2022 Birmingham Hippodrome

The 2022 Conference called “Worlds to change and worlds to win” looked at areas where musical theatre is making a difference within the performing arts and wider society, and poised to make more significant impacts over the next decade. In a post-pandemic world, it seems a time when the world needs more musical theatre. Session topics included how musical theatre can engage audiences with the climate crisis, musical theatre that amplifies the voices of particular communities, adapting real life stories for musical theatre, and evolving approaches to making musical theatre more inclusive.

2019 Royal & Derngate Northampton

The UK Musical Theatre Conference 2019 called “Road Show” took place on the 15th March 10.45am – 5.45pm at Royal & Derngate, Northampton, co-produced by Mercury Musical Developments & Musical Theatre Network. That year’s biennial Conference had a focus on Touring Mid-Scale New British Musical Theatre. The day featured eight strategic discussions, including panels and provocations, each featuring industry leaders and leading musical theatre artists, examining different aspects of the opportunities and challenges for touring new British musical theatre on the mid-scale.

2017 Lyric Hammersmith

The 2017 conference, titled ‘High Flying, Adored? Redefining success in new musical theatre in the UK’ was held at Lyric Hammersmith. The day featured six case studies of new British musicals, exploring their business models, and how they navigated a development path to success. Producers and creatives behind these productions shared insights, followed by questions and discussion. A panel of industry experts also discussed audience development and marketing specifically for new British musicals, and there were plenty of networking opportunities throughout the day.

2015 Arcola Theatre

The 2015 conference, titled ‘Putting it Together’ was held at the Arcola Theatre. Panellists and speakers included Samuel Adamson (The Light Princess, National Theatre), Rebecca Applin (Cameron Mackintosh resident composer), Wendy Gadian (principal lecturer and course leader, Musical Theatre BA at RCSSD), Rupert Gould (Artistic Director, Almeida Theatre), Pravesh Kumar (Artistic Director, Rifco), Susie McKenna (Creative Director, Hackney Empire), Jenny Sealey (Artistic Director, Graeae Theatre), and Danielle Tarento (freelance producer and casting director).

Previous venues

Previous conference venues have also included the Almeida Theatre in 2014, where speakers included Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer the Opera, Made in Dagenham), Libby Purves (writer and broadcaster), David Babani (Artistic Director, Menier Chocolate Factory), Cora Bissett (director, actor and musician, Glasgow Girls), Gurinder Chadha (director and writer, Bend It Like Beckham) and Sarah Travis (Tony Award-winning orchestrator and musical supervisor).

Conference was held at Soho Theatre in 2012 where speakers included Phelim McDermott (Artistic Director, Improbable).