Currently, Tobias Turley is playing Humanity in the two-hander world premiere production of Hot Mess: A New Musical at Southwark Playhouse Elephant alongside Danielle Steers as Earth until Saturday 8th November, and over the summer, he was performing in the show at the Pleasance Courtyard at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This year, Tobias played Hans in the UK premiere of White Rose at the Marylebone Theatre, and he recorded as Fred Vaughn on this year’s album release of Jo – The Little Women Musical, and he will be playing Theodore “Laurie” Laurence in the Staged Concert in January 2026 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. As a contestant on Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, Tobias reached the final at West End’s Novello Theatre, and was announced as the winner alongside Stevie Doc, who both went on to perform as Sky and Sophie respectively in MAMMA MIA! in the West End, which marked Tobias’s West End debut. Alongside Stevie, Tobias held a concert in May at Cadogan Hall, and his previous projects have seen him play Kurt Kelly in Heathers the Musical and cover the leading role of JD, perform at West End Live for two consecutive years, be part of the 2022 Tour of Giovanni Pernice’s This Is Me, and he has a weekly podcast called Scene Stealers with Henry Calvert. Speaking with Tobias, he told us about the two-hander Hot Mess: A New Musical (in which he plays Humanity), playing Sky in West End’s MAMMA MIA! for his West End debut after winning Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream and performing for Jo – The Little Women Musical.

In Hot Mess: A New Musical, you co-star as Humanity, can you tell us about the show and your character, and what is Humanity like to play?

This show is a romcom between the Earth and Humanity shown through a real relationship between two people. It’s a vast concept but it’s shown so simply with a brilliant script and banging songs.

Humanity is so much fun to perform every night, he’s a very complex character who goes on a massive transformation throughout the show.

I love having the opportunity to perform this character, not only because I’ve learnt so much from this role, but because of the amazing team behind the show which has created one of the best shows I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of.

What is it like working opposite Danielle Steers as Earth, and how are you finding your time performing in a two-hander musical?

Honestly, it was a bit daunting at first, Danielle is such a powerhouse and brilliant performer, I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to keep up. But she has been so supportive and together we have managed to bring out the best in each other.

A two-hander is tough, there is no rest for either of us, but that’s also what’s so exciting about it. We are the centrepiece of a really intense story and that’s an incredibly exciting experience.

What was it like performing the show at Pleasance Courtyard at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe throughout summer and seeing the audience response to the world premiere?

The Edinburgh Fringe was an experience like no other. Our show got received so well, selling out after only our first few performances. It was a very fast-paced, intense month but it was a brilliant experience and I’m so glad we get to continue the life of the show in London.

What are you looking forward to for continuing your role in the current London transfer at Southwark Playhouse Elephant?

I love this show so any reason to revisit this character is great for me. I’m most excited about the slight changes we’ve made since the Fringe, because they have added another layer of depth and clarity to the show.

What have you been enjoying most about working on a world premiere production and originating the role of Humanity?

My favourite thing has been the creative freedom, the rehearsal process for this show was a breath of fresh air. Our amazing director, Ellie Coote, gave us so much freedom to play around with these characters, and try different acting choices to see which option worked best. I love working in this way, I could provide 10 different ways to play a scene, eight of which might have been awful, but the option was there to play about and explore.

How was it recording the Hot Mess EP, which includes your solo song Tomorrow and your duet with Danielle – Better With Time?

Recording the EP was so much fun, I’ve been lucky enough to have done a few cast recordings before but never with a role as big as this. Getting to be in the studio for a couple of days recording these brilliant songs was an opportunity I will never forget.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see Hot Mess: A New Musical at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, which is booking until Saturday 8th November, and who do you think the show will appeal to?

I recommend this show to everyone because it is such a universal story, with phenomenal music that will stay in your head for weeks, and the writing is so witty and clever. It’s one of the best hour and five minutes of theatre you will see.

Earlier this year, you played Hans in the UK premiere of White Rose at Marylebone Theatre, what was this like?

White Rose was such a fun show to be a part of. The cast of that show were so brilliant and we had such a brilliant bond together. For me, that show was a great opportunity for me to show I can do something completely different to MAMMA MIA!. I mean, a show set in 1940s Germany during the Nazi reign is quite the leap from the Greek islands.

How did you find the experience being a contestant on Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream and what was it like reaching the live final at the West End’s Novello Theatre?

