Capital Theatres & Pitlochry Festival Theatre announce Musical Commissioning Hub joint venture

Photo credit: Manuel Harlan

Capital Theatres, in a producing partnership with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, is launching a brand new Musical Commissioning Hub in order to create exciting new Scottish musicals.

Chief Executive of Capital Theatres, Fiona Gibson, intends to develop its third theatre space, The Studio, for this purpose.

The venues endeavour to collaborate with musicians, writers and artists to develop Scottish talent (wherever they now live) and cultural output, so that their stages become a home for great Scottish musicals year on year, which could ultimately be shared on tour with venues across the country.

Gibson said: “Music is such an important part of Scotland's heritage.  As we emerge through lockdown and social distancing, we believe Scottish audiences have an appetite for new musicals celebrating Scotland’s culture, spirit and humour. This unprecedented period of our venues being closed provides a unique window of opportunity to progress new Scottish works at a time when enjoyment and entertainment has never been more necessary.”

Writers will be asked to submit an outline for their new musical, along with details of previous work, which will be considered by a panel of experts including multi award-winning composer Howard Goodall, singer and actress Barbara Dickson, producer Kenny Wax and other leading industry figures.

It is anticipated that the winning submission will be invited to produce a scratch performance at The Studio in Edinburgh in Spring 2021 and Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s new Studio Theatre in Summer 2021.

Submissions open on 16 November and will close on 15 December. For more information, please click here.