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Types of memberships

We have three types of membership: UK Writer Membership, International Writer Membership, and Student Writer Membership. Your membership lasts for one year from the date of joining. We want to ensure you get the most out of membership with us.

To find out what benefits MMD membership can offer you click here.

UK Membership

This membership is for all writers of musical theatre throughout the UK, whether you are an established professional, an emerging talent or a writer new to the form. This membership is for one individual – it cannot be shared, and is for the flat annual fee.

£105

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UK Writer Membership

This membership is for one individual – it cannot be shared, and is for the flat annual fee. This membership is for all writers of Musical Theatre throughout the UK, whether you are an established professional, an emerging talent or a writer new to the form.
£105.00 per year
Pay by Direct Debit Pay by Card

International Membership

This membership is for all international writers of musical theatre, whether you are an established professional, an emerging talent or a writer new to the form. Individuals must have an overseas address. This membership is for one individual – it cannot be shared, and is for the flat annual fee.

£65

Join now

International Writer Membership

This membership is for one individual – it cannot be shared, and is for the flat annual fee. This membership is for all international writers of Musical Theatre, whether you are an established professional, an emerging talent or a writer new to the form. Individuals must have an overseas address.
£65.00 per year
Pay by Direct Debit Pay by Card

Student Membership

This is a student membership and is available to those currently studying, or within 2 years of graduating from their studies. Evidence of student status or recent graduation will be requested on sign up. This membership cannot be shared with other individuals.

£55

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Student Writer Membership

This is a student membership and is available to those currently studying, or within 2 years of graduating from their studies. Evidence of student status or recent graduation will be requested on sign up. This membership cannot be shared with other individuals.
£55.00 per year
Pay by Direct Debit Pay by Card

 

Mercury Musical Developments is dedicated to maintaining a respectful, inclusive and supportive community of writers. Please read our Code of Conduct and Terms & Conditions.

If you have any queries regarding MMD membership, please contact Projects & Membership Manager at kate@mercurymusicals.com or on 020 3951 7961.

At the beginning of our careers, MMD was a safe haven to explore and learn, while fostering important industry connections with new collaborative partners and colleagues. A few years on, MMD continues to be an invaluable source of professional support, development opportunities and community. With regular workshops, BEAM, open mic nights, social events and the excellent fortnightly newsletter, MMD membership pays dividends worth far beyond the membership fee. But most importantly, MMD is the heart of the UK’s musical theatre new writing community, always eager, uplifting and responsive in supporting their members.

Caitlyn Burt and Amir Shoenfeld, MMD Members

Benefits

By joining Mercury Musical Developments you automatically become part of a vibrant and ever growing community of writers and artists across the UK and internationally. Please look around our website to find out more about what we do and how MMD membership will benefit you.

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 are ambassadors on behalf of all our members. At MMD our aim is to support and represent the writers who are shaping the future of British musical theatre.

There are so many benefits to becoming a member of MMD. Below are a few highlights:

Craft

  • Lionel Bart Memorial Masterclasses – free masterclasses with the opportunity to receive feedback and learn from industry figures such as Claude-Michel Schönberg, Howard Goodall, Lotte Wakeham, and Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary.
  • Assistance from MMD staff on finding collaborators
  • One free general advice session with MMD staff upon joining
  • Discounted rates for receiving professional feedback on your script/show through our Feedback & Advice Service
  • Apply for our Advanced Writers Labs for regular peer-to-peer support and feedback
  • MTI Stiles + Drewe Mentorship Award – the selected show receives 12 months of mentoring and support from Stiles + Drewe, culminating in a fully-funded industry showcase in London
  • The Mercury Writers’ Barn is an annual five-day countryside retreat for female identifying members
  • Apply for the Skills Fund

Career

  • Talks and Q&As (both on and offline) on useful topics such as fundraising, contracts, rights and royalties, how to pitch, etc.
  • Access to free legal advice sessions
  • Use of our central London meeting room for read-throughs (subject to availability) free of charge
  • Promote your musical to the new MT community via Friday Mail Out.
  • Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize – 12 finalists have their song performed professionally at The Other Palace, winning writer receives cash prize.
  • Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer Scheme, a six-month paid placement at a producing theatre

Community

  • Receive the fortnightly Friday Mail Out email, packed with opportunities, call-outs, discounted show tickets and musical theatre news.
  • Regular Open Mic nights – any member can present a song to a friendly and supportive crowd
  • Members’ networking events, quizzes and Christmas socials
  • Discounted tickets and post-show talks for new musicals
  • Discounted tickets to attend BEAM – the UK’s industry showcase of new musicals (in May 2025)
  • Discounted tickets to attend the UK Musical Theatre Conference (in April 2024)

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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 National Portfolio Organisation which enables us to run individual projects and a number of projects in partnership.

To learn more about the benefits of either organisation, contact Kate McKeown, joint Projects & Membership Manager at kate@mercurymusicals.com. To learn more about MTN click here.

MMD is for composers, lyricists and book writers of musical theatre

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.

Join MMD

MTN is for organisations and professionals staging or supporting new 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. Support they offer is mostly about the business end of putting on a musical, as well as working nationally to build connections and using their networks to enhance what their members can do.

Join MTN