Musical Theatre Network

24/04/2026

We can't wait for this event next week, with our friends at China Plate and Nottingham Playhouse!

1 WEEK TO GO until the Future Producers networking event at Nottingham Playhouse on Thursday 30 April.

If you make live events happen in your local community; if you are interested in finding out more about being a producer of musical theatre or music in the Midlands or hearing about opportunities to get involved, then China Plate, Musical Theatre Network and Nottingham Playhouse would love you to join us next week!

We will share some industry insights, signpost relevant opportunities, and give you the chance to meet other producers/future producers and discuss what would help you achieve your ambitions in this area.

You don’t need to already be a producer. If musical theatre interests you, and you’re someone who likes making things happen – come join us for a conversation.

Book a free spot: https://bit.ly/NPFutureProducers

📷 Lexi Clare

07/04/2026

We are so happy to be hosting this amazing event with our friends at China Plate and Nottingham Playhouse. Come along!

Coming up at the end of the month, China Plate, Musical Theatre Network and Nottingham Playhouse will be hosting a free information and networking event on Thursday 30th April at Nottingham Playhouse.

If you make live events happen in your local community; if you are interested in finding out more about being a producer of musical theatre or music in the Midlands or hearing about opportunities to get involved, then we'd love you to join us!

Book your free spot: https://bit.ly/NPFutureProducers

📷 Lexi Clare

13/03/2026

Very excited to be continuing our Future Producers sessions in Nottingham with China Plate and Nottingham Playhouse!

Ending the week with an exciting announcement 📢

China Plate, Musical Theatre Network and Nottingham Playhouse will be hosting a free networking event on Thursday 30th April (11.30am-1.30pm).

📍Do you make live events happen, perhaps as a creative yourself, perhaps co-ordinating things for collaborators or your local community?

📍Are you interested in finding out more about being a producer of musical theatre in the Midlands? And about opportunities to get involved locally with new musicals/music theatre?

📍Or are you an early career producer of musical theatre or music in the Midlands and want to find out more about opportunities, and meet some like-minded individuals?

If your answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, then we’d love you to join us!

We will share some industry insights, signpost relevant opportunities, and give you the chance to meet other producers/future producers and discuss what would help you achieve your ambitions in this area.

You don’t need to already be a producer. If musical theatre interests you, and you’re someone who likes making things happen – come join us for a conversation.

Book your free spot here: https://bit.ly/NPFutureProducers

27/01/2025

🎭✨ Ready to witness the FUTURE of musical theatre? 🚀

📣 BEAM2025 is THE ultimate celebration of new musicals in the UK—a dynamic two-day event packed with performances, panels, and unbeatable networking! 🌟

Selected from a nationwide search, you’ll experience excerpts and songs from 28 groundbreaking shows in development AND meet another 12 incredibly exciting writers making their mark on the industry 🎤✍️

🌍 With a proven track record of success (hello, Two Strangers & Operation Mincemeat 🥳), BEAM has helped over 35 musicals hit the stage—and now it's your chance to discover the NEXT big thing before it takes the world by storm. 🌠

🎶 Join the UK’s vibrant new musical theatre community—writers, producers, venues, agents, and more—for two unforgettable days of inspiration and collaboration.

🎟 Early Bird tickets are now on sale! Don’t miss out—secure your spot now and celebrate the power of musical theatre at ! 🎭✨

BEAM2025 is a dynamic two-day industry event that shines a spotlight on the most exciting new musicals being created today. Selected from an extensive nationwide search, this extraordinary showcase features performances from 28 inspiring and diverse shows in development, introductions to talented ne...

19/07/2024

Come along and join us!

✨New Musical Theatre Meetup at the Edinburgh Fringe✨

All writers, directors, producers and other creators of new musical theatre are invited to an informal meet-up event on Monday 12th August, jointly hosted by Mercury Musical Developments , Musical Theatre Network, Birmingham Hippodrome & Capital Theatres.

Come and meet other musical theatre creatives, make connections, share experiences and find out about the work the host organisations are doing to support new shows.

Refreshments will be provided.

📆 Monday 12th August
🕐 4.00-6.00pm
📍 Founders Room, Festival Theatre, Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9FT

🎟️ Attendance is free – please register here: https://bit.ly/4faXxgR

10/07/2024

We are delighted to announce the details of the nationwide search for the UK’s most exciting new musicals to present at BEAM2025, the UK’s biggest showcase of new musical theatre.

