We sat down for a quick chat with Charlotte Jaconelli about her latest projects, Songs for Slutty Girls, reaching a wider audience through its Spotify and Apple Music release
What excites you most about Songs for Slutty Girls reaching a wider audience through its Spotify and Apple Music release?
The world getting the opportunity to experience the brilliance of Kailey Marshall’s writing. I’ve spent a lot of time in studios throughout my career and being in there, recording this music, for this show, led by a badass powerhouse woman was the most cathartic and thrilling experience I’ve ever had. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful and empowering this piece is. Stories like these, that celebrate bold, complex, unapologetic femininity, deserve to be heard far and wide. Kailey’s music is fearless, funny, and deeply human. It deserves a billion streams, and now it finally has the platform to get there.
Your character Hips sings Fine—how do you connect personally with that song’s mix of humor and vulnerability?
Kailey’s ability to write such an emotionally nuanced comedy song, is unmatched. She makes it so easy when the humour and hurt is laced into the body of the lyrics. Hips starts out hesitant to dive into love, she sees strength in being independent and keeping her emotional walls up, which I think anyone who’s been hurt can resonate with, but what’s beautiful is how she actually comes into her real power when she lets go of that fear and embraces all sides of herself. I’ve definitely felt all of that through navigating relationships. But what I love about her journey is that when she decides she doesn’t want to wait around she takes control, owns her feelings, and refuses to be a damsel in distress. Singing that shift in Hips feels so empowering. It’s messy and real, but also funny and bold, and that’s what makes it such a joy to perform and so easy to connect with every time.
The show is both hilarious and heartfelt—how do you as a performer navigate those quick shifts between comedy and emotional honesty?
I think humor and trauma are really intertwined in how we deal with life’s toughest moments. We often use humor as a way to process uncomfortable or painful experiences, so for me, they fall hand in hand. Songs for Slutty Girls takes you on this journey through all the different sides of this woman’s search for herself, and that mix of laughter and vulnerability makes the story feel so relatable and real, and that is what makes the story resonate so deeply.
It’s a performers dream to get to play so many different sides to a character in such a short space of time. Navigating those shifts on stage means staying grounded in the story and being connected with the audience. Shifting can lose momentum if you haven’t got an audience on side, so it keeps you on your toes!
Having performed in both major West End productions and intimate new works, what feels unique about bringing a contemporary, character-driven musical like this to life?
Bringing new works to the stage is my favourite thing on the planet. There’s something so special about telling a story that hasn’t been told yet, especially when it’s intimate and character driven. These kinds of pieces are often presented in smaller spaces, without big sets, spectacle, or elaborate costumes, so the weight of the story falls entirely on the character and the truth of the performance. There’s this amazing closeness that happens between you and the audience. In an intimate setting, you can feel their energy straight away, and that kind of back-and-forth makes the performance feel completely alive. It’s like you’re sharing something deeply personal with everyone in the room, and that connection makes the whole experience so much more meaningful for both the performer and the audience.
How does Songs for Slutty Girls reflect the realities of dating in your 20s, and what conversations do you hope it sparks among audiences?
Songs for Slutty Girls captures the chaos, confusion, humour, and heartbreak of dating in your 20s so perfectly. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything, it leans into the messiness of figuring out who you are, what you want, and how you love (or don’t love) yourself along the way. There’s this constant push and pull between wanting connection and wanting independence, and that’s something I think so many people relate to but don’t always see reflected honestly on stage. What I hope it sparks is more open, shame-free conversations about sex, self-worth, and the things we’re often told to hide or apologise for – especially as women. It’s funny and bold, but it also holds space for vulnerability, loneliness, and the deep desire to be seen. If people leave the show feeling a little more understood or a little more empowered in their own story, then that’s the best outcome I could hope for.
With such a wide-ranging career—from Sunset Boulevard to Heathers to new musicals—what draws you to projects that balance bold humor with genuine heart?
I’ve always been drawn to stories that aren’t afraid to be bold, whether that’s through sharp humor, heightened emotion, or unapologetic honesty. What excites me most is when a piece can make you laugh out loud one moment and hit you right in the heart the next. That balance between humor and vulnerability feels so human to me, it reflects how we actually experience life. I think that’s what really makes an audience lean in, when the comedy is grounded in truth.
As a performer, that kind of work is the most fulfilling. It’s a challenge, but it’s also where the magic happens. I feel so lucky to have brought such a wide range of characters and stories to life on stage, and I can’t wait to keep telling bold, inventive, and honest stories that push boundaries and speak to people in a real way