News

Mercury Writers Barn 2026: Applications Open

March 12, 2026

Following the success of the Mercury Writers Barn from 2023-25, we are delighted to offer the opportunity for a fourth time in 2026. MMD are thrilled to share that applications are now open for this year’s Barn!

The 2026 Mercury Writers Barn will run from Monday 6th – Friday 10th July, 2026 at The Quadrangle in Shoreham, Kent, and is held in association with Find Your Light Retreat.

Deadline for applications is Tuesday 7th April 2026 at 10am.

Who is eligible and what is the selection criteria?

Any women writers of musical theatre aged 21+ are welcome to apply. Writers can have any level of professional experience. Selection will be made based on the following criteria:

Potential for professional and personal benefit
Community-mindedness and ability to make a positive contribution to the group dynamic
Ensuring a spread of ages and experiences across the group

For more information and to apply

The whole experience was an absolute highlight for me - being immersed in nature, feeling free to express myself and create, feeling welcomed and appreciated, and having time to prioritise my work. I feel enormously boosted and encouraged, as well as feeling part of a really special and talented group of writers. It helped that everyone was so lovely, and that we all felt so cared for and looked after by the MMD and Find Your Light teams. This week was such a wonderful gift, and such a great way of using MMD's resources.

2024 Barn Attendee

I really like that I had a chance to collaborate with people, which is something that I've never done. It was really nice to work with women I've never worked with before and try new things.

2025 Barn Attendee

The whole experience was just incredible, the chance to meet other women who are working in musical theatre and to just talk, listen to each other, and support one another was truly special.

2023 Barn Attendee

It was a joy to be in the company of so many creative, generous and talented woman and to share experiences in what felt like a safe and supportive space. It was a really lovely group with a wide variety of experiences. So hugely inspiring!!

2023 Barn Attendee

This retreat gave me an extended time to really find peace within my writing practice and my identity as a writer. It was an anxiety-free time of pure affirmation, which renewed my confidence as an artist and allowed me to create meaningful connections with like-minded female writers.

2024 Barn Attendee

Done is Perfect – a blog by Hannah Ost

I was making tea in a barn, in the middle of nowhere when I heard the news. A big, dusty,...

Done is Perfect – a blog by Hannah Ost

I was making tea in a barn, in the middle of nowhere when I heard the news. A big, dusty, beautiful barn with wonderful people, who gathered around me to tell me the application I’d made for a commission to...

July 2, 2024

Mercury Writers Barn – a blog by Keia Johnson

Take a city girl from Memphis, Tennessee, who’s never spent one day...

News

Mercury Writers Barn 2026: Applications Open

Following the success of the Mercury Writers Barn from 2023-25, we are delighted to offer the opportunity for a fourth time in 2026. MMD are thrilled to share that applications are now open for this year’s Barn!

Who is eligible and what is the selection criteria?

Done is Perfect – a blog by Hannah Ost

Done is Perfect – a blog by Hannah Ost

Mercury Writers Barn – a blog by Keia Johnson

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