The A-Z of Mrs P

This new musical with book by Diane Samuels and music and lyrics by singer/songwriter Gwyneth Herbert is a love letter to London.

In 1936, Phyllis Pearsall left her husband in Venice and came to find her way in London. Then she received a telegram from her father, map publisher Alexander Gross. And here begins the story of how a Bohemian artist put down her paints and picked up the drawing board to follow in her father's footsteps to map an entire city.

Follow their different journeys as they intersect and diverge through the thoroughfares and alleyways of London, seizing opportunities, to build an iconic business midst the tangled labyrinths of a troubled family saga. For anyone who has ever searched to find their way, here is a re-telling of the myth and even more remarkable reality behind the handy, all-purpose, pocket-sized A-Z Street Guide of 23,000 streets (with house numbers).

Phyllis Pearsall was a celebrated resident of Southwark (with a blue plaque bearing her name) so premiering this new music at the new Southwark Playhouse has an added resonance.