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This exhilarating two-day event showcases the most exciting new musicals in development

As the largest gathering of the UK new musical theatre community, BEAM brings together producers, writers, composers, venues, investors, agents and development partners for two days of inspiring content. To date, over 35 musicals from previous BEAMs have gone on to be fully staged, including West End shows Operation Mincemeat and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).

It is almost impossible to exaggerate the significance that BEAM had on our careers. After our showcase we found ourselves in conversation with several theatres and producers, and as a result the show received its first productions at Royal & Derngate, Northampton, and New Wolsey, Ipswich, in 2019. We also secured an agent off the back of the event and subsequently won the Stiles & Drewe Mentorship Award – a monumental injection of energy which we might not have even applied for without the confidence and encouragement we derived from BEAM.

Jim Barne & Kit Buchan, writers of 'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)'

Past BEAM shows include

Fortune Theatre, West End

Mercury Theatre, Colchester

Criterion Theatre, West End

Dundee Rep and Birmingham Hippodrome

If you want to understand our industry, be blown away by the untold and unknown creative innovation in musical theatre, if you want to be better informed, inspired and feel part of a collaborative creative initiative then you need to be part of BEAM.

BEAM2023 attendee

BEAM was a game changer for me. Where else could I have seen that many pitches in two days? That was me done for the next two years of producing.

Jim Zalles, producer

A brilliant opportunity to experience the range and depth of new British musicals and immerse yourself in the ecology of this corner of the industry.

BEAM2023 attendee

BEAM2023 at Oxford Playhouse

BEAM2023 by the numbers

  • Over 300 industry professionals in attendance, including 27 venues represented
  • 99% attendees would recommend BEAM to industry colleagues
  • 29 shows (selected from 265 pitches) were showcased, comprised of 23 ten-minute presentations and 6 twenty-five minute excerpt performances
  • 188 participants including performers and musicians
  • 117 hours of bespoke mentoring provided to participants
  • The shows and writers came from across the UK, from regions as diverse as Greater Manchester, Glasgow, North Wales, London, Gloucestershire, the Wirral, Bristol, Bath, Cheshire, St Andrews, and Essex.
  • Initial interest in BEAM musicals shown by theatres including: National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Hippodrome, Watford Palace, Watermill Theatre, National Theatre, Norwich Playhouse, Storyhouse, Theatr Clwyd, Leeds Playhouse, Soho Theatre, The Lowry, Mercury Theatre Colchester, Bristol Old Vic

Past BEAM Showcase Programmes