MFJ is best known as one half of Frisky & Mannish, the musical comedy double act beloved for their “shrewdly crafted, expertly delivered and rapturously received observations on pop music” (Time Out). Formed in 2008 with Laura Corcoran, the duo broke through as Hackney Empire’s New Act of the Year runners-up, and were hailed as the “undisputed hit of the Edinburgh Fringe” (The Herald). The pair have since created nine full-length stage shows to date, all of which have toured internationally to critical acclaim, establishing the act as a “global phenomenon” (The Times). Their achievements include performing solo at the Sydney Opera House and Shepherd’s Bush Empire, headlining everywhere from New York to Hong Kong, playing major arts and music festivals including Melbourne Comedy Festival and Glastonbury, producing two West End variety shows, appearing on every BBC Radio channel and penning Radio 1’s ‘Perfect Christmas Single’, contributing to TV’s The Culture Show, winning a Guardian Award, releasing a podcast that reached number 1 on the iTunes Comedy Chart, and chalking up over a million views with their online material.
“Nothing short of astonishing” ★★★★★ The Adelaide Advertiser. “What can I say?… Inspired” ★★★★★ British Theatre Guide. “There just aren’t enough superlatives to describe the experience” ★★★★★ Broadway Baby. “Pure exhilarating brilliance from start to finish” ★★★★★ Chortle. “Dazzling” ★★★★★ Edinburgh Spotlight. “Electric” ★★★★★ FreshAir. “The undisputed hit of the Edinburgh Fringe” ★★★★★ The Herald. “Genuinely inspiring” ★★★★★ The List. “A gold-star masterclass” ★★★★★ The Mail on Sunday. “Words almost fail me” ★★★★★ One4Review. “Just plain wonderful” ★★★★★ The Skinny. “Will send a chill down your spine” ★★★★★ Three Weeks. “Fully blown superstars” ★★★★★ Time Out. “Clever, inventive, polished, prodigiously talented and extremely funny” ★★★★★ Time Out Sydney. “A must-see hour of perfect musical comedy” ★★★★★ West End Wilma. “Devastatingly clever” ★★★★ Arts Hub. “Eccentric, and wildly talented” ★★★★ The Independent. “Outlandishly funny” ★★★★ The Mail. “Constantly evolving” ★★★★ Metro. “Effortless… outstanding” ★★★★ The Observer. “A force of nature” ★★★★ The West Australian. “Will leave you gasping for air… unbelievable” The Sun. “Superb and uncontrollable” The Sunday Times. “Delivered with such glittering panache” The Telegraph.
As a composer and lyricist, MFJ has established a successful musical theatre writing partnership with Jon Brittain. Their first collaboration was A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad), a cabaret play about depression commissioned by Silent Uproar and developed at Hull Truck and New Diorama with support from Hull UK City of Culture 2017 and the KSF Artists of Choice Award for UK Musical Theatre. The show’s première at the Pleasance Courtyard in Edinburgh won a Fringe First. The production has since toured the UK twice, played a season at the Vault Festival London, and was captured for digital streaming at Wilton’s Music Hall.
“A stellar job” ★★★★★ The Upcoming. “Enrapturing… exhilarating” ★★★★★ What’s On Stage. “Beautiful, spine-tingling show” ★★★★ The List. “Wonderfully witty songs” ★★★★ The Scotsman. “A mix of wit and low key emotion that suddenly grips you by your heart” The Guardian.
Their second collaboration was the murder mystery musical Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder!, produced by Francesca Moody with Kater Gordon. The première production was staged at Paines Plough Roundabout in Summerhall, winning the Musical Theatre Review Award for Best Musical. The expanded version, co-produced with Fiery Angel & Wessex Grove, toured to Bristol Old Vic and Home Manchester before transferring to the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End for a sixteen-week limited run.
“Terrific… painfully funny” ★★★★★ The Arts Desk. “I defy you not to fall in love with it” ★★★★★ The I. “Unmissable” ★★★★ The Daily Mail.“Brilliantly joyful” ★★★★ The Evening Standard. “Catchy songs and witty, perceptive lines” ★★★★ The Financial Times. “Lightning music and lyrics… packed with artistry” ★★★★ The Guardian.
Both playtexts have been published by Bloomsbury.
Solo projects include Richard Carpenter is Close to You (Buxton Fringe Award winner, Best New Writing), which was featured on BBC Presents and has toured the UK, Adelaide Festival Centre and Melbourne’s Butterfly Club; and the cult alt-drag variety act Ruth Less, who was crowned Double R Club’s Miss Twin Peaks 2013.
“Achieves something rare… with a hugely commendable lightness of touch” ★★★★★ Reviews Hub. “Probably the most impressive performance I’ve seen at the Fringe” ★★★★½ Edinburgh Culture Review. “The pastiche musical numbers are meticulously constructed, as you might expect” ★★★★ The Stage. “Delightfully on the money” ★★★★ The Times. “One of the best shows I’ve seen” Australian Arts Review.
