Hannah Lowther, known to millions as the “Tesco TikToker”, has turned her lockdown supermarket videos into a career on the West End stage. The 27-year-old built an online following of 1.2 million by singing and dancing in the aisles during her shifts, and has since landed roles in musicals including Heathers and Six.
Lowther’s path to professional theatre was unconventional. After training at Italia Conti and the London School of Musical Theatre, she graduated in 2019, only to see her plans derailed by the pandemic. She took a job at Tesco and began posting videos “out of pure boredom”. Her clips of belting show tunes to products quickly went viral, attracting BBC and ITV news coverage.
Despite her formal training, Lowther faces scepticism from those who believe her success is due to social media clout rather than talent. “People are always going to be a little bit apprehensive about it,” she says. She has learned to tolerate “nasty comments” beneath her videos, though she admits the criticism stings.
Lowther also battles imposter syndrome. “This explosion happened so fast, sometimes I do sit there thinking how I ended up here,” she says. Yet she remains proud of her online journey. “TikTok really helped me, and I say that with pride.”
Her story highlights a growing trend in the theatre industry, where performers with large digital followings are increasingly cast in major roles. Lowther’s next challenge is continuing to prove that she deserves her place on stage.
