The Marilyn Conspiracy – Paul Donovan applauds an intriguing multi-layered depiction, dominated by a stunning impersonation of Marilyn herself,

1 Sep 2026

PIXIE LOTT dom­in­ates this play about the life and, ulti­mately, the death of Mar­ilyn Mon­roe. The play comes at a timely moment, namely, the 100th anniversary of Mon­roe’s birth; something that is being marked by an excel­lent exhib­i­tion, Mar­ilyn Mon­roe — a Por­trait, at the nearby National Por­trait Gal­lery.

A lot is packed into the two-hour-plus play, that runs through the life and loves of this 20th cen­tury icon. Heavy on con­spir­acy the­or­ies, this mul­tilayered depic­tion also addresses the insec­ur­ity of Mon­roe’s life. Her demons, born of a troubled upbring­ing.

Totally in con­trol of her image when mod­el­ling, she struggles to get the recog­ni­tion she feels she war­ran­ted as an actor. Always the sex sym­bol, rather than the actor. Con­fid­ent, yet vul­ner­able.

The sense of con­spir­acy comes from the involve­ment with Pres­id­ent John F Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy. Indeed, the pro­duc­tion could argu­ably be per­ceived as a roller-coaster of ’60s con­spir­acies.

The close­ness of rela­tion­ship between the shady worlds of polit­ics, organ­ised crime, law enforce­ment and show­biz is well cap­tured. Mafia boss Sam Gian­cana, seem­ingly implic­ated in the demise of Mar­ilyn, with J Edgar Hoover’s FBI in the back­ground extract­ing lever­age, par­tic­u­larly on the Kennedys. Gian­cana and the mob were also later rumoured to have played a role in the assas­sin­a­tion of JFK.

The pro­duc­tion is well put together by dir­ector Philip Wm.  McKin­ley. The light­ing adds a sin­is­ter ele­ment. Everything, though, centres around Lott.

The nar­rat­ive is strong, run­ning through Mar­ilyn’s life’s and loves, from base­ball player Joe Di Mag­gio to play­wright Arthur Miller and the Kennedys. There are the chee­sey moments, like when, in the throes of pas­sion, Mon­roe asks JFK to repeat the part of his pres­id­en­tial address: “Ask not what your coun­try can do for you, ask what you can do for your coun­try.” Maybe, an ironic nod that Kennedy’s mul­tiple part­ners were serving their coun­try.

The whole play centres around a static set, made up of the bed where Mon­roe died. Lott is the nar­rator throughout, shim­mer­ing from one scene to the next.

One cri­ti­cism would be that maybe there is too much swap­ping around of char­ac­ters, with all but Lott and Ryan Ell­s­worth (Dr Ralph Green­son) hav­ing mul­tiple roles. So Julie Arm­strong plays house­keeper Eunice and J Edgar Hoover, while Simon Bass is Arthur Jac­obs, Frank Otash, Joe Kennedy and Lawrence Olivier. This can give a cer­tain cramped feel.

The pro­duc­tion is nar­row in that it does not stray much bey­ond Mon­roe’s sex life, there could have been more depth.

Over­all this is a pro­duc­tion cer­tainly worth see­ing. An intriguing con­spir­acy tale, sewn together by writer, Shar­leen Cooper Cohen. It cer­tainly raises ques­tions about what really happened to Mon­roe. Well dir­ec­ted and executed by a good cast, it is Pixie Lott who steals the show.

Runs until Octo­ber 29. Box office: (020) 8165-9933, Emer­ald.lon­don

⭐⭐⭐⭐ A TOUR-DE-FORCE — West End Best Friend

ESSENTIAL VIEWING — The Reviews Hub

CAPTIVATING — The Reviews Hub

WHIP-SMART DIALOGUE — The Reviews Hub

ENGAGING, EVEN MESMERISING — Diary of a Lone Man

Experience the mystery, the glamour and the raw emotion of Who Killed Marilyn?, a bold new play by Sharleen Cooper Cohen, starring Pixie Lott as Marilyn Monroe and directed by Philip Wm. McKinley.

Reviewer: Nilgün Yusuf

By The Reviews Hub – LondonAugust 21, 2026Updated:August 22, 2026No Comments4 Mins Read

Writer: Sharleen Cooper Cohen

Director: Philip Wm. McKinley

Tucked along the Victoria Embankment, the Emerald Theatre has been entertaining Londoners since 1921. Originally a  movie theatre and later a music venue and cabaret space, Dita Von Teese, The Psychedelic Furs, Motorhead and Pearl Jam have all performed here. Renovated last year into one of the West End’s newest theatre spaces, it offers a venue dripping in vintage glamour and shadowy retro decadence—a fitting environment for the world premiere of Who Killed Marilyn? , which stars singer Pixie Lott in the lead role and who magnetically embodies the Hollywood icon.

