Talent Development Partners 2019: Mercury Music Developments & Music Theatre Network
BEAM:2020 comprises both UK-wide pitching days – identifying diverse and talented writers of musical theatre – and a two day national showcase, giving the writers we discover a professional platform. BEAM is co-produced by Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) and Musical Theatre Network (MTN). As membership organisations, MMD & MTN support professional artists writing, developing and staging new musical theatre in the UK. We strengthen the sector and artform development through year-round talent and professional development opportunities, networking, showcasing and advocacy to help new, excellent and diverse musical theatre achieve its potential in the UK.
The last BEAM took place in 2018 and was the largest ever industry showcase of new British musical theatre writing. Work was found from around the UK via 14 pitching days. For BEAM:2020 we’ll expand our search for the widest range of emerging to established music makers – both those with a track record in musical theatre, and those established in other fields of songwriting/composition such as hip hop/rap and jazz. BEAM diversifies those writing for musical theatre, offering professional exposure to music creators selected from across all genres, and thus developing the artform. For the first time ever, the showcase will be outside London with pitching days uk wide. The success of BEAM:2018 was due to the incredibly high standard of work presented. Over two-thirds of work presented at BEAM:2018 has gone on to be commissioned, further developed or produced. The event was described as a ‘game changer’ by industry attendees.