After conquering Edinburgh last summer and then enjoying two, yes two London runs, Hot Mess has become one of the buzziest new musicals over the last year. Here, its book writer and director Ellie Coote talks about the show's genesis, her partnership with lyricist and composer Jack Godfrey, and how they approached an issue like climate change in such an original way.

Host: Shaun Kitchener

Music: William Kitchener

Why write and put on one critically acclaimed, hugely successful queer show when you can write and put on two? At once? As a double-bill? And act in one and co-direct the other? Paul Bradshaw talks about his plays tell me straight and aggy, which went down a treat at Park Theatre earlier this year and are now heading to King's Head. He also talks about going through the Criterion New Writing group, grappling with ACE applications, and why Mass is his play of the year.

Host: Shaun Kitchener

Music: William Kitchener

With his company Awkward Productions, Linus Karp has created and performed in a string of shows that have brought joyful queer chaos to audiences all over the place, via characters like Princess Diana, Gwyneth Paltrow and the hot couples of made-for-TV Christmas movies. Now, in his new show Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella, he's playing himself and drawing from a real-life homophobic incident. Here, he talks about all of the above, plus his love of the Edinburgh Fringe, how he and Joseph Martin have weaved banging music into their work, and how he started making his own stuff in the first place.

Host: Shaun Kitchener

Music: William Kitchener