Did Marilyn Monroe, the Hollywood icon, so misunderstood by the world, really commit suicide or was there something more sinister at play? Was she murdered? If so, by whom and why? Marilyn fans will be well versed about her troubled upbringing, mentally unstable mother, her search for love and acceptance, professional exploitation, numerous marriages, many lovers and desperate desire for children.  Feminists feel she was ruthlessly exploited by men, eaten up and spat out by the patriarchy; her astute intelligence and bookish curiosity were suppressed as non-commercial, inconvenient truths.

Throughout the play, Justin Williams’ set design centres on Marilyn’s bed where she was found dead after an overdose. Intermittent projections from Libby Ward appear onto the background, including newspaper headlines, different locations or a melange of Marilyn heads in dry ice to create something dreamlike, hallucinatory and slightly ghoulish. The device used to tell the story is familiar from Billy Wilder’s 1950’s Sunset Boulevard, where screenwriter Joe Gillis narrates his own death.

Here, we start with some unwelcome guests and a dead body while Marilyn watches the proceedings and offers her insights.  There are a whole series of flashbacks: her difficult marriages to Joe Di Maggio and Arthur Miller, her dealings with Sir Laurence Olivier in The Prince and The Showgirl,  and, of course, the build-up to her death – when all, according to this version,  is revealed.

This interpretation by both a female writer and performer gives Marilyn Monroe agency and voice as well as the vulnerability with which we are familiar.  Despite Marilyn Monroe having been commodified, imitated, caricatured and parodied, this potentially high-risk role for singer Pixie Lott is carried off with style and spirit. This Marilyn Monroe swears, calls out the men who used and abused her and wants us to know what happened that night.

Lott is at ease in her own body; lithe, sensual, flirtatious and fiery,  she slips into Marilyn’s skin with natural feeling; a female performer who feels the pain and injustice of another woman and performer. Through this sympathetic understanding, Lott effectively reanimates the icon through a captivating performance and commentary that – some exposition aside –  is wry, astute, intelligent and witty. We even get a beautiful rendition of the notorious Happy Birthday Mr. President—the only song in the entire play.

The whole directorial rendering of Who Killed Marilyn? is drawn from pulp fiction, comics and B-movies with a film noir aesthetic reflected in lighting, sound and costume choices. Bold and theatrically realized, it’s well-paced with whip-smart dialogue and empathetic characterizations. An inky celluloid blue is dispersed across the entire production from the suits of the shadowy male characters to the projected backdrop.

Christopher Reid’s edgy and insistent sound builds tension and keeps the audience engaged, while the costumes from Jasmine Swan present Marilyn in angelic white throughout, a modern interpretation of the 50s siren. The strong supporting cast of male actors (husbands, lovers, agents, doctors, therapists)—who all sought to own, control, claim or suppress Marilyn—are well drawn, and a special mention goes to Julie Armstrong, who plays both Eunice, the arse-covering housekeeper, and the snarling mobster boss. The darlings of the American Democrats—the Kennedy dynasty – have never seemed more self-serving, power-hungry, or cruel.

Marilyn Monroe became a brand and an industry in her own right,  one that was feasted on by the jackals of Hollywood and media throughout her life and that continues unabated after her death. Right now you can buy a £25 ticket to see a photography exhibition about her (Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait) at the National Portrait Gallery. Who Killed Marilyn? gives the Hollywood star the chance to have her say: “This time, I’ll not be silenced.” It had much propensity to be schlocky, trashy, and exploitative, but the combination of commercial and artistic choices, as well as the revelations at the heart of the play, make this entertaining, gripping theatre – and essential viewing for fans of both Pixie Lott and Marilyn Monroe.

All pictures by Justin Williams

The Luxe Review by Steve May

July 20, 2026

Pixie Lott is set to play Marilyn Monroe when Who Killed Marilyn? receives its world premiere at London’s Emerald Theatre this summer.

Opening on August 15, the new production promises a fresh examination of one of Hollywood’s most enduring figures, placing Monroe at the centre of a story that blends documented history with the mysteries that have surrounded her death for more than six decades.

