NINE MUSES THEATRE CO. PRESENTS: WOVEN – A NEW MUSICAL

Nine Muses Theatre Co.’s Director-in-Residence Molly Kinnon & Founder/Artistic Director Jessa Smith Campbell

1.8.23

Debuting at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the original musical explores the transformative nature of love, and the importance of self-discovery in a world that values conformity over authenticity. The show reimagines Homer’s classic tale from a modern perspective through a rich, moving interpretation of its female characters – Penelope, Athena, Helen, Circe, Aphrodite, Hera, and Calypso.

Seven women attend a wake where they discover that their lives are mysteriously intertwined. Now, they must untangle the threads. Inspired by The Odyssey, Woven tells the story of seven women coming together as truths come to light.

As the curtain opens, we are introduced to recently widowed Penelope, a shell of a woman. She has arranged a wake, open to the public as her husband was a prominent political figure. One by one, the women appear, and the truth begins to unravel. Each on a journey of their own, the women’s stories weave an intricate story of loss, betrayal, and the power of womanhood.

Nine Muses Theatre Co. is a women-led organization committed to the amplification of new creative voices. Jessa Smith Campbell (30) started Nine Muses in 2023 to address the absence of young creators in the musical theatre industry, particularly women. She trained at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Musical Theatre, then later at The Stella Adler Academy in Los Angeles. She has performed in feature films, television series, music videos, and numerous theatrical productions. Inspired by the current debate surrounding the female reproductive system, Jessa wrote a one-act play titled North Carolina, 2028 which competed in the 2020 Strawberry One-Act Festival in New York City. Following that, she fostered a true passion for women-driven pieces and began the first draft of Woven. By founding Nine Muses, she created a space where new artists will be heard, and their work will be supported.

“When I started working professionally in this industry eight years ago, I quickly discovered that there were few examples of successful productions led almost entirely by women. We chose Woven as the inaugural production for Nine Muses because the show tackles universally relatable issues: the complexity of grief; the disappointments and heartbreaks of life; and the process of finding yourself – messages that resonate with every human soul.” Jessa Smith Campbell

The show is directed by Molly Kinnon (30). Molly is an American artist and lecturer who moved to Glasgow in 2011 to attend The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She then obtained her Masters at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Since graduating, she has worked in the US and the UK as a teacher, mentor, and actor. In 2020, Molly founded and ran The Actor’s Community, an online teaching platform for international creatives, with partner The Last Kingdom’s Mark Rowley. Currently, she teaches at GAMTA, RCS, and MGA and works with private students internationally on their drama school audition packages. She actively participates in ABAR work and is pursuing accreditation in Intimacy Direction.

“At its core, Woven is a study on our collective worth as human beings. It challenges preconceptions of gender, age, race, and background whilst affirming the central theme of humanity, the unbreakable thread of truth – that we are all woven together.”  Molly Kinnon

Venue: Forest Theatre, Greenside @ Infirmary Street (Venue 236)                                 

Tickets: £9 (£7)

Dates: August 14th – 19th; August 21st – 26th                

Time:  13:45 PM (Aug. 14th – 19th); 14:55 PM (Aug. 21st – 26th)

Box Office: 0131 226 0000

Tickets: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/woven

Nine Muses Theatre Co. website: https://www.ninemusestheatreco.org/

Instagram: @woventhemusical #WovenTheMusical

Twitter: @woventhemusical #WovenTheMusical

TikTok: @woventhemusical #WovenTheMusical

Cast BIOS here.

LISTEN to a demo audio track from Woven here. A cast album will be recorded during the Fringe run.

WATCH cast introductions here.

Full MEDIA pack here.