Photography: Rob Trendy This June at The Bread & Roses Theatre, prepare to be dazzled by BOMBSHELL - a bold new musical that blends Vegas glamour, eco-activism, and heartfelt romance into one unforgettable night of theatre.
Ahead of its summer run and Fringe debut, we caught up with the creative minds behind this high-octane, high-impact show to talk sequins, sustainability, and the secret at the heart of the story. Whether you're a musical lover, a climate crusader, or just in it for the drama, BOMBSHELL promises a wild ride, with a whole lot of heart (and maybe a little glitter too).
For those new to BOMBSHELL, how would you describe the show in one sentence?
BOMBSHELL is a new musical about three eco-conscious Vegas showgirls who put on environmental cabaret in their attempt to save the planet!
What inspired you to blend cabaret, climate activism, and romance in a single story?
When writing the show I was inspired by my own mother - who used to be a Las Vegas showgirl - who taught me very early on that there was no deadlier combo than a big brain and a bit of lip gloss. Similarly, we felt that the best way to discuss complicated issues such as the climate crisis was with a bit of sparkle. Plus, I’m a huge rom-com fan and had to sprinkle a bit of that in there as well!
The show centers around Scarlett and Tony’s relationship, why was their love story the heart of the narrative?
Love is a powerful thing! It can push you into action, bring you closer to yourself (or further away), and can completely reorganize your priorities. It can be used for both good & evil - and we wanted to create a story that would explore these two sides!
How do you balance the glitz of Vegas-style performance with the seriousness of environmental themes?I think the real answer to this is that we don’t! We allow those two things to bump right up against each other in order to find both the humor and the hypocrisy in the show. The hook for these girls is their sexiness - to get people in a feel-good mood before they hit them with the serious stuff.
Ahead of its summer run and Fringe debut, we caught up with the creative minds behind this high-octane, high-impact show to talk sequins, sustainability, and the secret at the heart of the story. Whether you're a musical lover, a climate crusader, or just in it for the drama, BOMBSHELL promises a wild ride, with a whole lot of heart (and maybe a little glitter too).
For those new to BOMBSHELL, how would you describe the show in one sentence?
BOMBSHELL is a new musical about three eco-conscious Vegas showgirls who put on environmental cabaret in their attempt to save the planet!
What inspired you to blend cabaret, climate activism, and romance in a single story?
When writing the show I was inspired by my own mother - who used to be a Las Vegas showgirl - who taught me very early on that there was no deadlier combo than a big brain and a bit of lip gloss. Similarly, we felt that the best way to discuss complicated issues such as the climate crisis was with a bit of sparkle. Plus, I’m a huge rom-com fan and had to sprinkle a bit of that in there as well!
The show centers around Scarlett and Tony’s relationship, why was their love story the heart of the narrative?
Love is a powerful thing! It can push you into action, bring you closer to yourself (or further away), and can completely reorganize your priorities. It can be used for both good & evil - and we wanted to create a story that would explore these two sides!
How do you balance the glitz of Vegas-style performance with the seriousness of environmental themes?I think the real answer to this is that we don’t! We allow those two things to bump right up against each other in order to find both the humor and the hypocrisy in the show. The hook for these girls is their sexiness - to get people in a feel-good mood before they hit them with the serious stuff.
Photography: Rob Trendy Without spoiling too much, can you hint at the "shocking secret" that turns the final performance upside down?
Let’s just say love isn’t always as it seems… and never trust a man with a moustache
What message do you hope audiences leave with after seeing BOMBSHELL?
I hope audiences walk away feeling some self-acceptance, but also recognizing where the real action needs to take place. I hope we can all realize that the climate crisis should be a uniting force. I hope audiences start to look toward the companies who have slowly been poisoning the earth right under our noses and have a renewed sense of action. In the words of Scarlett, Jane and Eliza: ‘Let’s team up and fight the big guy!’
Why did you choose The Bread & Roses Theatre as the venue for your London debut?