Lott arrives at the role with an established career that spans music, television and the stage. She first found fame with chart-topping singles including Mama Do and Boys & Girls, before building an acting career that has taken in Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Made in Dagenham at the London Palladium, and screen roles in Christmas Karma, Past Life and McDonald & Dodds. Her latest studio album, Encino, was released last year.

The play sets out to explore the forces that shaped Monroe’s final years…

Who Killed Marilyn? play cast preview

Produced by Tegan Summer Theatricals, Who Killed Marilyn? is written by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and directed by Philip Wm. McKinley. Rather than revisiting familiar Hollywood mythology, the play sets out to explore the forces that shaped Monroe’s final years, drawing on decades of documented evidence, conspiracy theories and political intrigue. 

Lott is joined by a cast that includes Julie Armstrong, Benjamin Dilloway, Ryan Ellsworth, Martin Hancock, Paul Kane, Rob Maloney, Henry Proffit and Mars Sams, with Emma Haines leading a team of covers and taking on the title role at selected performances. The creative team brings together experienced theatre talent, with Justin Williams designing the set, Jasmine Swan creating the costumes, Jack Weir overseeing lighting, Christopher Reid handling sound and Libby Ward providing AV design. Wigs, hair and make-up are by Jess Plews and Joanna Tomeo for JJ Wigs.

Speaking about the role, the star described portraying Monroe as “an absolute dream come true”, adding “I can’t wait for audiences to experience the mystery, the glamour, and the raw emotion we will be pouring into this incredible play.”

Marilyn Monroe murder mystery

Producer Tegan Summer believes the play offers a new perspective on one of the twentieth century’s most recognisable women, arguing that it will encourage audiences to reconsider what they think they know about Marilyn Monroe.

“Under Phil McKinley’s direction, audiences will question everything they thought they knew. Who Killed Marilyn? changes the conversation.”

For theatre-goers, the attraction lies in more than celebrity casting. Monroe remains one of popular culture’s most fascinating figures, and this production appears intent on looking beyond the platinum hair and Hollywood glamour.

The Emerald Theatre provides an intimate setting for a story built around character as much as spectacle, while McKinley’s direction and a seasoned creative team suggest a production with cinematic ambition.

By  Ldn-Post  July 22, 2026 

Producer Tegan Summer is today delighted to announce Pixie Lott will star as Marilyn Monroe in Who Killed Marilyn? when it makes it world premiere at The Emerald Theatre this summer from Saturday 15 August to Thursday 29 October 2026*. Tickets are available now from whokilledmarilyn.uk.

Joining Pixie Lott as Marilyn are principal cast members Julie Armstrong (Ballet Shoes, National Theatre), Benjamin Dilloway (Pride and Prejudice, Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Ryan Ellsworth (The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre), Martin Hancock (Present Laughter, UK Tour), Paul Kane (The Contraception Fair, short film), Rob Maloney (A Clockwork Orange, Soho Theatre), Henry Proffit (A Sherlock Carol, Marylebone Theatre) and Mars Sams (in his professional stage debut). The company is completed by offstage covers Joshua Ford, Eliot Giuralrocca, Dean Michael Gregory, Emma Haines and Ricky Shah.

Pixie Lott is a singer, songwriter and actress with number one hits including ‘Mama Do’ and ‘Boys And Girls’ both of which featured on her hugely successful debut album ‘Turn It Up’. She made her West End debut starring as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s at Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2016 and starred in Made in Dagenham at the London Palladium in 2024. She has appeared on screen in Christmas Karma, Past Life, McDonald and Dodd and That’s Just Me. As well as her musical and acting successes she has appeared as a judge and mentor on The Voice Kids and The X Factor. Last year she released another studio album ‘Encino’.

Pixie Lott commented:
“I am absolutely thrilled to be stepping into the iconic shoes of Marilyn Monroe for Who Killed Marilyn? at the Emerald Theatre in the West End. I have always loved Marilyn – she is such a fascinating, timeless legend, and bringing her complex story to life on this beautiful stage and being her every night is an absolute dream come true for me. I can’t wait for audiences to experience the mystery, the glamour, and the raw emotion we will be pouring into this incredible play.”

Producer Tegan Summer (Aspects of Love, For Black Boys…) added:
“Marilyn Monroe’s story has been told many times, but never like this. I couldn’t be more proud to bring it to the West End with the extraordinary Pixie Lott in the titular role. Sharleen Cooper Cohen has given voice to the woman behind the icon, and when I read her play, I knew it belonged on the London stage. Under Phil McKinley’s direction, audiences will question everything they thought they knew. Who Killed Marilyn? changes the conversation.”

