Friday Artist Spotlights
Leo Simpe-Asante
Leo Simpe-Asante is an actor, writer, composer, lyricist and multi-instrumentalist. He is 18 years old and studying Musical Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. His work can best be described as experimental, intricate and humorous, inspired by the likes of Sondheim, Finn, Minchin and Miranda. His play ‘Cock Ups!’ was shortlisted for the INK 2025 Festival, and his current musical project, ‘Penelope the Musical’ was shortlisted for BEAM2025. It retells the story of Homer’s Odyssey, exploring an imagined tale in which Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, embarks on her own epic journey to save her home and family.

My Current Project
Penelope The Musical
The untold female story. Family struggles. Greek Mythology, reimagined. ‘Penelope The Musical’ asks the question: What would happen if Penelope didn’t stay at home for twenty years, waiting for Odysseus’ return?
Penelope and her teenage son Telemachus embark on an epic journey to save her husband Odysseus, cleaning up the messes that Odysseus leaves in his wake. A powerful mother-son bond lies at the heart of this story, as Penelope discovers what she truly wants in life.
Stage of Development: Book, lyrics and music written
Cast Size: 3 Principals, 4-10 Ensemble
Band: 5-10
Future Musicals (in early stages of development):
‘Chivalry is Dead’ – Four single university friends go to a speed dating dinner on the night before Valentine’s Day, each eager to find their perfect match for the big day. The next morning, following some dubious spoken affirmations from a social media love expert, the group discovers that they’ve transformed into undead creatures and have until midnight to obtain a magical cure or they’ll be stuck like that forever. What follows is a vampire, werewolf, zombie and ghost heading out on a chaotic mess of a road trip, featuring haunted houses, sassy baristas, a possessed bunny rabbit and more. It’s a silly, fun, and VERY queer show, with a quirky score, witty lyrics and a self-aware and comedic book.
‘Rhapsody’ – Not your typical jukebox musical – using the biggest hits from a few hundred years ago! Set in a summer orchestra camp, ‘Rhapsody’ explores the dizzying lives and relationships of young musical prodigies, whose characters are all modelled exaggeratedly after famed classical composers. It’s an actor-musician show featuring a complex score that blends musical theatre and popular classical music.
What I'm Looking For
I’m seeking venues/production companies to run R&D’s for ‘Penelope The Musical’ (or any of my other shows). I’m also very interested in working with creatives on other projects. I’m early on in my creative career, so a mentor would also be greatly appreciated!