Who knows what you will find under the water?
This was performed at the Riverside Studios Bitesize Festival on the 3rd to the 7th August 2026
Three underpaid lifeguards go on strike, turning a routine poolside shutdown into an explosive, media-frenzy protest! Serving pure chaos, original bangers, and sharp satire, this high-energy musical comedy perfectly skewers the chronically online influencer culture, corporate greed, and the ultimate illusion of civic power. In a world completely starving for the spotlight, how far would you go for a viral moment? This punchy production delivers the bold, innovative storytelling that theatre regulars crave and the TikTok generation obsess over.
A comedic exploration of capitalism and environmental negligence, Lifeguards: The Musical brings the audience into the thick of it thanks to a pool-based sanitation crisis.
This musical was directed by Cecilie Fray and co-written by David Molyneux (who also has an acting role in the production) and Marshall Norbal. The script is funny and dramatic at the same time, allowing the audience to take away a clear message from the show. While some parts of the script might require tightening, it allows every cast member to make their characters their own. The production also ensures that each of them gets a moment centre-stage: each cast member participated in exactly one song (excluding backing vocals).
The musical numbers felt fresh and provided an injection of energy into the show. In particular, the duet ‘Nepotism Blues’, performed by cast members Jonathan Brenner and co-writer David Molyneux, was a standout for featuring a catchy tune, an upbeat tone, and lyrics that highlighted some of the production’s most compelling character dynamics.
Gonzalo – Aug 3 2026
Rhombus Rota
Described as a “character driven musical comedy that explores ambition, friendship and modern working life”, Lifeguards: The Musical is a new play about three underpaid lifeguards who challenge the corporate world by going on strike. As there happens to be a reality TV crew on site at their resort, the world gets to see the vanity, ambition and ruthlessness that plays out of as the strikers become a cause célèbre.
Being shown as part of the Bitesize Festival of short plays, writers David Molyneux and Marshall Norbal succeed in fitting a remarkable amount into the brief 50-minute running time. Despite its comedy aspirations, the work tackles some distinctly dark themes, weaving together environmental concerns with sharp depictions of corporate greed, health and safety failings, poor management and personal loss. These are resonant, universally recognisable themes, forming a solid foundation for a promising piece – but currently it feels like a very early work in progress.
Interspersed with music, the production features four original songs with clever, catchy lyrics.
Fiona Gilbert – August 6, 2026