Who Killed Marilyn? is a bold new play that dares to challenge the most enduring myth surrounding one of the twentieth century’s most iconic women. Drawing on decades of documented evidence, conspiracy, and cover-up, the production presents a vivid and provocative re-examination of the life and death of Marilyn Monroe, placing her at the centre of a web of power, politics, and desire that reached the highest levels of American government and organised crime.

Who Killed Marilyn? restores Marilyn Monroe to her rightful place, not as victim, but as a woman of extraordinary intelligence, wit, and force, whose story has never been fully told. Until now.

Joining book writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen and director Philip Wm. McKinley on the creative team are casting director Rob Kelly, set designer Justin Williams, costume designer Jasmine Swan, lighting designer Jack Weir, sound designer Christopher Reid and AV designer Libby Ward, with wigs, hair & make-up design by Jess Plews and Joanna Tomeo for JJ Wigs. Jordan Langford is associate director, intimacy director and resident director, and Pete Kramer is production manager.

Who Killed Marilyn? is produced by Tegan Summer Theatricals, with general management by Matty Hurst Productions.

*Please note: Pixie Lott will not be performing on Thursday or Saturday matinees or on 28 August, 29 August, 24 October, 25 October. At these performances the role of Marilyn will be played by Emma Haines.

Pixie Lott is set to star as Marilyn Monroe in the highly anticipated world premiere of a bold new play, Who Killed Marilyn?, at London’s Emerald Theatre. Running from Saturday 15 August to Thursday 29 October 2026, the provocative theatrical production aims to challenge the most enduring myths surrounding one of the twentieth century’s most iconic women.

Joining the chart-topping singer and actress in the principal cast are Julie Armstrong as Eunice, Ben Dilloway as Arthur Miller, Ryan Ellsworth as Ralph Greenson, Martin Hancock as Sam Giancana, Paul Kane as Robert Kennedy, Rob Maloney as Arthur Jacobs, Henry Profitt as Joe DiMaggio, and Mars Sam making his professional stage debut as Jack Kennedy.

Directed by Philip Wm. McKinley and written by book writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen, the strictly limited season will host its glamorous opening weeks late this summer.

The narrative dares to challenge long-standing assumptions by drawing on decades of documented evidence, conspiracy, and political cover-ups surrounding Monroe’s untimely death. Rather than painting her merely as a victim, the script repositions the Hollywood icon at the absolute center of a complex web of power, desire, and high-stakes politics that reached the upper echelons of both organized crime and the American government. Ultimately, the production restores Monroe to her rightful place as a woman of extraordinary intelligence, sharp wit, and profound cultural force.

Lott, who previously earned critical acclaim for her West End debut as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, expressed her immense excitement for the role, calling it an absolute dream come true to step into the iconic star’s shoes and bring her deeply layered story to life every night.

Produced by Tegan Summer Theatricals, the show features a stellar creative team including set designer Justin Williams and costume designer Jasmine Swan. Tickets are officially available now for the limited West End run, though theatergoers should note that Emma Haines will perform the lead role during Thursday and Saturday matinees, alongside a select few scheduled dates across the season.

WhatsOnStage Award and BRIT Award nominee Lott, whose theatre credits include Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Made in Dagenham, will take on the title role in the world premiere of Who Killed Marilyn? at the Emerald Theatre.

The new play, written by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, will run from 15 August to 29 October 2026.

It re-examines the life and death of Marilyn Monroe, exploring the conspiracy theories surrounding her death while presenting Monroe as “a woman of extraordinary intelligence, wit and force”.

Joining Lott are Julie Armstrong, Benjamin Dilloway, Ryan Ellsworth, Martin Hancock, Paul Kane, Rob Maloney, Henry Proffit and Mars Sams. The company is completed by offstage covers Joshua Ford, Eliot Giuralrocca, Dean Michael Gregory, Emma Haines and Ricky Shah.

Lott said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be stepping into the iconic shoes of Marilyn Monroe for Who Killed Marilyn? at the Emerald Theatre in the West End. I have always loved Marilyn – she is such a fascinating, timeless legend, and bringing her complex story to life on this beautiful stage and being her every night is an absolute dream come true for me.”

Producer Tegan Summer added that the production offers a fresh perspective on Monroe’s story, saying audiences “will question everything they thought they knew.”

The creative team includes casting director Rob Kelly, set designer Justin Williams, costume designer Jasmine Swan, lighting designer Jack Weir, sound designer Christopher Reid, AV designer Libby Ward, wigs, hair and make-up designers Jess Plews and Joanna Tomeo for JJ Wigs, associate director, intimacy director and resident director Jordan Langford, and production manager Pete Kramer.

