The Other Palace and Mercury Musical Developments present Musical Bites, a lunchtime series of readings that provide new musical theatre writers an opportunity to share a 45-min excerpt of their work in progress in front of supportive audiences.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • New British musical with a completed draft or final script, that can be condensed to a meaningful sharing of no more than 45 min
  • At least half the writing team of the musical must be resident in the UK.
  • The musical can have been commissioned or workshopped already, but it can’t have received a professional production.
  • The piece must be able to be performed by max 4 actors, including musical director/pianist, due to space restrictions.

There is no fee to partake in this rehearsed reading. The writer will be compensated with the event ticket income, with the expectation that they will share fairly amongst all participating.

Autumn 2025

Wed 1 October – Valhalla

Book, Music & Lyrics: Kitty Morgan (she/her)

When her husband and son are murdered, Astra swears vengeance, beginning a quest that will last a lifetime, journeying through war, friendship and impossible love. Featuring folky belters and heart-wrenching ballads, Valhalla is a musical that will have you stamping your feet and sobbing into your mead.

Wed 15 October – Ready to Wear

Writer & Composer: Rachel Garnet (she/her)
Arranger: Robert Russel (he/him)

A one-man musical following the great fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent as he embarks on the daring act of opening his eponymous fashion house. Having been fired from Dior, abused in the military, and hospitalised after a suicide attempt, Yves dares to make art again, forging his first revolutionary ready-to-wear line.

Wed 29 October – PTA, The Musical

Book, Music & Lyrics: Amanda Alexander (she/her) & Karen Fisher-Pollard (she/her)
Music & Lyrics: Craig Mather (he/him)
Musical Supervisor / Orchestrator & Arranger: Steve Moss (he/him)

PTA, The Musical follows a hilariously dysfunctional parent-teacher association as they battle strained relationships, reluctant recruits, and looming school closure. Forced to unite, the mismatched group discovers unlikely friendships, rekindled love, and the true power of community in this feel-good British comedy.

Wed 12 November – Legendary: The Myth of Creation

Writer & Performer: Cheeyang Ng (they/them)
Music Director: Yshani Perinpanayagam (she/her)

A solo musical ritual by Fred Ebb, Jonathan Larson & Princess Grace Award-winning songwriter, Cheeyang Ng. A queer Asian immigrant shares their stories of family, queerness, and belonging, asking: “Should I have a child?” Together with the audience, they create a new myth, one that cannot be erased.

Previously featured shows

Spring-Summer 2025

Deal of the Day

Book: Doug Quinn
Music: Adam O’Connor
Lyrics: Simon May

Can’t Complain

Writer & Composer: Sam Easton
Creative Director: Madison French

Dashing

Book & Lyrics: Will Jackson
Music & Lyrics: Matthew Floyd Jones

Flyology

Music & Lyrics: Tamiko Dooley
Book & Lyrics: Cathy Farmer

The Stop

Book: Emily Garsin
Music & Lyrics: Anna Shields

Autumn 2024

Portrait Unknown

Book & Lyrics: Tommy James Green
Music: Thomas Currie
Co-Creator & Producer: Kristie Winsen

Just Be(e)

Book, Music, Lyrics: Carlo Bosticco
Music, Arrangements: Matt Randall

Jilted

Creator/Writer: Lauryn Gaffney
Arranger/Musical Director: Ben Cooper

Instant Luv-noodles

Book: Tsukuri Miyano
Music: Nian Tong
Producer: Mrin Somani

Spring-Summer 2024

Cupids

Writer: Kate O’Conell-Lauder
Lyricist: Harry Baker
Composer: Rebecca Dale
Performers: Darcey Salt, Max Alexander-Taylor, Phoebe Fildes

The Planet Is _____

Writers & Performers: Natasha Pavey and Meg McGrady

Three Kinds Of Normal

Book & Music: Charlie-Jo Simpson
Director: Liberty Clark
Performers: Lana Fowler-Burtwell, Charlie-Jo Simpson, Sam Ellyatt, Pandora Seymour

YOU, ME & the rest of the world

Book, Music & Lyrics: Hollie Cassar
Director: Katherine Hare
Producer: Kai Wright
Performers: Karis Anderson, Daisy Ann Fletcher, Emma Hatton and Liam Tamne

The Sesh

Writers: Rob Gathercole & Rebecca Simmonds
Performers: Shane O’Riordan, Roshani Abbey, Max Alexander-Taylor, Eloise Davies

Raising Gays

Writers: Jordan Paul Clarke and Micha Mirto
Performers: Alex Young, Damian Humbley, Jonathan Andrew Hume, Sarah Ingram

Autumn 2023

Candor

Based on the novel by Pam Bachorz
Book, Music & Lyrics: Sinead Hegarty
Additional Arrangements: Kevin Oliver Jones
Director: Rebeka Dio
Cast: Rhys Whitfield, Sinead Hegarty, Lewis Asquith, Ellie Birch

FLIP

Book, Music & Lyrics: Josh Bird & Giles Fernando
Director: Penny Gkritzapi 
Cast: Amelia Walker, Jade Johnson and Julie Atherton

The Forty Elephants

Book & Lyrics: Sophie Boyce
Music: Einar Adalsteinsson
Cast: Ashlie Kenyon-Evason, Layla Armstrong-Hughes, Ryan Bennett, and Charlotte Webb

Chosen

Writing / Creative team: Taiyo Yoshida & Dominic Varney
Cast: Julie Atherton, Georgina Scott, and Jonathan Bourne

Bette and Joan and Baby Jane

Book: Tracy-Ann Oberman & Shaun McKenna
Music: James Cleeve
Lyrics: Nikki Racklin
Performers: Sophie-Louise Dann, Gillian Kirkpatrick & Jack Reitman 

Ukulele Days

Writer: Amy Clare Tasker
Director: Nicky Allpress
Dramaturg: Tricity Vogue
Musical Director: Tom James McGrath
Cast: Anne-Marie Piazza, Joe da Costa, Toby Bradford, and Lata Nobes

sPRING-Summer 2023

The Highwayman

Book, Music, Lyrics: Kitty Morgan
Producer: Adam Nichols, OVO Theatre
Cast: Adam Morris, Melissa O’Donnell, AJ Deane, Kitty Morgan

The Rise and Fall of Vinnie & Paul

Book, Music & Lyrics: Neil Bastian
Cast: Max Alexander-Taylor, Charlie McCullagh

GRIMM: The Musical

Book & Lyrics: Josh Kemp and Tom Ling
Music: Josh Kemp
Guitar: Josh Kemp
Cast: Tom Ling, Eleanor Cozens, Geddy Stringer, Alice Hoult

Becoming Nigella

Book, Music & Lyrics: Emily Rose Simons
Director: Grace Taylor
Musical Director: David Merriman
Cast: Tanya Truman & Natasha Karp

The Attic: Because a Woman Should Know Her Place

Book & Lyrics: Estee Stimler
Music: Yuval Havkin
Cast: Kaisa Hammarlund, Michael Vinsen, Jade Johnson, Claire Learie

Cliffs

Book, Lyrics & Music: Elan Butler
Associate Artists: Bullet Point Theatre
Cast: Lucinda Coyle, Bradley Luckett, Elan Butler, Rosie Weston

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