The TV show was possibly the greatest experience of my life, I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to be a part of that. It was an absolute whirlwind and it really was a once in a lifetime thing. Being in the live final was an experience all of itself. I have never been more nervous in my life, knowing millions of people were sat in their homes waiting to watch us perform live. It was terrifying but I honestly believe that experience has shaped me into the performer I am now.

How was it working and performing with your fellow contestants and receiving feedback from the judges?

Again, it was a brilliant experience for me, I learnt so much from the amazing judges and coaches we had, but also from my fellow contestants. Being surrounded by 13 of the best young performers was a real joy.

Was there anything that encouraged you to be a contestant on the show and what are some of your stand-out highlights from filming?

If I’m honest, I was a bit nervous to apply in the first instance because it’s such an open and vulnerable platform, but I knew there was much to gain from this opportunity that it would be silly to not apply. You don’t win the raffle if you don’t buy a ticket.

Highlights from filming would have to be when we filmed the opening number Mamma Mia on a lake in Greece surrounded by 100+ extras from the local area. That really was a core memory.

How did you feel being announced as the winner of the series and then making your West End debut in MAMMA MIA! as Sky?

Being announced as the winner was a feeling I still can’t describe properly, and I don’t think I ever will be able to. It was the most amazing sensation I have ever felt. Years of training and hard work had led to that moment so it was very overwhelming.

What was Sky like to play and how was it performing the MAMMA MIA!/ABBA soundtrack?

Sky was such a fun character and MAMMA MIA! might be the most joyous musical out there. So it was an absolute pleasure getting to perform that show every night and sing the iconic ABBA songs.

In May, you and your MAMMA MIA! co-star and fellow I Have a Dream winner Stevie Doc performed a concert at Cadogan Hall – Stevie Doc & Tobias Turley: Here We Go Again, what was this like to do?

This was a really lovely experience, getting to perform with one of my best friends at a venue as esteemed as Cadogan Hall was such a proud moment for me. I did a lot of concerts at Cadogan Hall while I was at drama school, so it was very full circle to be returning to that venue with my own show.

Do you have any favourite memories from your time as Kurt Kelly in Heathers the Musical that you can share and how was it covering the lead role of JD?

I have so many fond memories of my time at Heathers. I was blessed to be with such an amazing cast and we all had a brilliant time together. It would be hard to pick any particular moment as my favourite.

Covering JD was something I had dreamt of ever since drama school, so when the opportunity arose to cover JD, I was over the moon. I managed to get about 30 shows as JD under my belt by the end of my time there.

Can you tell us about your involvement with this year’s release of Jo – The Little Women Musical Album, for which you recorded as Fred Vaughn?

Yes, on the cast album I play the role of Fred Vaughn, who is a young, rich Brit who pursues Amy March, only to lose her to Theodore “Laurie” Laurence, which is the role I will be playing in the Staged Concert in January of 2026 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I’m so excited to be taking on this new role, because it’s a larger responsibility and I’m looking forward to that challenge.

We understand you have recently performed at West End Live, were a vocalist on Doctor Who at the BBC Proms, and were part of Giovanni Pernice’s This Is Me 2022 Tour, can you say about working on these projects?

West End Live is a really fun event every year, and I’ve been lucky enough to perform there for the last two years. Once with the cast of MAMMA MIA! and last year at the 25th anniversary performance of West End Live closing ceremony. I love this event as it’s a wonderful showcase of all the amazing talent we have here in London.

The This Is Me tour was one of my first jobs out of drama school. It was a very intense four months, but I learnt so much and got to see inside the world of Strictly Come Dancing.

Where does your love of performing come from and how did you get into it?

I’ve been performing since I can remember. I was in the local pantomime around the age of five, and went on to do a lot of amateur dramatics through my youth. I started taking performing seriously around the age of 15, so I started dance and singing lessons with my amazing dance school – The South West School of Dance. They really helped me grow as a performer and prepared me to audition for drama school.

What are some of your favourite theatre shows to watch, and which would you like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?

A show I’ve been dying to see is The Outsiders, obviously that hasn’t made the journey from Broadway to the West End just yet, but whenever it does I’ll be rushing to watch that. My favourite shows are: Carousel, Something Rotten, Singin’ in the Rain. Anytime there is a production of those shows, I always try to see them.

You host a weekly podcast – Scene Stealers – with Henry Calvert, can you tell us about the podcast and what is it like to record?

I love my podcast, it’s a passion project of mine. I have the best time recording with my wonderful friend and co-host Henry Calvert. A lot of work goes into the podcast but I wouldn’t change anything about it.

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