Hot Mess - The Other Palace

Hot Mess returns after a successful run at last year's Edinburgh Fringe and Southwark Playhouse last autumn, now playing at The Other Palace, welcoming back Danielle Steers in the role of the Earth alongside newcomer Morgan Gregory as Humanity. It is a brilliantly written love story between Earth and Humanity, and more than that, it carries the powerful message that we have but one Earth and it is our duty to look after its wellbeing.

I absolutely loved this show. Despite the songs being somewhat repetitive in beat and melody, many of the tunes are infectiously catchy and the performances are stunning. Danielle Steers delivers an exceptional performance as the sassy queen that is the Earth -from the very first lyric, she has the audience laughing out loud. She has been given a very strong book to work with, but it would not land nearly as well without her impeccable comic timing.

Photography: Pamela Raith

Complementing her is Morgan Gregory who, as Humanity, very much brings to mind Dougal from Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York). He is loveable, goofy, and very funny - until it all shifts, and that is where Gregory's choices become truly impeccable. He draws us wholeheartedly into his world, and when his greed inevitably becomes too much for Earth to bear, he responds with a disarming sweetness that he is "only human."

These two are a genuine power couple on stage, their dynamic thriving on the contrast between Gregory's endearing goofiness and Steers' razor-sharp sass.

Hot Mess is a collaborative piece between Jack Godfrey, who has established himself as a significant name in the industry through hit musicals 42 Balloons and Babies, and Ellie Coote, who directed 42 Balloons and here takes on both the direction and the book. The result is something complex that feels effortlessly simple to its audience, making its political agenda all the more digestible within an thoroughly entertaining piece.

Photography: Pamela Raith

The overall design is equally impressive. The stage is bathed predominantly in neon lighting designed by Ryan Joseph Stafford, which lends the production a strangely otherworldly atmosphere. The costumes by Sarah Mercadé are modern and considered, with Earth draped in airy fabrics and soft tones while Humanity is clothed in outfits with a distinctly more industrial edge. The set has also evolved since its previous productions, whilst remaining simplistic and entirely practical, giving everyone in the audience a great view.

Hot Mess is the kind of show that sneaks up on you. You arrive expecting a fun night out and leave carrying something weightier, a genuine reckoning with what we owe the planet we call home. Godfrey and Coote have crafted something that is simultaneously joyful and urgent, and with Steers and Gregory at its heart, it absolutely soars. I expected a lot from this show, and whilst some of the songs do remain slightly forgettable once you leave the context of the piece, it did not disappoint.

Production Value: 85%

Value For Money: 90%

Personal Enjoyment: 95%

Overall Score: 90% - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5*)

(AD | gifted in exchange for an honest review)

Show Information

Venue: The Other Palace, London

Playing Until: 6th September 2026

Run Time: Approximately 1h25

Tickets can be purchased from this link.