BOOK Music & Lyrics (BML), the UK’s only professional development workshop for musical theatre writers, is fighting for survival after 15 years of nurturing British talent.
The organisation needs to raise £50,000 to continue operations after losing its venue at the Central YMCA club, which will close in December 2024. The funding crisis comes despite recent successes, including two West End shows from BML alumni in 2024.
“It’s ultimately the writers of tomorrow that are going to suffer,” said BML founder David James. “That would be a tragedy for the future of British musical theatre.”
The weekly workshop program, established in 2010, has launched numerous successful careers. Alumni include Darren Clarke, whose work reached the West End, and Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, winners of the 2020 Stage Debut Awards for Best Composer/Lyricist.
BML keeps fees accessible by covering over 50% of costs through fundraising and offers up to 10 bursaries annually. The program was recently named ‘Best Musical Theatre Development Programme 2024’ by SME News.
“Without BML I would still be filling notebooks with unfocused lyrics,” said Richy Hughes, whose musical “Oy Frog” received an Olivier Award nomination. “The workshop gave me the craft, collaboration skills, and contacts to get my work heard by the right people.”
Donations can be made at donorbox.org/save-book-music-lyrics.