The MAST placement is expected to run June – November 2024 and the National Theatre of Scotland placement to run September 2024 – February 2025, and applicants should be free to commit throughout that period. The successful recipient receives a fee calculated to cover six months of their time, and it’s expected the successful applicant will be based in Southampton or Glasgow for at least a significant portion of the six-month placement. The exact dates and projects to be worked on will be agreed between the composer and host organisation. NTS, MMD and MTN are committed to diversifying voices in new musical theatre writing and broadening the art form, and writers from backgrounds under-represented in musical theatre writing are encouraged to consider applying.

These placements will consist of a range of bespoke professional development opportunities.

For the MAST placement these may include:

• Collaborating with the Participation department to develop a new piece for performance by MAST’s young company as part of their Jane Austen Celebrations (performed in summer 2025, after the placement is completed) – the placement could include a research and development process for this new work with the company.
• Shadow creative team on the Christmas production ‘The Wind in the Willows’ from audition through to rehearsal.
• Shadow creatives working on a new early years play with music ‘My Paper Boat’ developed for schools touring.
• Join Artist Network and take part in CPD and development opportunities through Propel, MAST’s Artist Development Scheme.
• Time and space to work on your own musical in development with support from the Creative Producer and Artist Development team.

For the National Theatre of Scotland placement these may include:

• Observing/shadowing the R&D process to two/three new large-scale musicals including the adaptation of a novel, a TV series and a new original community focused musical, led by director Andrew Panton (Artistic Director Dundee Rep) and other artists tbc.
• Time and space to write your own musical with support from the Artistic Development team including access to space, Dramaturgical support and opportunities to share progress with the NTS team and wider industry as co-designed.
• Participate in NTS’ artist development programme, including leading a musical theatre-focused session or two.
• Network and exchange expertise with peer group of other NTS artists in residence, associates etc.
• Opportunity to collaborate on the development of short digital films and other digital/hybrid projects.
• Observing rehearsals for NTS led or associate productions, and seeing work produced elsewhere in Scotland.
• Working with the Creative Engagement team on development of new work with communities and/or schools.

To be eligible to apply:

• You will need to be a musical theatre composer or a writing team of two who have already had some work professionally produced (which can include paid work for a drama college or other training institute). By musical theatre, we mean any theatre which significantly features characters singing (not including work which is defined as opera by its context or creatives).
• You must be resident in the UK.
• We are looking for a clear on-going commitment to working in musical theatre.
• We encourage applicants from the broadest diversity of backgrounds, cultural heritages and identities.
• Applicants will need to be self-sufficient, adaptable, and able to take the initiative to make the most of working within a busy producing theatre.
• The successful recipients will need to be members of Mercury Musical Developments to receive the grant; however, you do not need to be a member to apply.

You will be asked to upload examples of your work (three sound files of no more than 6 minutes each, including at least two songs) that reflect your writing for musical theatre and the diversity of your work (for a writing team, all three examples should be of the collaboration). You will be asked about a musical theatre project you would like to develop during the placement. If you have any questions about your application, you can email martin@mercurymusicals.com or he can be reached on 020 3951 7961.

Four two-person writing team applicants will be shortlisted for the MAST placement, and five individual composer applicants will be shortlisted for the NTS placement. All shortlisted applicants will be asked to complete a practical composing exercise, with £150 per individual paid towards time spent on this exercise.

Applications will be assessed anonymously by groups of experienced industry practitioners.

Timetable:

All applications must be received by midnight on Monday 5^th February 2024
If you have been shortlisted, we will aim to let you know by Monday 11^th March
We expect interviews for the MAST placement to take place week commencing Monday 8^th April
and interviews for the National Theatre of Scotland placement week commencing Monday 15^th April

Please note the above is subject to change, but we will keep you updated at all times.

The successful recipient will need to be a member of Mercury Musical Developments in order to receive the grant; however, you do not need to be a member to apply.

We look forward to hearing from you.