Mercury Musical Developments, Musical Theatre Network and Royal & Derngate Northampton Announce Incredible Line-Up for BEAM2020

Today, Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network, in partnership with Royal & Derngate Northampton, are delighted to announce the line-up for their upcoming BEAM2020 showcase. BEAM2020 is the UK’s leading showcase for new British musical theatre writing and will take place on Thursday 26th March and Friday 27th March 2020 at Royal & Derngate, Northampton.

Alongside presentations of 41 new musicals in development, BEAM will include masterclasses, networking opportunities, panel discussions and an evening, public-facing showcase in association with ALP’s Signal on Thursday 26th March. BEAM2020 is the largest marketplace of its kind - bringing together key industry figures and talent.  BEAM will contribute to three years of developing new musical theatre by a consortium led by Royal & Derngate, funded by an Ambition for Excellence grant from Arts Council England. You can book tickets for BEAM2020 at here or by ringing 01604 624811.

The following new British musicals will receive a 25 minute showcase at BEAM2020:

BLACK POWER DESK
By Urielle Klein-Mekong (Writer / Composer) and Richard Melkonian (Co-Composer / MD)
Black Power Desk is produced by Steph Weller and directed by Miranda Cromwell

FAT BOY SWIM
By Catherine Forde (Writer) and Michael John McCarthy (Composer), aka. Visible Fictions.
Fat Boy Swim is produced by Laura Penny and directed by Dougie Irvine

GIN CRAZE     
By April de Angelis (Book / Lyrics) and Lucy Rivers (Music / Lyrics)

ON HOSTILE GROUND
By Darren Clark (Lyricist), Michael Henry (Composer / Lyricist) and Juliet Gilkes Romero (Bookwriter)
On Hostile Ground is directed by Charlie Westenra, with dramaturgy by Charlie Westenra

PERFECT PITCH MUSICALS will also present an array of new British musicals in a 25 minute showcase, produced by Andy Barnes and Wendy Barnes.

YOU AND I
By Cordelia O'Driscoll (Composer / Lyricist / Musical Director) and Tom Williams (Book)
You and I is produced by Jack Robertson and directed by Elin Schofield          

The following new British musicals will receive a 10 minute showcase at BEAM2020:

AKHENATEN
By Tom Brennan (Director / Writer), Tom Crosley-Thorne (Composer / Writer) and Jack Drewry (Musical Director / Writer)

THE ART OF SKIPPING
By Eleanor Griffiths (Composer / Lyricist)

THE BLACKFRIARS BOYS
By Sarah Middleton (Bookwriter / Lyricist) and Josh Sneesby (Composer / Lyricist)

BACK IN THE DAYTIMER        
By Ajay Srivastav (Composer / Lyricist) and Sumerah Srivastava (Bookwriter)

BOMBAY SUPERSTAR         
By Samir Bhamra (Writer)
Bombay Superstar is directed by Samir Bhamra and produced by Phizzical

BRISTOL BUS BOYCOTT        
By Tim Sutton (Composer / Lyricist) and Roy Williams (Bookwriter / Lyricist) 
Bristol Bus Boycott is produced by China Plate, conceived and directed by Christopher Haydon

CANON            
By Jessica Butcher (Writer) and Anoushka Lucas (Composer / Lyricist)
Canon is directed by Jessica Edwards

CARNATION FOR A SONG     
By Joseph Atkins (Composer / Lyricist) and Megan Cronin (Writer / Director)
Carnation For A Song is produced by Imogen Brodie and Dan de la Motte

COOPERS HILL CHEESE ROLLING AND WAKE
By Patrick Steed (Composer) and Mike Stocks (Bookwriter / Lyricist)

COVEN
By Rebecca Brewer (Writer / Performer) and Daisy Chute (Writer / Performer)

FOLLOW THE LIGHT  
By Ruth Chan (Story / Composer), Jonathan Man (Story / Dramaturg) and Simon Wu (Book / Lyrics)

GO FORTH AND SLAY
By Darren Clark (Composer / Lyricist / MD) and Anne-Marie Piazza (Bookwriter / Actor)

A HISTORY OF PAPER           
By Oliver Emanuel (Bookwriter / Lyricist) and Gareth Williams (Composer)

IF I AM REAL
By Kate Marlais (Composer) and Alex Young (Writer)

AN IMPROBABLE MUSICAL
Improvised by the company – a different show every time.

