Workshop Review: Polly: A 21st Century Love Story at The Other Palace Studio
An early industry workshop presents an ambitious new musical exploring polyamory, identity and family expectation, revealing both clear promise and areas still taking shape.
The matinee industry workshop of Polly: A 21st Century Love Story at The Other Palace Studio offered an intentionally stripped-back introduction to a new musical still in development. A bare stage, black curtain and performers in everyday clothes, scripts in hand, placed the emphasis firmly on writing, music and performance. Without production elements to guide response, the material stood exposed, making it possible to see what is already connecting and where further shaping may follow.
The audience was largely industry, and the response in the room was supportive and engaged, with a clear appetite to see how the piece might develop. The workshop format created space for the material to be tested without distraction.
Written by Natalie Durkin, with music and lyrics by Joe Tapper and direction by Amy Anders Corcoran, the musical centres on Polly, a plus-sized, polyamorous woman living in London. The story begins with an invitation to her cousin Emily’s wedding. Polly is expected to attend with her long-term boyfriend Adam. Instead, she chooses to bring her girlfriend, Jen. The premise carries the outline of romantic comedy, yet the tension lies in Polly’s decision to stop moderating herself to meet family expectation.
Durkin brings thoughtfulness to the role. Polly’s instinct to delay difficult conversations is drawn with specificity, grounding the character in recognisable behaviour. The relationship between Polly and her father becomes one of the more affecting strands of the piece, particularly as his support shifts from private reassurance to open advocacy.
The ensemble is a clear strength. There is ease between the performers, and the musical numbers are delivered with assurance. Molly Lynch stands out as Emily, combining vocal control with emotional clarity that registers even in workshop conditions.
The central shift in Polly’s romantic life remains the area that would benefit from further development. Her movement from a stable relationship with Adam into a broader polyamorous dynamic involving Jen, who has additional partners, is thematically ambitious. At present, the emotional turning point arrives quickly. Scenes such as the shibari class suggest discovery, but the internal reasoning behind Polly’s change could be more fully articulated. Adam is not depicted as overtly restrictive, which adds nuance, yet it also means Polly’s motivation needs sharper definition to feel fully earned.
Some secondary characters are still lightly sketched. Polly’s mother, in particular, functions more as opposition than as a fully dimensional presence. This reads as a question of depth rather than structure and is likely to evolve as the script develops.
As an industry workshop, Polly: A 21st Century Love Story presents a musical with a clear point of view and a creative team invested in its trajectory. The material is still forming, but there is enough confidence in its themes and performances to suggest meaningful potential as development continues.
More information: https://pollymusical.com/
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