Who Killed Marilyn? is produced by Tegan Summer Theatricals, with general management by Matty Hurst Productions.

Lott is scheduled to appear at most performances, with Haines playing Marilyn Monroe at Thursday and Saturday matinees, as well as on 28 and 29 August and 24 and 25 October 2026.

New play by Sharleen Cooper Cohen re-examines the life and death of Marilyn Monroe in a provocative new London production at The Emerald Theatre This Summer

Producer Tegan Summer has announced the world premiere of Who Killed Marilyn?, a new play investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe.

The production will run at The Emerald Theatre from 15 August to 29 October 2026, with tickets on sale now.

Written by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, Who Killed Marilyn? promises to re-examine one of the most enduring mysteries of the twentieth century, exploring decades of evidence, conspiracy theories and alleged cover-ups surrounding Monroe’s death.

According to the producers, the play places Monroe at the centre of a story involving political power, organised crime and Hollywood influence, while seeking to present her as more than the tragic figure often portrayed in popular culture.

The production aims to restore Monroe’s legacy as “a woman of extraordinary intelligence, wit, and force, whose story has never been fully told.”

Sharleen Cooper Cohen, whose previous musical credits include An Officer and a Gentleman, said: “My fascination with the real Marilyn Monroe has occupied me while writing this play. Marilyn’s persona spoke to me, and I have honoured that. I am thrilled to see my play, a validation of Marilyn Monroe, on the 100th anniversary of her birth. I am delighted to be working with Tegan Summer Theatricals at the gorgeous Emerald Theatre.” 

Director Philip Wm. McKinley said: “When Tegan Summer invited me to join forces with him and author Sharleen Cooper Cohen for the world premiere of the play exploring the mysterious death of Marilyn Monroe, I answered with a resounding and heartfelt “yes.” As a director captivated by Marilyn’s untold stories and determined to illuminate hidden truths, I am thrilled to bring a bold, investigative lens to unravelling the enigma at the heart of “Who Killed Marilyn Monroe.””

Producer Tegan Summer added: “Marilyn Monroe has been with me for many years. Sharleen Cooper Cohen has finally told the story Marilyn was never allowed to tell, and in doing so has reopened a conversation the world closed too soon. When I read this play, I knew it had to be produced on the London stage. Under Philip McKinley’s direction, audiences will question everything they thought they knew about her. Who Killed Marilyn? changes the conversation.”

Joining the creative team are casting director Rob Kelly, set designer Justin Williams, costume designer Jasmine Swan, lighting designer Jack Weir, sound designer Christopher Reid, AV designer Libby Ward and wigs, hair and make-up designer JJ Wigs.

Performances will run Saturday 15 August to Thursday 29 October 2026. 

By: Chloe RabinowitzJul. 09, 2026

Who Killed Marilyn? will make its world premiere at The Emerald Theatre for eleven weeks from Saturday 15 August to Thursday 29 October 2026.  Who Killed Marilyn? is a bold new play that dares to challenge the most enduring myth surrounding one of the twentieth century’s most iconic women. Drawing on decades of documented evidence, conspiracy, and cover-up, the production presents a vivid and provocative re-examination of the life and death of Marilyn Monroe, placing her at the centre of a web of power, politics, and desire that reached the highest levels of American government and organised crime.

Who Killed Marilyn? restores Marilyn Monroe to her rightful place, not as victim, but as a woman of extraordinary intelligence, wit, and force, whose story has never been fully told. Until now.

Book writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen is the author of seven internationally published novels and three musicals, including An Officer and a Gentleman.  Director Philip Wm. McKinley (Elf: The Musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark) commented: “When Tegan Summer invited me to join forces with him and author Sharleen Cooper Cohen for the world premiere of the play exploring the mysterious death of Marilyn Monroe, I answered with a resounding and heartfelt “yes.” As a director captivated by Marilyn’s untold stories and determined to illuminate hidden truths, I am thrilled to bring a bold, investigative lens to unravelling the enigma at the heart of “Who Killed Marilyn Monroe.”  

Joining book writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen and director Philip Wm. McKinley on the creative team are casting director Rob Kelly, set designer Justin Williams, Costume Designer Jasmine Swan, lighting designer Jack Weir, sound designer Christopher Reid, AV designer Libby Ward and wigs, hair & make-up designer JJ Wigs. Casting is to be announced.