We love that The Bread & Roses Theatre is so welcoming of new works, especially those that challenge the status quo. We know we’ll be in extremely good company with the high caliber of performance that The Bread & Roses Theatre produces.
How has the show evolved since its earlier performances in New York City?
The show has gotten shorter and sharper, especially as we prepare to take it to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer! We’ve also developed the script, music and direction to amp up the comedy, the drama, and make the show as cohesive as possible.
Let’s just say love isn’t always as it seems… and never trust a man with a moustache
What message do you hope audiences leave with after seeing BOMBSHELL?
I hope audiences walk away feeling some self-acceptance, but also recognizing where the real action needs to take place. I hope we can all realize that the climate crisis should be a uniting force. I hope audiences start to look toward the companies who have slowly been poisoning the earth right under our noses and have a renewed sense of action. In the words of Scarlett, Jane and Eliza: ‘Let’s team up and fight the big guy!’
Why did you choose The Bread & Roses Theatre as the venue for your London debut?
We love that The Bread & Roses Theatre is so welcoming of new works, especially those that challenge the status quo. We know we’ll be in extremely good company with the high caliber of performance that The Bread & Roses Theatre produces.
How has the show evolved since its earlier performances in New York City?
The show has gotten shorter and sharper, especially as we prepare to take it to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer! We’ve also developed the script, music and direction to amp up the comedy, the drama, and make the show as cohesive as possible.
Photography: Rob Trendy Can you tell us about the creative team and performers behind the glitter and drama?
Each of us is wearing multiple (metaphorical) hats in this production!
Madison Mayer (she/her) is the writer of this show, in addition to playing the role of Scarlett. She’s also written OPHELIA UNDERWATER and Junie B. Jones Plans Her Funeral.
Aila Swan (she/her) is both the composer of BOMBSHELL and performs in the show as Jane. Aila is a Scottish musical theatre actor and writer who also founded A Note To Remember - an MT scratch night in Glasgow!
Emory Kemph (she/her) is the director of BOMBSHELL as well as an actor and improviser who plays Eliza in the show. She’s the co-writer of a new animated short film, The Bottom of Red-Eye Lagoon, and is featured in the campy horror Weekend From Hell.
What’s next for BOMBSHELL after this UK run, any future plans or dreams for the show?
We have many dreams for BOMBSHELL! This summer, we’ll be performing at a few different venues in London before taking the show to Edinburgh, where we’ll be at theSpace Triplex Studio from 1st-16th August. We would absolutely love to take this show on a more extensive tour this autumn, and continue to develop the show for larger scale productions!
BOMBSHELL runs 10th - 14th June 2025 at The Bread & Roses Theatre: https://app.lineupnow.com/event/bombshell-1
Each of us is wearing multiple (metaphorical) hats in this production!
Madison Mayer (she/her) is the writer of this show, in addition to playing the role of Scarlett. She’s also written OPHELIA UNDERWATER and Junie B. Jones Plans Her Funeral.
Aila Swan (she/her) is both the composer of BOMBSHELL and performs in the show as Jane. Aila is a Scottish musical theatre actor and writer who also founded A Note To Remember - an MT scratch night in Glasgow!
Emory Kemph (she/her) is the director of BOMBSHELL as well as an actor and improviser who plays Eliza in the show. She’s the co-writer of a new animated short film, The Bottom of Red-Eye Lagoon, and is featured in the campy horror Weekend From Hell.
What’s next for BOMBSHELL after this UK run, any future plans or dreams for the show?
We have many dreams for BOMBSHELL! This summer, we’ll be performing at a few different venues in London before taking the show to Edinburgh, where we’ll be at theSpace Triplex Studio from 1st-16th August. We would absolutely love to take this show on a more extensive tour this autumn, and continue to develop the show for larger scale productions!
BOMBSHELL runs 10th - 14th June 2025 at The Bread & Roses Theatre: https://app.lineupnow.com/event/bombshell-1
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