A rock/pop musical inspired by a true life shoe theft.
Emily the shop owner has the ability to heal customers' issues through song, but is it real or simply a placebo?
11 songs – varying from uplifting pop and comedy through to heart-wrenching ballads – see Emily healing customers of their life issues one by one. Everyone leaves the shop fulfilled. Emily heals broken hearts, imposter syndrome, a family break-up and a cut in funding to the local performing arts school, but can she solve the case of the stolen shoes? Or more importantly, can she heal herself?
11 songs – varying from uplifting pop and comedy through to heart-wrenching ballads – see Emily healing customers of their life issues one by one. Everyone leaves the shop fulfilled. Emily heals broken hearts, imposter syndrome, a family break-up and a cut in funding to the local performing arts school, but can she solve the case of the stolen shoes? Or more importantly, can she heal herself?
Click on the buttons on the sides of the website to find song and video samples from the show
Shoe Dunnit is a collaboration between Crescendo Performing Arts and Once Upon Productions
Seen our show? If you liked it please leave a review here
Song snippets from Shoe Dunnit the musical
Let us know if you are interested in hearing the full versions of the above samples by here and I will send a link
The 11 Songs in the show
1 I miss you - Emily
2 The Life beneath my feet - Robby & Emily
3 Chatterbox - Davina and Antonio
4 Shoe Dunnit - Robby, Emily & Cast
5 Set me free - Jean, Laura, Robby and Emily
6 Thorn in my side - Karl and Julia
7 Silenced - Cast
8 Don't make me laugh - Steven and Jean
9 Nothing Stays the same Jean and BVs from all cast
10 Hey Mum and Dad - Laura
11 At last - Jean and all the cast
Shoe Dunnit Review by Karen Phillips
'Shoe Dunnit', set in a coffee shop and performed within a real coffee shop ( @_doro24 ), was perfection in itself, sparked by a bizarre shoe theft.
Blending rock/pop tunes, comedy, heartfelt ballads and a dash of mystery, the piece asks: can music and song really heal and can Emily save herself while unravelling the case of the missing footwear?
Blending back stories and a range of characters, this multi layered production delivers seamlessly what could be a complicated plot seemingly effortlessly. It's plain to see though that a tremendous amount of thought, process, hard work and determination has gone into this fantastic little play.
The performers are strong and confident, their belief and love of performing arts shines through and it's glorious, heart warming and honest. Bravo!
With tracks ranging from feel-good pop to soul-searching ballads, the score shines throughout, I really loved the choir and the horse pianist... You had to be there.
In all, Shoe Dunnit is a charmingly inventive and immersive musical that weaves a café’s warmth with a whodunnit twist and a soundtrack that emotionally resonates.
Wishing all a wonderful and successful @edfringe
☕☕☕☕
It's a four latte review from me 🙂
Karen Phillips from - Our Milton Keynes
Shoe Dunnit Review by Nik Larcombe
D'Oro Coffee Shop, Newport Pagnell. Friday 20th June 2025
If you tried to explain the premises of maestro Frank Scarito's latest work, you'd be forgiven for wondering how on earth it could work. Set in a coffee shop, actually performed in a coffee shop, where musicians in the cast play musicians in the story, and some kind of mystical force causes spontaneous singing as a way of resolving characters’ personal demons. Add a children's choir, a pianist wearing a rubber horse's head and a mystery regarding stolen shoes (alluded to in the title of course) and we're about there.
Except that's not it at all.
Every good performance is more than the sum of its parts, and this is a very good performance. In my opinion, here's why.
The young performers (and the older ones!) are extremely strong, bringing humour and nuance to a script which challenges the actors. Several of the performers made everything seem easy - pouring their heart out in song then delivering a witty one-liner, demonstrating enviable talent. The acting was engagingly natural on the whole, from a cast which brought energy and sophistication to their characters.
The songs are recognisably Scarito, and I left the venue humming two or three memorable melodies, which is testament to the songwriting. Playful lyrics, genuine and well-timed moments of comedy in some songs and an ability to use different song structures made the musical fascinating and enjoyable. Harmonies were used beautifully, and were especially lovely in the close confines of the cafe.
As seemingly disparate plot threads drew together cleverly, the musical took time to pass on several messages linked to the character's lives - the importance of family and forgiveness,, the power of music and self expression, and the recurring lyrics in one song performed by the wonderful Crescendo Performing Arts: ‘The Arts must not be silenced.’
Well, exactly. This performance demonstrates why.
From the very ‘meta’ setting of the cafe in a cafe and musicians playing musicians, through the self-aware mystical power which makes each heart reveal itself in song, to the now-iconic rubber horse head, which the composer himself wore while managing to play heart-felt emotional melodies and the joyous ending, Cafe L'Arte: Shoe Dunnit has the creativity and talent to power itself all the way to Edinburgh.
Congratulations to you all.
Nik Larcombe - Performing Arts Practitioner
Was extremely well executed and professional
Fleur Kenny
A truly touching piece in an intimate setting.
Sarah Smyth
We thought it was brilliant. Keep up the good work, we will be coming back
Jane Thomas
Fantastic songs incorporating joy, love, loss and resilience.
Outstanding
Outstanding
Karen Phillips
Very impressed with the confidence and ability of the cast & depth to the storyline.
Sarah Smyth
The productions was done so well and you felt like you were in a real coffee shop. The acting was amazing as was the vocals!
Sam Winter
The songs and the music were the highlight for me. This production for the arts needs to be taken to the world. Very succinct and poignant.
Faisal Mohiuddin
Absolutely amazing. The harmonising from the cast was so good. The funny dad jokes were the best. Do another.
Phoenix
