The singer and actress takes centre stage as Hollywood’s most enduring icon in Who Killed Marilyn?, a provocative new play examining power, politics, and conspiracy.
Pixie Lott is stepping into one of the most iconic roles in modern history: Marilyn Monroe. The singer and West End actress will headline Who Killed Marilyn? when the world premiere opens at the Emerald Theatre this summer, running from Saturday 15 August to Thursday 29 October 2026. It’s a bold new play that reframes the story of Monroe—not as victim, but as a sharp, powerful woman caught in a web of politics, power, and organised crime.
Lott, who made her West End debut in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and starred in Made in Dagenham at the London Palladium in 2024, said she’s “absolutely thrilled” to take on the role. “I have always loved Marilyn,” she said. “She is such a fascinating, timeless legend, and bringing her complex story to life on this beautiful stage and being her every night is an absolute dream come true for me.”
What’s the Play About?
Written by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, Who Killed Marilyn? doesn’t stick to the well-worn mythology. Drawing on decades of documented evidence, conspiracy theories, and cover-ups, the production places Monroe at the centre of a story involving the highest levels of American government and organised crime. Producer Tegan Summer says the play “changes the conversation” around Monroe’s life and death. “Marilyn Monroe’s story has been told many times, but never like this,” she added.
The Cast and Creative Team
Lott is joined by a strong ensemble including Julie Armstrong (Ballet Shoes, National Theatre), Benjamin Dilloway (Pride and Prejudice, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Ryan Ellsworth (The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre), Martin Hancock, Paul Kane, Rob Maloney, Henry Proffit, and Mars Sams in his professional stage debut. The creative team includes set designer Justin Williams, costume designer Jasmine Swan, lighting designer Jack Weir, sound designer Christopher Reid, and AV designer Libby Ward.
A note for ticket buyers: Pixie Lott won’t be performing on Thursday or Saturday matinees, or on 28 and 29 August or 24 and 25 October. At those performances, Emma Haines will take over the role of Marilyn.
Tickets are on sale now at whokilledmarilyn.uk. The Emerald Theatre is at 8 Victoria Embankment, London, WC2R 2AB. If you’ve ever been fascinated by the legend of Marilyn Monroe—the glamour, the mystery, the unanswered questions—this is your chance to see her story told in full.
