Launching August 2025
Poster design by @Tomhaakonsandford
Level Up! The Musical
by Lucy Watson & Julian Kirk
Level Up! is a musical comedy developed in Bristol by a team of South-West based creatives. It’s already had its first fifteen minutes of showtime at the Bristol Old Vic New Writing Festival in June 2024, and subsequently received R&D funding to develop the script and songbook. It has now been through the R&D process, and is debuting at Gilded Balloon, at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025!
Why is a carrot duck-taped to our poster?
Graphic Design by @halpurton
When best mates Jo, Bobby and Raff are accidentally uploaded into a glittering game world, they're suddenly playing against each other, to WIN!. Jo wants tokens, Raff tries to save the world and Bobby just wants to know if the game is even real.
Fast, funny, and uncomfortably current, Level Up! the Musical explores ambition, digital delusion, and the crazy ways we measure success - tackling everything from crypto currencies to carbon credits and existential burnout.
With a game-inspired video wall and an all-singing, all dancing cast, Level Up! asks: if life is a game, how do we win - and who makes the rules?
This is a show for musical lovers, gamers and anyone still wondering if we're living in the Matrix: think Jumanji meets Inside No. 9 with a chip-tune soundtrack and jazz hands!
Featuring a dazzling mix of retro-futuristic beats, old-school swing, and 8-bit gaming melodies, Level Up! playfully satirizes the blurred lines between virtual and real worlds. With its comically chaotic cutscene chorus, relatable characters, and irresistibly catchy songs, this musical has something for everyone!
About the show
Watch the trailer…
Meet our Edinburgh Fringe Cast!
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Troy Yip as JO
Troy Yip (he/him) is an actor and composer based in London and Shanghai, with an MA in Musical Theatre from the Royal Academy of Music. Performing credits include Schroeder in ‘You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown’, Jon in ‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’ and Cover Mark in ‘Rent’. Troy’s original musical “蝶变·the Butterfly on the Bund” is currently playing a long-running Chinese National Tour and in residence in South Korea.
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Lyndan Trenholm as BOBBY
Lyndan (he/him) is a British actor from Sunderland and trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. His Credits Include: Prince Charming in "Cinderella" (Phoenix Theatre); William in "William's Castle" (BBC Radio 4); "EE Commercial" (Multimedia campaign); Noah in "Children of Eden" (New Athenaeum Theatre); Professor Bhaer in "Little Women" (Alexander Gibson Opera School); Joe Josephson in "Merrily We Roll Along" (New Athenaeum Theatre); Link Larkin in "Hairspray" (Rainton Meadows Arena) and Birdie/Leonardo Lambert in "Oliver Twist" (Royalty Theatre).
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London Brunelle as RAFF
London Brunelle (She/Her) is an American actor from Seattle, Washington. She moved from the states for university in 2021 and has never looked back. London looks forward to sharing Raff's story in this special piece of theatre. Training: Bachelors in Musical Theatre from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Theatre Credits: Margaret White in 'Carrie the Musical' (RWCMD), Baker's Wife in 'Into the Woods' (RWCMD), Deb in 'Ordinary Days' (RWCMD) and Elaine in 'Sweet Charity' (RWCMD).
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Emma Thrower as MULTI-ROLLER
Emma (they/she) trained at ArtsEd and The MTA
Her Theatre Credits include Goody and drums in Vinegar Tom (OVO at The Maltings Theatre); Vlogger/Chorus in Public Domain (Vaudeville Theatre)
Other work includes: voiceover for Bupa, The Economist and Belvita; The Girl From Treatment (rehearsed reading at Park Theatre). Emma spent a decade working as a film journalist, interviewing everyone from Jack Black to Vin Diesel, Renée Zellweger to Brad Pitt. They want to thank every single person who supported their journey back into acting, especially the Croker and Miller families. -
James Guild as Multi-roller
James (he/him) trained at the University of Chichester Conservatoire. In addition to his credits he has taken part in various workshops and concerts in London.
Credits: Timon in "The Lion King" (Disneyland Paris), Dandini in "Cinderella" (Broxbourne Theatre), Colonel Laurence in "A Tale of Fellowship" (Actors Church, Convent Garden)
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Eliza Bowden as Multi-roller
Eliza’s (she/her) credits include: Ensemble, 1st cover Heather Chandler and Heather McNamara in Heathers (UK andIreland Tour 2023), Ensemble, 1st cover Heather Chandler and Heather McNamara in Heathers(West End and UK Tour 2024), Frank and Friends (Cadogan Hall)Credits whilst training: Sandy Cheeks in The SpongeBob Musical; Ensemble in Lysistrata Jones and The Olivier Awards. Eliza is excited to be making her Edinburgh Fringe debut and is delighted to be working with suchan incredible team. She would like to thank her wonderful family, friends and agent for theirunwavering love and support, and all the team at Level Up! for this wonderful new opportunity.
Our development journey….
Here are some sneak peaks, taken from showcases at Phoenix Arts Theatre and live performance in the Western Studio at Bristol old Vic Theatre, Bristol
Photography by Dotty McCormack and Jacob Whitehorn
Tales from the tech room….
We were thrilled to team up with the brilliant indie studio Steel Magpie to bring Level Up! The Musical’s pixel-powered world to life.
Founded in 2024 by Ollie Hayes and Luke McIntyre, Steel Magpie is based in Sheffield and specialises in bold, inventive digital animation. For Level Up!, their game-loving team — Ollie Hayes (left) Joanna Kalinska (centre) and Jose Lago Amor (right) — crafted over 280 animated clips, drawing inspiration from 32-bit classics to create a playful, nostalgic visual language for the show. From looping sprite animations to full-screen pixel art sequences, their work brings the game world vividly to life on stage — all created with joy, imagination and serious skill.
Check out more of their work at www.steelmagpie.com
Keep up to date with our news….
