Mollusc

FRANKIE: You want me to wash the blood out of your jorts? Really? 

EL: It literally wouldn’t be the first time.

Born from an award-winning short play, Mollusc is a sapphic anti-rom-com three-hander, chronicling the shifting relationship of Frankie, a paralegal, and El, a costume designer, jumping across five chaotic years.

Identity, sexuality, availability and accountability are all blurred lines as this couple zig-zag through a relationship we know from the beginning is doomed to fail. But, as the curtains draw shut on their relationship, it’s hard not to fall in love with their beginning. 

Sexy, funny, sharply drawn, come dive headfirst into the universally dreaded realisation that your ex’s life does indeed continue after you're gone. 

Age recommendation: 14+

Written and Produced by Caoimhe Blair

Caoimhe Blair is an emerging writer from London. She works at a production company in London, and was previously an Agent’s Assistant at Curtis Brown. 

Mollusc was her first short play, performed at The Lion and Unicorn Theatre in March 2025, winning Second Quarter Production’s PRESSURE 1, and introducing her to director Lilly Butcher. Her recent short play, Locker, directed by Aaron Finnegan, won at Second Quarter Production's PRESSURE 4 in March 2026 at Playhouse East. 

After getting some (medically induced) help with her attention span, Mollusc marks Caoimhe’s debut hour. 

Directed and Sound Designed by Lilly Butcher

Lily is a Queer director with a focus on new writing. Selected credits as director include: It’s a Wonderful Knife: Christmas Dundee- The Old Joint Stock Birmingham, Don Jon in Barcelona- The Jag Belgrade Theatre, Shark H8ter- The Etcetera Theatre Camden, In Memoriam- Edinburgh Fringe.

Associate Director and Intimacy Coordinator- Rosie Martin

Rosie Martin (they/them) is a Director, Intimacy Director, and Writer from Essex. They hold two first-class degrees including a Masters in Theatre Directing from Mountview. They are currently lecturing at Goldsmiths University of London, teaching the ‘Developing New Musicals' module. Recent directing credits include: Benefit of The Belly (Southwark Playhouse Participation Space), The Ceremony (The Union Theatre), Endgame (Backstage Theatre), Transmitted (Red Lion Theatre)

CAST

Frankie- Shermya

Shermya (she/her) is a London-based actor working across theatre, film, and new writing. She appears in the feature film MONIQUE and is currently a member of the Bush Theatre Young Company and a Roundhouse Resident Artist, where she develops original performance work. Shermya made her stage debut in the acclaimed co-written play She at the Edinburgh Fringe and is passionate about telling emotionally rich, character-led stories across stage and screen. Alongside acting, she is also an award-recognised poet and playwright, bringing a strong sense of rhythm, vulnerability, and imagination to her performances.

El- Izzie Harding-Perrott

Izzie Harding-Perrott (they/them) is an actor, writer and comedian from Devon, now based in London. They trained with the Marlowe Society and Cambridge Footlights, and were a member of the Pentabus Young Writers group 2024.
Recent work: Temperance at the Hope Theatre (writer and performer), The Jolly Christmas Postman at The Barnfield Theatre, Romeo and Juliet at the Exeter Northcott Theatre, LEECH! at Bread and Roses Theatre (writer and performer).

The Man- Jamie Whitlaw 

Jamie Whitlaw (he/him) is a recent graduate of Bristol School of Acting and a Spotlight Prize Stage finalist 2026. On screen, Jamie has featured in Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light and played the lead role in the indie feature Moonman 158.