The Jonathan Larson Project made its highly anticipated London debut last week, following a critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run. Playing in London's Southwark Playhouse, The Jonathan Larson Project brings to life a treasure trove of rarely heard songs from the late, groundbreaking composer. Curated by Jennifer Ashley Tepper, this production delves deep into Larson's vast archive of unfinished musicals, cut songs, and hidden gems, offering audiences a fresh perspective on the creative genius behind Rent and tick, tick...BOOM!.

Critics have praised London's new show - take a look below to read why they loved it!

The Reviews

The Guardian

"A lesser-known selection from the composer and lyricist's archive is full of heart and humour, swinging between cabaret blues and pop bangers."

When the world is falling apart, playing the piano can "save my soul", writes a 23-year-old Larson. Not only does he get away with such a sentiment but there's an equivalent effect from hearing the night's best songs. A revelation."

London Theatre

"Yet there are genuine treasures here. "Valentine's Day" paints a portrait of a man trapped in a cycle of love and heartbreak. "Hosing the Furniture" performed with exhilarating mania by Imelda Warren-Green won Larson the Stephen Sondheim Award and depicts a housewife teetering on the edge of collapse. The closing number, "Piano", features Larson's own voice, singing of the healing power of the instrument that shaped his life."

"Here, Larson is presented in fragments, and while we might not get a complete picture of his musicals or of the man himself, his glorious, scrappy songs are more than enough to feed our souls."

Everything Theatre

"In a way, this production felt like a gig; a showcase of Larson's unknown works, uncovered and now played out as a tribute to this beautiful human who never got to see the success his talent was destined for."

"As the Southwark Playhouse is an intimate theatre, the slick, powerhouse vocals give a jaw-dropping impact."

"As someone who tirelessly strove to manifest his truths and live a life filled with passion and creativity, the sadness that he didn't bear witness when it all came to fruition, is so poignant. This production pays a fervent and authentic tribute to a man who was an advocate for living passionately and mindfully, choosing connection over fear."

Broadway World

"The Jonathan Larson Project is thus hard to categorise. It is not a full musical cobbling together unreleased songs (as happened to so many Golden Age composers), nor is it a revue in the manner of Stephen Sondheim's Putting it Together or Side by Side, where well-loved songs gain new lives outside their original context. It's nonetheless a great deep dive into what made the young Larson tick, for diehard fans or as an introduction to his work, but these songs deserve a bit of narrative structure."