We partner with theatres and arts organisations around the country to host the pitching days. Each artist or team has ten minutes to share their idea with an industry panel and from these pitches we will select around 30 musicals to showcase at BEAM2027.
The panels will typically include artistic or programming staff members from the host venue, plus other producers or developers of new work, so this is an opportunity to get your work in front of them. Everyone who pitches will receive written feedback from the panel on their pitch and idea.
Please tell us about any access requirements on the form when you sign up and we will do our best to accommodate.
If you are working on a new musical, we want to hear from you! Check you are eligible below and then select which pitching day you would like to attend.
Please note: In the event that a pitching day no longer has any slots left and you cannot attend a different day, please join the waiting list for your preferred venue. If you have any questions that are not answered in our FAQs, please email info@mercurymusicals.com.
Eligibility
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Age and experience
- You must be over 18 and have a professional track record of past creative work, with at least one professional performing arts credit (in any discipline). If you are under 25, you do not need a professional credit but should be able to demonstrate commitment to the performing arts through university/college productions, youth theatre, etc.
- BEAM is for artists at an early, mid or advanced stage in their careers – you can be working on your first musical, have had previous shows performed in the West End, or anything in between.
- Producers, directors and creatives from non-writing disciplines are welcome to pitch, but if you’re not going to be one of the writing team, we’d expect at least one of the writers to be named in the pitch.
- Each writing team can pitch one show only. If you are part of multiple writing teams you can pitch one show with each; we would consider each team a separate entity.
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Location and availability
- At least half of the core creative team must be based in the UK.
- You need to be available in w/c 17th May 2027 to come to BEAM2027 at Royal & Derngate.
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Your show
- The show you are pitching should be intended for live performance and song should be an integral part of the show for us to consider it a musical.
- It can have been commissioned or workshopped, but it can’t have received a full professional production already (past student or non-professional stagings are fine). We define a professional production as one that was fully staged and the cast and crew were paid.
- It can be at an early stage of development (not fully written) but you will need to have a good idea of your artistic vision and the story you want to tell, and have at least one song written.
- Shows that you have pitched for BEAM before are not eligible, unless the show has been substantially revised or expanded. Please let us know if you think you fall into this category and we will agree this on an individual basis.
- We are looking for a wide range of work to be included in BEAM, representative of the broadest diversity of people living in the UK today – diverse not just in terms of whose stories are being told, but also in terms of the styles of music and art forms used to tell those stories.
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Intellectual property
- The musical you’re pitching must be wholly the intellectual property of the creatives directly involved. Adaptations of a book/film written by someone who’s not involved, or the use of existing songs written by someone else, are only eligible if you’ve already confirmed permission from those who own the copyright in these materials.
Pitching Days 2026
Leeds Playhouse
Tuesday 8th September
Leeds
Panellists are expected to include Tom Wright (Artistic Director, Leeds Playhouse) and Jamie Fletcher (Associate Artistic Director, Leeds Playhouse).
BOOKING OPENBirmingham Hippodrome
Thursday 1st October
Birmingham
Panellists are expected to include Deirdre O’Halloran (Head of New Musical Theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome).
BOOKING OPENTheatro Technis
Monday 5th October
Kings Cross, London
Panellists are expected to include Kerry Michael (Creative Director, Theatro Technis) and Laila Alj (Producer, Theatro Technis).
BOOKING OPENBristol Old Vic
Wednesday 7th October
Bristol
Panellists are expected to include Ben Attebury (Literary Manager, Bristol Old Vic).
BOOKING OPENHoxton Hall
Thursday 15th October
Hackney, London
Panellists are expected to include Stuart Cox (Chief Executive, Hoxton Hall).
BOOKING OPENMAST Mayflower Studios
Thursday 22nd October
Southampton
Panellists are expected to include Jamie Smith (Producer, MAST).
BOOKING OPENWatford Palace Theatre
Wednesday 28th October
Watford
Panellists are expected to include Kat Gibson (Producer, Watford Palace Theatre).
BOOKING OPENLiverpool Everyman Theatre
Wednesday 4th November
Liverpool
Panellists are expected to include Erenie Mavrommatis (Artistic Administrator, Everyman Theatre).
BOOKING OPENBarnfield Theatre (Exeter Northcott)
Tuesday 17th November
Exeter
Panellists are expected to include Cait Laws (Programme Producer, Northcott Theatre) and Sam Parker (Artist Development Producer, Northcott Theatre).
BOOKING OPEN