The BEAM Showcase is a key part of our mission to support the development of new musical theatre. BEAM2025 will be held on 15th and 16th May 2025 at Birmingham Hippodrome.

This is preceded by a series of pitching days at which new work and artists are identified. We have partnered with theatres and arts organisations around the country to host 21 pitching days in twelve towns and cities across the UK between September and December 2024, and are expecting over 300 new musicals to be pitched.

Each creative or team has 10 minutes to share their idea with an industry panel and up to 40 musicals will be selected for BEAM2025. Around 50 diverse industry experts, including producers and programmers of new musicals, contribute to the selection process through sitting on the pitching day panels. Bespoke development feedback from the panels will be shared with every pitching team at a later date, thanks to funding from PRS Foundation.

Participating venues include Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome, The Lowry, Wales Millennium Centre, Donmar Warehouse, The Other Palace, National Theatre of Scotland and Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

BEAM is designed to encourage and develop musical theatre across the UK, discovering and supporting diverse approaches to the art form, connecting practitioners and finding champions for original work. To date, over 60% of the musicals showcased have gone on to be fully staged or received further development support as a result of BEAM. Current West End shows such as Olivier award-winning Operation Mincemeat and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) are notable BEAM success stories.

BEAM is one of the most inclusive and accessible ways for a new musical to be discovered. It aims to showcase the breadth and variety of new musical theatre throughout the UK, and creatives of all backgrounds are encouraged to bring forward their ideas for new musicals. To book a pitching slot and for more information on the pitching process, please go to the Mercury Musical Developments website.

A free online event will be held on Wednesday 4th September with an expert panel giving advice and tips for pitching, and answering any questions. This panel will include Matthew Eames (Head of Theatres, The Lowry), Kate Golledge (BEAM pitching facilitator/director), Suzanne Gorman (writer/producer) and Kiki Stevenson (Programme Manager, The Other Palace). Registration for this event is now open via our website.

https://www.musicaltheatrenetwork.com/beam

02/05/2024

Work with us!

We are seeking a new Membership Manager, a role focused on retention and expansion of our nationwide network of members – organisations and individuals developing and staging new musicals. If you’re interested in the UK’s fast evolving new musical theatre landscape, this is an opportunity to make a difference as part of an organisation at its heart.

Our current vacancy is a part-time role, initially for one day (seven hours) per week on a fixed term twelve-month contract, after which arrangements will be reviewed (with the possibility of expanding the hours of the role at that point). The role offers a high degree of flexibility, including that the hours could be spread across multiple days, and the role is expected to be worked primarily remotely/from home – although we intend to recruit in the Birmingham/West Midlands area, with attendance at meetings and events in Birmingham expected as needed. As a result this role could suit an individual with a portfolio career, a freelance creative, someone with childcare/caregiver responsibilities, or a semi-retired individual. MTN is committed to diversifying the musical theatre sector, and would welcome applications from individuals from Global Majority heritages or backgrounds under-represented in the industry.

For all information: https://www.musicaltheatrenetwork.com/work-with-us/

09/04/2024

A case study of SpitLip’s Operation Mincemeat will be among the panel sessions at the UK Musical Theatre Conference 2024 at the Royal Court Theatre in London next month.

09/04/2024

With only 3 days to go before the UK Musical Theatre Conference 2024, join us at Royal Court on Friday April 12th for a day packed with panels, networking, discussions and provocations!

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversations shaping the future of musical theatre. Only a few tickets remaining!

22/08/2023

Choreography in New Musicals

TONIGHT

Register for your last minute tickets now: https://shorturl.at/anptF

While many dictionary definitions of 'musical theatre' include dance choreography as a prominent element of the art form, the majority of new musicals staged in the UK in recent years are small scale and without choreography. Yet at the same time notable new UK musicals have emerged which are dance-led or benefit hugely from featuring energetic choreography, and audiences thrill as much as ever to the musical theatre choreography elements of revivals.

This online panel will talk to several of the most exciting choreographers working in UK musical theatre - about the way they collaborate on new musicals, how they work with directors, and choreography's role within the ways the art form of musical theatre is evolving.

Speakers include Dannielle 'Rhimes' Lecointe (Sylvia, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World), Drew McOnie (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's Jesus Christ Superstar, Strictly Ballroom, Cake The Musical), Chi-San Howard (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Oor Wullie), Lizzi Gee (Groundhog Day, Regent's Park Little Shop of Horrors)