Memorandum submitted by Mr Warner Brown
I wish to endorse most strongly the submissions
given to you on behalf of the Bridewell Theatre and Mercury Musical
Developments in the context of your inquiry into "Arts Development:
Musical Theatre".
I am the author of three West End musicals and
other musical productions around the world, written with a variety
of collaborators from David Heneker ("Half A Sixpence")
to Jim Steinman ("Whistle Down The Wind"/"Dance
Of The Vampires"). I work extensively both here and in
the United States and am, therefore, in a way, in the ideal position
to judge the value of the Bridewell in relation to its policy
of exposing new American work to writers and audiences in the
UK. It is impossible to overstate the value of this unique function
of the Bridewell Theatre. I say "unique" advisedly.
In my experience, no other institution in this country works in
the way the Bridewell does with reference to the "international"
aspects of musical theatre. Were the Bridewell not to exist, this
development link would disappear in a single stroke. I speak from
experience when I say that it is vital that the Bridewell's form
of cross-fertilisation exists between the two territories. Without
it, much progress would be lost and it is virtually impossible
to see how this could be made good in other areas.
With regard to Mercury Musical Developments,
I recently attended their series of musical showcases entitled
"The Works". I have been present at countless
of these events throughout the world, but I have to say that "The
Works" was the most professional and useful example of
the kind I have ever witnessed. If on a relative financial shoestring,
this level of developmental work can be produced, it is not too
great a stretch of the imagination to envisage what could be achieved
with some form of regular national funding.
Indeed, I would wish to open up the debate into
a wider context about the general funding of musical theatre in
this country. The so-called "commercial" sector could
not exist without the various theatres and companies throughout
the country which make the showcasing and development of new work
possible, given the chance. This is surely another vital area
where the Arts Council should be providing funding because this
is where it is (a) desparately needed and (b) extremely effective.
At this level of development, so much can be achieved with relatively
small sums of money. With no money, however, nothing is possible
but thwarted aspirations and unfulfilled promise.
24 November 2003
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