Musical Theatre Creative Lab
Date: Wednesday 25 – Friday 27 March 2026
Time: 11am - 5pm, daily
Location: Studio 2
Cost: Free to attend, by application only
Maximum capacity: 10 writers/writing teams
What drives a character to sing? What makes a compelling musical theatre song? How do you take a new musical from first idea through to first draft, and what creative challenges might you encounter along the way?
Led by artists working at the forefront of new musical theatre development in the UK and internationally, Lowry Musical Theatre Creative Lab is an opportunity to dive into the unique craft of dramatic songwriting, offering tools, techniques and inspiration for artists who want to apply their songwriting and composition skills to theatrical storytelling.
All musical genres welcome. Our definition of musical theatre is wide, and this Lab particularly encourages artists whose style and experience doesn’t fit into traditional musical theatre conventions.
The 3-day Lab will enable you to:
- adapt your songwriting skills for a theatre context
- gain new skills in writing for character, story and drama
- understand and experiment with different approaches to dramatic songwriting
- explore how your unique artistic voice can thrive and evolve within the musical theatre form
- be part of a diverse and eclectic cohort of artists and musicians, with opportunities to learn from one another
Who it is for
Aimed at both emerging and established songwriters who are interested in moving into musical theatre. “Songwriter” can include anyone whose work incorporates both music and lyrics, and we also welcome applications from songwriting partnerships. No music theory knowledge is necessary.
About Finn Anderson
Finn Anderson is an award-winning Scottish musical theatre writer and singer-songwriter. He is currently on a music theatre attachment at the National Theatre, is Associate Artist at Lowry, and was the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer at The Lowry and Hope Mill Theatre. Musicals include Islander (Off-Broadway/Off-West End/US Tour, with various productions and translations including South Korea, Mexico, France, Poland and Australia), Ballad Lines (opening Off-West End 2026), Streets (Hackney Empire/Interval Productions), Call to Adventure (BBC Scotland/National Theatre of Scotland), Come Hell or High Water (Citizens Theatre community company/Sky Arts). Finn has co-produced two cast recordings for Islander and Ballad Lines.
In 2024, he was one of 3 UK musical theatre writers invited to Tokyo for Toho’s inaugural musical theatre showcase. In 2025, he was selected for the prestigious Johnny Mercer Writer’s Grove at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut. As a singer-songwriter, Finn has released two solo albums and toured across the UK and US, sharing stages with artists such as Patrick Wolf, Douglas Dare, Rachel Sermanni and Sam Lee.
Instagram: @finnanderson
Web: finnanderson.co.uk
Lowry web: https://thelowry.com/finn-anderson-fcxq
About Tania Azevedo
Tania is a critically acclaimed director, dramaturg, coach and facilitator. Tania's work has been seen in the West End and theatres across the UK and internationally including Theatre Royal Stratford East, The Other Palace, The Hope Mill Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland, Theatre503, King's Head, The Citizens Theatre, The Union Theatre, The VAULTS, The Bunker, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe amongst others.
She is currently the Creative Development Associate for Stage Entertainment International, where she oversees the musical theatre development slate across the company's territories including UK, US, Germany, Spain and France. She also works as an acting coach and has directed and taught for leading drama schools including Mountview, East 15, London School of Musical Theatre, Identity School of Acting and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Tania trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre Director's Course and has received several ‘Best Director’ nominations, including for the Off-West-End Awards and Broadway World Awards.
Instagram: @teevedz
Web: www.taniazevedo.com
How to apply
Please apply for this opportunity by filling in a short application form by Thursday 29 January 2026, 5pm. Selected artists will be notified by Fri 12 Sep.