North Devon musical follows in Barnstaple playwright's footsteps to London
Nearly 300 years after John Gay left Barnstaple to find fame in London, North Devon artist Sarah Lee Pettifer, known as Mrs Animation, is bringing his story back to the capital with her sold-out musical, GAY The Musical.
Nearly 300 years after Barnstaple playwright John Gay left North Devon to make his name in London, a North Devon artist is following the same path - this time bringing his story with her.
Sarah Lee Pettifer, known professionally as Mrs Animation, has had her original production GAY The Musical selected for Lambeth Fringe 2026, following three sold-out performances in Barnstaple. The show celebrates the life of Gay, described as one of Britain's most influential yet often overlooked playwrights, blending original music, comedy, ghosts and satire to introduce his story to modern audiences.
Ms Pettifer, who wrote, directed and produced the show as well as composing its original music and lyrics, said: "Taking this production to London feels incredibly special because we're following the same journey John Gay made almost 300 years ago. It feels like we're taking a little piece of Barnstaple with us."
Ms Pettifer lives and works in Barnstaple, and is better known in the art world for her hand-painted, sequin-covered neon artwork, created under the name Mrs Animation. Every piece is individually hand-painted, with each sequin placed by hand. She has said her love of art and music came from her mother, a textile artist, and that the fun, music-filled household she grew up in continues to influence the spirit of her work.
Beyond her visual art, Pettifer creates visuals for major DJs and festivals, and performs VJ sets alongside leading DJ Propaganda. Her work has been used by John Giddings of Solo Music Agency, and has featured at the Isle of Wight Festival, Reading Festival and Boardmasters, as well as in galleries and art exhibitions internationally. She has also developed an augmented reality app, Hocus Art, which brings her artwork to life with colour and music when scanned through a phone.
GAY The Musical follows John Gay as he "fights to reclaim his place in British theatre," blending historical detail with modern humour, larger-than-life characters and comedy. It features an ensemble cast drawn from North Devon. One audience member from its Barnstaple run said: "Thank you for bringing our Barumite history to life so brilliantly... Absolutely loved it! I'll smile every time I pass John Gay Road now."
The production will run at the Golden Goose Theatre in Camberwell, London, on 14 and 15 October, as part of Lambeth Fringe 2026, with performances at 8.30pm and a running time of 60 minutes. The show carries a content guidance of 5+, with occasional mild language and comic innuendo.
The Golden Goose Theatre, an 85-seat venue near Oval, was founded by Michael Kingsbury in 2020 as a creative hub for theatre-makers. It has previously hosted Offie-winning company Out of the Forest Theatre and Fringe First winner Chris Larner, and Kingsbury himself has been recognised with an award for Outstanding Contribution to Pub Theatre by London Pub Theatres.