REVIEW: Mother Trucker, Gas Can, Colchester Fringe 2026 ★★★★

Buckle up for Mother Trucker, an original new musical by award-winning writer and composer Anna Pool, set between a late night radio studio and the cabins of its long-haul listeners. Making its premiere at Colchester Fringe, Mother Trucker packs a truck load of charm into its sixty minutes, with delightful music and feel-good energy chief amongst its cargo.

Grown from Pool’s lockdown love affair with podcast Over the Road, a deep dive into the lives of US truckers, and in particular how and why many women got involved in this male-dominated field. The life of most truckers, we see an exception in the show itself, can be very isolated and Anna’s exploration the idea of connection over distance, especially through the use of radio host Marcia, harkens back some of the feelings of lockdown listening that inspired it.

The show opens with the Queen of Country, Dolly Parton, fading out as radio host Marcia (Anna Pool) welcomes us to the long-haul overnight Mother’s Day special. We meet a handful of ‘lady truckers’ as they make their cross-country journeys.

Tag-team trucker couple, Cherry (Jaimie Pruden) and Joy (Mia Jerome) navigate not only the route to New Jersey but also how close is too close and, when you’re running away, when is far enough to stop. Rhonda (Soophia Foroughi) takes to the road to avoid worries at home whilst twenty-year-old, tater-tots lover Tiffany (Megan Ellis) seeks the peace and quiet of a life to call her own.The simplistic setting of five chairs is used effectively to bring to mind the idea of these women all sharing something despite their isolation.

Pool’s writing is witty, current and, at times, poetic without losing its sense of groundedness. Narratively, the four journeys are balanced well across the show’s duration and I think there’s a wealth of great material here but I did find myself wondering if the stakes are stopped slightly short of really grabbing the viewer though Tiffany’s phone call home does provide a real emotional peak.

It works well with just piano and vocals but I would rush to hear what Pool and co could come up with with a fuller band too. Such are the limitations of fringe theatre! Musically, I was reminded of Adam Guettel, with one foot in musical theatre and the other in some kind of ethereal folk. I felt that the score especially shone when it leant into the latter and particularly enjoyed the opening number, a counterpoint swirl of the characters conflicting motivations, as well as solos from Marcia and Tiffany.

Performance-wise, Anna Pool brings an all-encompassing warmth to motherly disc jockey Marcia and ably guides the show from start to finish. Jerome and Pruden as partners Joy and Cherry are a comic delight but also balance the close-quarters conflict well. Soophia Foroughi gives Rhonda a wonderful, resigned sense of world-weariness from which a touching catharsis develops. Finally, Megan Ellis as Tiffany is something very special, from her youthful indignance and relatability to the soaring vocals throughout. The five work well together and create a strong ensemble feel despite most of their material being as individuals or pairs.

Gas Can and Anna Pool have all of the pieces in place, and I am especially keen to see how this material develops further following Colchester Fringe, especially as a female-led and focused piece of British musical theatre – something much needed in our industry.

Relatable, fresh and incredibly charming. Mother Trucker is a strong, feel-good original musical, with accomplished performances from all parties. It speaks to what it is to feel alone and the reasons we might choose to be – catch it while you can.

Recommended Drink: Whilst the lady truckers club lives off truck-stop diner coffee, my recommended drink would have be a cup of hot cocoa – a warm hug in a mug, best enjoyed after coming home.

You can catch Mother Trucker at Mercury Theatre Studio, Colchester 22nd – 23rd October from 7:00pm (60mins). Tickets can be purchased through the Colchester Fringe Online Box Office.