BEAM is the UK’s largest showcase of new musical theatre. This page keeps BEAM2025 as an archive while following what comes next with BEAM2027.
BEAM2027 Latest Update
BEAM2027 takes place on 20–21 May 2027 at Royal & Derngate, Northampton. Before the showcase, 22 pitching days are being held in 14 towns and cities around the UK between September and December 2026, with more than 300 new musicals expected to be pitched.
Each creative or team gets ten minutes to share their idea with an industry panel, and up to 40 musicals will be selected for BEAM2027.
What Is BEAM?
BEAM is a two-day industry showcase for new musical theatre run by Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network. It gives developing musicals and their creative teams the chance to put work in front of producers, programmers and other people involved in bringing new theatre to the stage.
BEAM2025 Archive
BEAM2025 took place at Birmingham Hippodrome on 15–16 May 2025. I’m keeping the earlier event here as part of the archive rather than wiping it away every time the next BEAM comes around — it is much more interesting to be able to follow new musicals from their development stage onwards.
Why BEAM Is Worth Following
This is one of those events that makes sense for Clarissa’s Corner to keep an eye on because it sits right at the beginning of the musical-theatre pipeline. A show can appear here while it is still being developed, long before audiences see a finished production on a major stage.
So alongside covering established West End shows and tours, I want to keep following the new work coming through too — especially the productions that later grow into full shows.
How BEAM2027 Pitching Works
- 22 pitching days are planned across the UK.
- They take place in 14 towns and cities between September and December 2026.
- More than 300 new musicals are expected to be pitched.
- Each creative or team has 10 minutes to present its idea.
- Up to 40 musicals will be chosen for BEAM2027.
- At least half of the core creative team must be UK-based.
- The project must be intended for live performance, with song integral to the show.
- Projects that have already received a full professional production are not eligible under the current pitching rules.
Check the official BEAM information and pitching guidance.
BEAM2027 FAQs
When is BEAM2027?
BEAM2027 takes place on 20 and 21 May 2027.
Where is BEAM2027?
The 2027 showcase will be held at Royal & Derngate in Northampton.
How many musicals will be selected?
Up to 40 musicals are due to be selected for the BEAM2027 showcase following the nationwide pitching days.
When are the BEAM2027 pitching days?
The nationwide pitching days run between September and December 2026 across 14 UK towns and cities.
What is BEAM2025?
BEAM2025 was the previous showcase, held at Birmingham Hippodrome on 15 and 16 May 2025. This page keeps that earlier event as part of the Clarissa’s Corner theatre archive.
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