It has been announced that The Most Hated Family in America, a new musical based on Louis Theroux’s documentaries about the Westboro Baptist Church is in development, with a workshop taking place this week ahead of an industry sharing on 28 February.

This piece seeks to contextualise the documentaries and go beyond them, looking further back in time to how and why the church was founded in the guise we know today, who had previously attempted to document them and how the many people leaving the church has impacted it and what lessons for today’s society this story has - namely that fighting fire with fire isn’t always going to overcome hate.

With music and lyrics by Matt Bond and a book by Tom Giles, the workshop is directed by Omar Okai, with musical supervision and arrangements by Aveev Isacsson, and musical direction by Harry Gasgoigne. It is produced by Metatheto Theatrical in association with Selladoor Worldwide.

The workshop cast includes WhatsOnStage Award nominee Esme Bowdler (Heathers) as Jael Phelps, Dan Wolff (Fiddler On The Roof) as Louis Theroux, Jessica Aubrey (Wicked) as Megan Phelps-Roper, Melanie Masson (An Officer & A Gentleman) as Shirley Phelps-Roper, Bradley Walwyn (Choir of Man) as Steve Drain, and Paul Ryan (Mamma Mia!) as the extremely controversial founder of Westboro, Fred Phelps.

Completing the cast are Eu-Jin Hwang (Death Note), Liz Chadwick (Jerry Springer: The Opera), Michael Magennis (In The Night Garden), recent Mountview graduate Sophie Bishop, Alexander Nicholls recently graduated from RCS, Cameron Dews (current student at GSA), and Luke Griffiths (currently at BOA).

Watch this space, Besties!