We are delighted to announce we have a very exciting placement opportunity for a Resident Composer.

This post is being offered by Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) and Musical Theatre Network (MTN), thanks to funding from The Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer Scheme.

Through this scheme, professional musical theatre composers are paired with a company and given the opportunity to be involved in a range of work which could include composing assignments on the host company’s projects, setting text to music or working on development of their own musical theatre material. Recent hosts have included the Royal Shakespeare Company; Theatr Clwyd; Dundee Rep; Hope Mill Theatre; The Lowry; and British Youth Music Theatre.

The placement is expected to cover October 2023 to March/April 2024 and applicants should be free to commit throughout that period. The successful recipient receives a fee calculated to cover six months of a composer’s time, sometimes spread over a longer period with gaps if by mutual agreement. The exact timetable and the projects to be worked on will be agreed in consultation between the composer and the Octagon.

The opportunity is open to any applicant resident in the UK. It’s expected the successful applicant will be based at the Octagon for at least a significant portion of the six-month placement. The Octagon, MMD and MTN are committed to diversifying voices in new musical theatre writing and broadening the art form, and composers from a background which is under-represented in musical theatre writing are encouraged to consider applying.

The successful recipient will receive an all-inclusive fee of £13,000, thanks to the generous support of The Cameron Mackintosh Foundation.

Octagon Artistic Director, Lotte Wakeham said: "I’m absolutely thrilled that we are collaborating with our friends at MTN and MMD to host a Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer. It will be brilliant to support a musical theatre composer in our building, following on from our recent successful new musical productions of The Book Thief and A Christmas Carol. I’m passionate about the development of new musicals and can’t wait to welcome this artist to join the team at the Octagon.”

Executive Director of Mercury Musical Developments, Natalia Scorer, (on behalf of co-ordinators MTN & MMD) said:“The Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer placements provide a fantastic opportunity for musical theatre composers to become embedded in a producing theatre and to learn from all departments, as well as having valuable time to develop their own work. For this next placement we are delighted to be working with the Octagon, a really exciting venue committed to new musical theatre and artist development.”

Find out full details about the role including how to apply here

All applications must be received by midnight on 12th June 2023. If you have been shortlisted, we will aim to let you know by 30th July.