Musicals Commissioning Hub 2024
Discover the new home of great new Scottish Musicals #MusicalsHubScot and how to submit your application.
About
For years, Capital Theatres has showcased top-tier plays, musicals, operas, and dance from the UK and beyond. Pitlochry Festival Theatre has a rich history of producing outstanding musicals. In 2021, the Musicals Commissioning Hub was launched, a partnership between our venues to nurture new Scottish musicals.
Amid limited opportunities and funding, we're committed to fostering Scottish theatre through initiatives like the Musicals Commissioning Hub, bridging opportunities for future talent and audience delight.
In 2021, over 80 applications were received, reflecting Scotland's culture and spirit. With guidance from industry experts, we selected three projects: Shonagh Murray’s "Nessie," Tommy Antonio’s "Rebel," and Niloo-Far Khan’s "The Light Travels." These received support and funding, leading to industry presentations. Currently, "Nessie" is set for a co-production in Spring 2025.
Both venues are committed to continuing to invest in new musicals, showcasing Scotland's talent – read on for more information about how to apply to the next round of the Musicals Commissioning Hub.
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We are looking for work that speaks to our national pride and identity, our heritage and humour, and the people who make Scotland. Whether the story you tell is contemporary or historical, fantastical or true to life, bombastic or subtle, it should offer a new perspective on what it means to be Scottish today.
Our interpretation of musical theatre is broad and we are happy to consider projects that approach the genre in unexpected ways and projects led by individual artists or writing partnerships. However, music and lyrics, performed live, should be integral to the production and play a crucial role in how your story is told.
We welcome ambitious ideas but for the purposes of this scratch, you should be confident that the potential of your project can be demonstrated and realised with a cast of not more than five actor-musicians onstage.
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Each of the three selected artists/partnerships will receive a £4,000 commission fee and dramaturgical support to develop your idea.
During the period 16-27 September 2024 you will have a total of 3.5 days (plus a technical period) to rehearse the scratch at Pitlochry Festival Theatre and The Studio in Edinburgh, working with up to five actor-musicians from the Pitlochry Festival Theatre ensemble. We can also provide a director if there is not already one attached to the project.
The scratch performances will be presented at an industry sharing on the afternoon of Friday 27 September 2024. Following the scratch, you will receive documentation of your performance plus in-depth feedback to support future development of the work.
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In order to be eligible for this opportunity, you must:
- Be resident in Scotland
- Be over 18 years of age
- Have professional experience of working in theatre
- Not be representing an organisation that is RFO-funded by Creative Scotland
- Be available to work on the project during the period of 16-27 September 2024
We won’t be able to consider your project if:
- The project is already being developed by another producer or venue
- The project is a remount of a production that has already been made or toured
- The project is an adaptation of an existing work without relevant rights in place
If you aren’t sure whether you or your project is eligible, please contact Claire Swanson, Head of Creative Engagement, at claire.swanson@capitaltheatres.com for a confidential chat.
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If you would like to apply for this opportunity, please complete this application form and this equal opportunities monitoring form by 26 April 2024.
We encourage submissions spanning all sectors of our rich and diverse community. We are happy to accept applications as written text, video or audio file and have dyslexia-friendly and large print versions of the application form available to download here.
If you need any other support to apply, please contact Claire Swanson at claire.swanson@capitaltheatres.com.
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All applications will be considered by the artistic teams at Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Longlisted applications will be shared with our industry panel. Selected applicants will then be invited to an interview to discuss their project in more detail using prompts we will share in advance.
Date
Application window opens
21 March 2024
Application window closes
26 April 2024
Interviews held
w/c 27 May 2024
Decisions shared
3 June 2024
Workshop period (Pitlochry / Edinburgh)
w/c 16 September 2024
Industry sharing (Edinburgh)
Friday 27 September 2024
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We will be working with a panel of industry experts to arrive at our final three projects. Drawn from across the industry, this panel includes producers, performers, musical theatre makers and directors who will share their insights and feedback with shortlisted applicants.
The members of our panel are:
Fiona Gibson, Capital Theatres
Elizabeth Newman, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Barbara Dickson, Performer
Emilie Israel, Performer
Hamish Greer, ROYO
Claire Grogan, Performer
James Hadley, Musical Theatre Network
Shonagh Murray, Musical Director
Katy Galloway, Katy Galloway Productions
Margaret-Anne O’Donnell & Gill Garrity, Raw Material -
The copyright of all artistic materials created through the Musical Commissioning Hub remains with the originating artist at all times. Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre will keep details of all applications, project ideas and commercially sensitive information confidential other than to share information with the industry panel as part of the shortlisting process.
Successful applicants will receive a separate commission contract outlining roles, responsibilities, rights and expectations including those around press and communications. Your data will be stored in line with Capital Theatres’ GDPR Policy and only used to contact you in relation to this opportunity.
For more information about how we use and store your details, please visit www.capitaltheatres.com/privacy-statement
