‘A musical in the dark that asks: do you believe in love at first sight?‘
A power cut. Darkness. Sparks fly. Rowan is a straight-laced musical theatre writer, struggling to find inspiration. Charlie is a hurricane of inspiration with no respect for the rules. When Rowan’s flat is plunged into darkness, a knock on the door brings Charlie, searching for a match, into her life. This charming, intimate new musical asks whether love is truly blind, and if a connection formed in the dark can survive the light.
The Perfect Match is the debut show from Matchstick Productions UK, founded by Scotland-based book writer Mairead Dunsmore and composer/lyricist Samuel Macdonald. Inspired by a real life story, The Perfect Match offers a safe space in the dark for two characters who’ve been burned by love before to explore each other… and maybe even get a little carried away. For anyone who’s ever scrolled on a mind-numbing dating app or struggled to form a real connection in this world of overwhelming online stimuli, this show offers the perfect solace of human connection when everything else is stripped away.
Matchstick Productions UK produces musical theatre shows, workshops, and cabaret performances with a focus on inclusive theatre. With brand new concepts and writing, audiences can expect shows that are from a new and unique perspective but with a strong grounding in traditional musical theatre style. Mairead Dunsmore is a writer known for her book of poems Love Letters to a Home (BookLeaf Publishing, 2022) and is currently a book writer on the Book, Music and Lyrics course (Mercury Music Developments). Samuel Macdonald is a composer, musical director and musical supervisor whose show Technical Difficulties is being produced by British Youth Music Theatre this summer. They are the 2026 winner of the David MacLennan award for their new musical ‘Magnificat’.
“Musically delightful and well-written”
Praise for Savoy! Everybody’s Doing It – composed by Samuel Macdonald
“Not Today” from The Perfect Match was longlisted for the
Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize 2025.
Listings Information
Venue: Shakespeare North Playhouse (Studio)
Dates: 7th + 8th July 2026
Time: 7pm (0hr50)
Ticket prices: PWYD (£5-£15)
Box office: shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk
Age rating 12+