New Writing, Physical Theatre, Outdoor Theatre and Site-Specific productions.
Bronagh is the director of Olivier nominated play Cruise by Jack Holden which ran for 4 weeks at The Duchess Theatre and was the first new play to open the West End after the pandemic. Cruise returned to the Apollo Theatre, West End for another sell out run. She also directed a film version of the show in Shoreditch Town Hall's Ditch which won an ONCOMM award for Best Recorded Show.
Most recently she directed the award-winning London premier of Flowers for Mrs Harris by Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff. Starring the Olivier Award-winning and Tony nominated Jenna Russell with new orchestrations by Jason Carr.
You can find out more about Bronagh on her website.
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Chris Darby
PRODUCER for Daddy’s Money
Chris (he/they) is flattered to appear in a list next to these incredibly talented people, and is delighted to be bringing their first musical from development to the stage. Chris has previously produced Small Town Boys (Union Street Theatre) and Eurovision Your Decision ‘23 (Kings Head Theatre) as well as stint as Technical Director at Overtures (now The Room Where It Happens).
I’m incredibly excited to be rekindling my love of creating theatre with such a talented team. Huge thanks to Thomas, my long suffering fiancee, and my furry child, Bramble.
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In the press
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The Londonist
Things to do this week in London
Feb 10, 2025
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Broadway World
Jan 23, 2025
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West End Best Friend
Jan 23, 2025
Production team
Those who make theatre know that not only does it take a village to raise a child, it takes blood, sweat, tears, deep pockets, and a good sense of humour to raise a musical. We are all indebted to the love, support and encouragement from these wonderful people, all of whom have given their time, money and sage wisdom freely, for which we are truly grateful.
With special thanks to
Leonie Schleising, Harry Drummond, Chris Lyne, Jess Nesling, Josie Ashdown, Danielle Diaz Reales, Jackie Pulford, Barry Keenan, Abey Bradbury, Laura Bird, Madi MacMahon, Tina Smith, Charles Blythe, Dan Hall, Julia Hamilton Burke, Sarah Dorsett, Randy Smartnick, Dan Urch , Lauren Wilson, Kareem Alexander, Catherine Milsom, Lauren Ward, Colin Savage, Will Thompson Brant, Eleanor Rattenbury, Irene Sankoff, Dave Cribb, Maddie Hansen, Alec Jordan.
The teams at Phoenix Arts Club, Canal Cafe, Into the Works, Hope Mill, MMD, Julie the Musical, The Room Where It Happens and the Old Diorama Theatre.