Draft:Gigglemug Theatre

Gigglemug Theatre is a theatre company that creates family-friendly comedy musicals.

The company was formed in 2018 by students from the University of Warwick. Their debut show ‘Timpson: The Musical’, based on and sponsored by the high street shop Timpson, premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it won The Stage Edinburgh Award. In 2019, the company embarked on a UK tour, which culminated with the filming of their production. ‘Timpson: The Musical’ can now be streamed for free on YouTube, where it has gained tens of thousands of views.

Their second scripted production ‘RuneSical’, based on the BAFTA-winning online game RuneScape, debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2022. The production transferred to Cambridge the following year where it was filmed and can now be watched in its entirety on YouTube. As the show is interactive and features multiple pathways, the online recording is made up of over 20 different videos for viewers to click and choose between.

In 2023, Gigglemug staged ‘Scouts! The Musical’ at The Other Palace Theatre. The show was created in collaboration with The Scouts, a global charity teaching skills for life to millions of young people worldwide. The production received a WhatsOnStage Award Nomination for Best Off-West End Production and was described by Chief Scout Bear Grylls as “Incredible!”.

The company’s latest project ‘A Jaffa Cake Musical’, inspired by the 1991 tribunal which determined whether a Jaffa Cake is a cake or a biscuit, was one of eight musicals selected for MTFestUK in 2024. The show will premiere at Pleasance as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

In 2021, the company created ‘The Bean Spillers’, an improvised musical about audience gossip. The production debuted at Brighton Fringe and regularly tours across the UK, starring guest improvisers from ‘Showstopper! The Improvised Musical’, ‘Mischief Theatre’ & ‘Austentatious’.

Alongside musicals, Gigglemug also create comedy podcasts. In 2020, they released their debut series ‘Archergeddon!’, a parody of ‘The Archers’ set in the apocalypse which starred Mel Giedroyc. Their second series ‘GiggleMurder Mysteries’ consisted of one man whodunnits parodying the works of Agatha Christie, featuring the titles ‘Murder on the 12:32 to Bristol’ & ‘And Then There Were Some’. In 2024, Gigglemug premiered ‘Go Home, You’re Drunk!’ a Dungeons & Dragons inspired comedy horror podcast starring comedians from ‘Taskmaster’, ‘Live at The Apollo’, ‘Have I Got News For You’, ‘QI’ & ‘Mock The Week’.