MMD or MTN?

Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) and Musical Theatre Network (MTN) work in close partnership with each other but are two separate organisations. We receive Arts Council England funding jointly as a Sector Support Organisation which enables us to run individual projects and a number of projects in partnership. These include the BEAM Showcase, our biennial showcase of new musical theatre, a biennial UK Industry Musical Theatre Conference in ‘non-BEAM’ years, the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer Scheme and a number of other training, showcasing and networking initiatives.

Both MTN and MMD are membership organisations, and our names sound a bit similar. All of which can make it a bit confusing for people wanting to work with us, or thinking about becoming a member of one or the other organisation.

What’s the difference between MMD & MTN?

MMD is a registered charity and all about nurturing new musical theatre writing and our membership is therefore open to writers. We know that writing musicals is hard and can often be a lonely business. So our members have access to a range of showcasing and development initiatives to help further their craft and their careers as bookwriters, lyricists and composers. We offer workshops, masterclasses, seminars and writer groups designed to support those who are new to the genre, emerging talents or seasoned professionals. We actively seek out commissions, build professional networks and advocate on behalf of all our members. We have a growing community of over 500 writers, both across the UK and internationally, and our community is a supportive and friendly one. MMD exists to champion and nurture the writers who are shaping the future of British musical theatre.

MTN is all about creating the environment that allows new musical theatre to flourish. Membership is open to anyone working professionally in musical theatre other than writers and is primarily made up of producers, venues, directors, agents and educational institutions. This is because the support they offer is really about the business end of putting on a musical – they run events on things like fundraising, touring your show and theatre tax relief, as well as working nationally to build connections and use their networks to enhance what their members can do. MTN looks at the sector overall in order to identify and then fill the gaps – creating initiatives to bring a diverse range of artists into the artform, encourage experimentation with new ways of making work, and find new ways by which that work can be seen more widely. MTN does have members who are also writers and composers but these tend to be those who are self-producing their own work and who are interested in the connections MTN can help them make.

So which one should I join?

If you want to write musicals, or if you are already writing musicals, then your first port of call should be MMD. No matter your level of experience, MMD membership is open to bookwriters, lyricists and composers.

If you are working professionally in musical theatre, or are interested in working professionally in musical theatre in a capacity other than as a writer, then MTN should be your first port of call.

We look forward to working with you via whichever route we meet you.

To learn more about the benefits of MMD Membership, and the work we do, click here or contact Kate, Joint Membership & Communications Manager at kate@mercurymusicals.com. To learn more about MTN click here.