IN THESE WALLS
By Zara Nunn (Composer / Lyricist)

KEMPTON BUNTON  
By Luke Bateman (Composer), Richy Hughes (Lyricist) and Richard Voyce (Bookwriter)

THE LAST POST
By Henry Jenkinson (Composer / Lyricist) and Ellen Robertson (Bookwriter / Lyricist)

LESBIAN PIRATES! 
By Natasha Sutton Williams (Writer / Composer / Performer)
Lesbian Pirates! is produced by Steph Weller, with music performed by Phil Blandford

LOVE THY FRO           
By Stephen Adu-Ontoh  (Writer), Casey Elisha (Writer), Malachi Green (Writer) and Enoch Ronald Nsubuga (Writer)

THE PHASE
By Meg McGrady (Writer / Composer) and Zoe Morris (Writer / Lyricist)
The Phase is produced by James Leggat and Katie Wilmore, with musical direction by Jake Pople

THE RHYTMICS
By Poppy Burton-Morgan (Writer / Director) and Ben Glasstone (Composer / Lyricist)

THE RUSH
By Ben Goddard (Composer / MD) and Peter Rowe (Bookwriter / Lyricist / Director)

SCOUTS! THE MUSICAL
By Sam Cochrane (Bookwriter / Lyricist / Co-Director / Producer) and David Fallon (Composer / Lyricist / MD), aka. Gigglemug Theatre

SISTER           
By Nishla Smith (Creator / Composer)
Sister is arranged and musically directed by Tom Harris with visual design by Luca Shaw

SHE DEVIL!     
By Hannah-Jane Fox (Composer / Lyricist), Andrew Holdsworth (Composer / Lyricist) and Nigel Planer (Bookwriter)
She Devil! is produced by Rina Gill and Gary McQuinn.

SHIPTON
By Daniel Foxx (Writer), Tim Gilvin (Composer) and Robyn Grant (Bookwriter / Lyricist), aka. Fat Rascal Theatre

SHONA
By Neo Vilakazi (Composer / Writer)

SPARROW GIRL
By Maimuna Memon (Composer / Lyricist)

SOUTHBOUND
By Kate Mulgrew (Bookwriter) and Vikki Stone (Composer / Lyricist / MD)

STAGES
By Christian Czornyj (Bookwriter / Composer / Lyricist)
Stages is directed by Adam Lenson

Y TYLWYTH
By Gwyneth Glyn (Writer) and Twm Morys (Writer / Composer)
Y Tylwyth is directed by Angharad Lee, with dramaturgy from Angharad Lee

UNTITLED
By Ellie Coote (Bookwriter) and Jack Godfrey (Composer / Lyricist)
Untitled is produced by Vicky Graham

THE VELVETEEN DAUGHTER
Jen Green (Bookwriter / Composer / Lyricist) and Caroline Wigmore (Bookwriter / Composer / Lyricist)

WASTERS
By Jim Barne (Composer), Kit Buchan (Bookwriter / Lyricist) and Poppy Burton-Morgan (Bookwriter / Director)

About BEAM2020
BEAM2020 is a two day industry showcase of new British musical theatre co-produced by Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network in partnership with Royal & Derngate Northampton. The showcase will take place on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 March 2020 at Royal & Derngate, 19-21 Guildhall Rd, Northampton, NN1 1DP.

#BEAM2020 #BeAtBEAM

About Mercury Musical Developments 
Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) is the UK’s only membership organisation dedicated to developing new musical theatre writing. We nurture and support bookwriters, composers and lyricists through a range of showcasing and development initiatives, including seminars, masterclasses and workshops. Our initiatives not only support writers in developing and continuing their craft but help further their careers. We actively seek out commissions, build professional networks and advocate on behalf of all our members. At MMD our aim is to support and champion writers who are shaping the future of British musical theatre. 

About Musical Theatre Network
Musical Theatre Network (MTN) brings people and resources together to improve infrastructure and opportunities for new musical theatre in the UK. Its membership is a national network of venues, producers, colleges, organisations and individuals. In partnership with its members, MTN works to strengthen and diversify the new musical theatre sector nationwide, and so support development of the artform.

About Royal & Derngate Northampton
Royal & Derngate Northampton is the main venue for arts and entertainment in Northamptonshire, with attendances for live events and films numbering 358,000 last year, and an additional 119,000 seeing its work on tour at over 100 venues. Named Regional Theatre of the Year in The Stage Awards in 2011 (and nominated again in 2016), the theatre won the UK Theatre Awards for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre in 2015 and Best Touring Production in 2016 for The Herbal Bed, and The Stage Ensemble Award and a Fringe First for Education, Education, Education in 2017. In 2019 Royal & Derngate was nominated for the UK Theatre ‘Excellence in Inclusivity’ Award.

Alongside touring nationally and internationally Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton productions have transferred to the West End and Broadway as well as Shakespeare’s Globe, the National Theatre, The Southbank Centre and the Lyric Hammersmith. Productions transferring to London recently include Education, Education, Education, The Worst Witch, Our Lady of Kibeho, The Singing Mermaid and Touching the Void. The venue also presents a diverse range of visiting productions on both the Derngate and Royal stages, featuring musicals, dance, comedy and music. In 2019 the venue hosted the UK Musical Theatre Conference, Devoted & Disgruntled 13 and the International Teach First conference.