Musical Theatre Network and Mercury Musical Developments in association with Birmingham Hippodrome present
BEAM2025
Thursday 15th & Friday 16th May 2025
at Birmingham Hippodrome
Musical Theatre Network and Mercury Musical Developments in association with Birmingham Hippodrome are thrilled to announce that tickets are now on sale for BEAM2025, the fifth iteration of the biennial industry showcase celebrating the best of new British musical theatre.
BEAM2025, the UK’s showcase of new musical theatre, promises an electrifying two days spotlighting bold, diverse, and high-quality musicals currently in development. Taking place on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th May 2025 at Birmingham Hippodrome, the event features excerpts from 28 innovative new musicals selected through an extensive nationwide search. Alongside these performances, attendees can look forward to Artist Spotlights, where 12 of the most exciting writers discovered during the pitching day process will be platformed. Additionally, attendees will be able to participate in insightful panel discussions and unbeatable networking opportunities.
As the largest gathering for the UK’s new musical theatre community, BEAM2025 is set to bring together a dynamic mix of producers, writers, composers, venues, investors, agents, and development partners. This meeting of creative minds has a proven track record of success: over 35 musicals showcased at previous BEAM events have gone on to full productions, including celebrated West End hits like Operation Mincemeat and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). Details of the writers and shows featuring in BEAM2025 will be unveiled in late March.
Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network are delighted to be presenting this year’s BEAM showcase at Birmingham Hippodrome, both organisations’ new home base, having relocated from London last year. In 2023 Birmingham Hippodrome created the UK’s first in-house New Musical Theatre department.
Musical theatre is arguably a significant growth industry in the UK’s creative economy, contributing in no small way to the allure of the UK as a leading cultural destination. BEAM2025 will efficiently introduce the next wave of musical theatre shows and talent poised to innovate and generate buzz around the UK. Tickets for BEAM2025 are now available via the Birmingham Hippodrome website: https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/beam2025/
Natalia Scorer, Executive Director of Mercury Musical Developments said, “BEAM is an incredible platform for discovering and celebrating new talent in musical theatre. This year’s event will feature 28 brand new musicals, selected from 356 pitches across the UK, showcasing the depth and diversity of creativity in our industry. BEAM2025 offers a unique opportunity to bring the industry together, fostering essential conversations about pathways for new work and igniting fresh collaborations and ideas.”
James Hadley, Executive Director of Musical Theatre Network said, ‘‘BEAM developed as a more efficient way to share promising musical theatre writers and projects in development with the industry. The journey of creating a musical is often like an iceberg – with most work taking over five years to reach the stage, most of their development remains hidden beneath the surface (and often poorly resourced). BEAM aims to bring more new musicals and talent from across the UK to wider industry attention from earlier on in their journeys.”
Chris Sudworth, Creative Director at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We are delighted to host BEAM2025 at Birmingham Hippodrome for the first time. In November 2023 we created the UK’s first New Musical Theatre Department; with Musical Theatre Network and Mercury Musical Developments moving here last July, the Hippodrome has become a vibrant hub for new musicals outside London. We can’t wait to experience the exciting, rich and representative programme the BEAM team has curated; celebrating and showcasing the exceptional talent in the UK musical theatre community.”
BEAM is produced by Musical Theatre Network and Mercury Musical Developments in association with Birmingham Hippodrome, with funding support from Arts Council England and PRS Foundation.