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.
The submissions are now closed.
Autumn 2024
10 October – Portrait Unknown
Book & Lyrics: Tommy James Green
Music: Thomas Currie
Co-Creator & Producer: Kristie Winsen
Starry-eyed gallery attendant Georgie dreams of becoming an artist, but the cloakroom is as close as she gets. That is until she is blackmailed into stealing a mysterious portrait. Can Georgie find the courage she needs to rescue her beloved cat?
A fun, heartwarming musical brought to you by the team behind UPLIFT Musical Theatre.
24 October – Just Be(e)
Book, Music, Lyrics: Carlo Bosticco
Music, Arrangements: Matt Randall
Life is hard in an industrial Hive!
Rebellious young bee Melissa can’t stand slaving away daily to make honey for the ‘Gods’.
She flees into the “Mad Beyond” and, during her adventures, uncovers some dark secrets… Are the Gods truly divine?
Her friends back home are living a lie. Will Melissa have the courage to rescue them?
8 November – Jilted
Creator/Writer: Lauryn Gaffney
Arranger/Musical Director: Ben Cooper
Jilted is a new musical you’ll want to run away with. It tells the story of Jill, an American in Ireland, who rebuilds her life after being left at the altar. With help from friends and her therapist, she gains the courage to pursue her dreams and discovers a life-altering secret hidden by her best friend. Jilted is celebration of friendship, self acceptance and unconditional love.
21 November – Instant Luv-noodles
Book: Tsukuri Miyano
Music: Nian Tong
Producer: Mrin Somani
Experience an unconventional love story swirling with humour, heart, and noodles! The protagonist, Naomi, worries about her relationships with those around her. After a breakup with her boyfriend, she discovers a mysterious product called “Instant Luv-Noodles,” which allows people to enjoy an ideal relationship instantly for five hours.
Previously featured shows
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