NATALIA SCORER

Executive Director

Prior to joining MMD, Natalia was Creative Programme Director at Tall Stories Theatre Company, managing a range of projects including artist development schemes, industry workshops and youth/community projects, as well as running the Tall Stories Studio, a new rehearsal and performance space in Islington.

Before this she was part of the producing team, working on national and international tours and West End runs. Prior to Tall Stories, Natalia worked at Jessica Ronane Casting on West End children’s casting, as a Venue Director for the New York Fringe Festival, and began her career as a stage management member of the National Youth Theatre. Natalia is also a director and dramaturg, focusing on new and contemporary musicals. Dramaturgy credits include ‘Stay Awake, Jake’ by Tim Gilvin (winner of the 2014 S&S Award). Directing credits include ‘Ordinary Days’ (Rosemary Branch Theatre), ‘The Last Five Years’ (Edinburgh Fringe) and, as associate director, ‘The Snail and the Whale’ (UK Tour and West End).

natalia@mercurymusicals.com

MARTIN JACKSON

General Manager

I’ve loved musical theatre ever since I was taken to see the Cameron Mackintosh revival of My Fair Lady by my parents. I’d seen classic film musicals on TV, but that was my first experience of a big, lavish, stage production and I was on a high for a long time afterwards. Other formative experiences include seeing the original production of Jesus Christ Superstar on tour shortly after it closed in the West End, and the original film of West Side Story, which remains my favourite musical of all. I went on to the National Youth Theatre, read English at Durham University and continued to do as much acting, singing, dancing and, eventually, directing as I could.

I joined MMD, following a career change from retail management with Harrods, at an exciting time in MMD’s history as we received Arts Council England funding for the first time in the spring of 2012 and moved into our first office at the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End. The musical theatre landscape has changed a  lot since then, and I’m proud to be part of MMD’s on-going work to help nurture writers of new musical theatre across the UK.

In addition to working for MMD part-time, I’m assistant to a two-time Olivier Award-winning actress, a distinguished writer and broadcaster specialising in opera, classical music and musical theatre, who hosts a regular series of live shows at Crazy Coqs, among others. I also assist a classical concert manager with her web content and social media, programming classical piano and chamber music recitals at venues such as Wigmore Hall, King’s Place, St John’s Smith Square, Leighton House and Cadogan Hall.

Every day is different, but there is also a huge overlap between these worlds, which makes for an incredibly varied and fun work life. I feel very fortunate to be doing something I absolutely love!

martin@mercurymusicals.com

KATE MCKEOWN

Membership & Projects Manager

Kate is responsible for Membership and Communications at Mercury Musical Developments (and Musical Theatre Network), joining the team in February 2022. She works across managing both the communications strategy and supporting and developing the membership body for both companies as well as championing new British musical theatre.

Kate’s love for theatre grew from a young age, watching Singing in the Rain on repeat and then annoying her family every morning by belting the song “Good Morning” around the entire house! After discovering this love for theatre, she danced, sang, appeared in every stage version of Calamity Jane in Dublin she could find and, after graduating with a Business and Management degree, she decided to swivel over to the theatre industry in the UK. With a MA in Musical Theatre under her belt she subsequently became a jobbing actor, touring all over the world specialising in puppetry and children’s theatre.

After covid hit, Kate set up a very successful radio station and moved into the world of producing. She even had a radio show called “New Musical Mondays” which was a show all about new musical theatre across Ireland and the UK. Consequently, starting to find herself in a management role rather than an on-stage role, Kate decided to pivot her career and focus on supporting talented artists achieve their goals and dreams, help sell shows, make shows happen and connect artists to people who might be able to help develop their work.

Kate has always been a huge advocate for new musicals and is so excited to be part of this exciting growing community.

kate@mercurymusicals.com