Two programmes established and overseen by multi award-winning musical theatre writing partnership, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe for the development and showcasing of British musical theatre writers.
In 1985, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe were the recipients of the inaugural Vivian Ellis Prize for their musical Just So. Winning the prize introduced them to many leading lights of the musical theatre world, whose advice and support in championing new writing became so important to them. Since 2008, they have passed on this developmental support to other writers with the creation of the Stiles + Drewe Prize.
Excellence in new musical theatre writing is recognised via the Best New Song Prize, produced by MMD. Since 2016 the offer has expanded to offer a biennial Mentorship awarded to one show.
Best New Song Prize
The Best New Song Prize is awarded on an annual basis recognising an outstanding song from a new musical written by a member of MMD.
Between 2008 and 2020, this was presented in conjunction with the Stephen Sondheim Society’s Student Performer of the Year. Since 2020, the Song Prize has been a stand-alone celebration of new writing in which 12 finalists have their songs showcased in a live concert, performed by West End talent.
A panel of industry judges, including George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, award the Best New Song Prize and the winner receives a prize of £1,000 to put towards developing their work.
Applications for the 2024 Best New Song Prize have now closed.
What happens next?
- Every submission will be assessed by a panel of three or four industry judges in round one, and the highest scoring songs will be assessed by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe in round two.
- All applicants should hear back by early August.
- The twelve finalist songs will be showcased at the Song Prize concert in December 2024.
2023 Best New Song Prize concert
Mentorship Award
Generously supported by Musical Theatre International (Europe), the Mentorship Award provides bespoke support and showcasing opportunities to one writer or writing team over a 12 month period.
The Award takes place biennially and focuses on the development of one show.
Applications for the next Mentorship Award will take place in 2025. In order to apply, writers must have a complete first draft of their show, must be resident in the UK, and the show cannot already have had a professional production.
The 2023-24 Mentorship recipient is Maz O’Connor, with her show The Wife of Michael Cleary. The full-length showcase will take place in October 2024.
Applications for the next Mentorship Award will open in late 2024/early 2025.
About Stiles + Drewe
Stiles + Drewe’s shows have been seen all over the world and have been translated into many languages. Their scores include the international smash-hit Cameron Mackintosh/Disney production of Mary Poppins, the Olivier Award-winning Honk!, which has been seen by more than 6 million people in over 8,000 productions, and the West End productions of Half A Sixpence and The Wind in the Willows. Their other shows are Soho Cinders, Betty Blue Eyes, Travels With My Aunt, Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure, Just So and Tutankhamun.
George and Anthony have also completed a trilogy of 50-minute musicals for younger audiences, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Billy Goats Gruff and The Three Little Pigs. Identical, a new musical based on the novel The Parent Trap, opened to critical acclaim in the UK in summer 2022.
Mentorship Award Recipients
- 2023: Maz O’Connor for The Wife of Michael Cleary
- 2022: Omar Baroud for After Elijah
- 2018: Jim Barne & Kit Buchan for The Season, now titled Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)
- 2017: Ben Glasstone for Reanimator: A Zombie Musical
- 2016: Darren Clark & Rhys Jennings for The Wicker Husband
Song Prize Winners
- 2023: Rachel Walker Mason & Nina Sundstrom for ‘Drowning Without Water’ from The Circle
- 2022: Flora Leo for ‘One Last Request’ from The Most Beautiful Suicide2021: Eden Treadwell for ‘Those Stars ‘ from Galaxy Train
- 2020: Amir Shoenfeld & Matthew Greene for ‘I’m Your Guy’ from Benny In Beta
- 2019: Theo Jamieson for “Yes, Amazing” from Kali’s Toenail
- 2018: Adam Wachter for “You and Me” from Any Minute Now
- 2017: Claire Rivers and Tom Lees for “Gerry And Me” from P.S. I Love You
- 2016: Tim Connor for “Back To School” from Heart of Winter
- 2015: Richy Hughes and Joseph Finlay for “Don’t Look Down” from The Superhero
- 2014: Tamar Broadbent for “Library Boy” and “The Procrastination Song”
- 2013: Tim Sutton for “That Once-in-a-Lifetime Feeling”
- 2012: Douglas Hodge for “Powercut” and Dougal Irvine for “Do You Want A Baby, Baby” from The Busker’s Opera (joint winners)
- 2011: Joint winners Tim Sutton for “I Am” and Eric Angus and Paul James for “Kaboom! Kapow!” from The Boy Who Fell Into A Book
- 2010: Gwyneth Herbert for “Lovely London Town” from The A to Z of Mrs P
- 2009: Olly Ashmore for “Wake Up TV” from Hot Flush 2
- 2008: Mark Allcorn for “My Turn Soon” from Singles.
Member Spotlight
Lewis Cornay
This year Lewis’ new play ‘Cows Milk’ was given at place at Omnibus Theatres Engine Room where is received its… Read more
Learn more Lewis Cornay
This year Lewis’ new play ‘Cows Milk’ was given at place at Omnibus Theatres Engine Room where is received its first public reading. He’s writing music and lyrics for new young adult show ‘You’re Not The Boss of Me’ for Nosy Crow/Salisbury Playhouse. His musical ‘KIDNEY4U’ is currently in development with support from Birmingham Hippodrome.
Last year Lewis was awarded the New Musical Theatre Award, giving him a commission to write a brand new musical for British Youth Music Theatre. ‘Harry & Greta’ received its debut production at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich this summer.
Emily Rose Simons
Emily Rose Simons (she/her) is a musical theatre writer, composer and sound designer. Composer-Lyricist credits include: Confessions of A Rabbi’s… Read more
Learn more Emily Rose Simons
Emily Rose Simons (she/her) is a musical theatre writer, composer and sound designer. Composer-Lyricist credits include: Confessions of A Rabbi’s Daughter (The Other Palace, September 2022) & The Inconvenient Miracle (Episcopal Actors Guild Space Grant Recipient). Composer credits include: Seven Fishes (Anatolian Film Festival), The F*ck Am I Doing? (NYMF, Brighton Fringe) and Wendell & Pan (The Tank NYC). Sound Design credits include: Pickle (Park Theatre), Super Human (New Diorama Theatre) and 39 & Counting (Park Theatre). The Songs of Emily Rose Podcast is her monthly “three songs and a bit spiel” available on Spotify and other podcast outlets, and her sheet music is available on www.NewUKMusicals.co.uk She is an alum of the Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program at NYU, Book, Music, Lyrics workshops and the Advance Mercury Musical Developments Lab; and a finalist in the 2021 Styles and Drew Best New Song Competition. www.songsofemilyrose.com