Picture: B.Clarence Photography
Composer, musical director and improv specialist Jordan Paul Clarke will take up a year-long residency with the British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT) as the latest recipient of the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer scheme from January 2022.
Musical Theatre Network (MTN) and Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) have also revealed the BYMT will offer work or development opportunities to all five other finalists who were in the running for the prestigious scheme.
A member of the Olivier Award-winning Showstoppers, Clarke has toured with the multi-award-winning Mischief Theatre. His musicals include Public Domain and P.S. I’m A Terrible Person (written with long-term writing partner Francesca Forristal).
Commenting on his appointment as the next Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer, Clarke said: “I am beyond grateful to have been chosen as the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer, with British Youth Music Theatre this year. Opportunities like these – which allow artists to freely focus on creating new musical theatre with resources and financial support – are rare blessings.
“It fills me with immeasurable joy to know I’m able to spend the next six months supported by such a nurturing organisation. This is a scheme which puts artists’ ideas first, and provides the creative and financial support needed to ensure those ideas can be brought to fruition.
“I’m incredibly grateful to be welcomed into the wonderful team at BYMT, and to Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network for providing this brilliant opportunity, along with their steadfast advocacy and support.”
Speaking on behalf of the British Youth Music Theatre, executive producer Jon Bromwich said: “We are delighted with this appointment and very grateful to Cameron Mackintosh and his Foundation for making it possible. Jordan will take part in every aspect of the organisation’s work over the course of the residency, from outreach work in schools to creating a new production of his own choosing and making.
“The residency is in perfect harmony with our goals of supporting the next generation of creative artists and giving them the opportunity to work with talented young people. We are looking forward to it!”
MMD’s executive director Emily Gray commented: “To make the most of an opportunity such as this residency, a composer needs to be at a particular stage of their development, when they are ready to connect with an organisation creatively and to bring their experience to the role as well as a readiness to explore and learn.
“Jordan is absolutely at the moment in his career to focus on his voice as a composer and develop his knowledge of working within the vibrant and creatively brilliant BYMT.
“At MMD we are delighted to be partnering with an organisation focussed on making work with young people and excited to see how this relationship evolves and what new musical theatre emerges.”
James Hadley, MTN executive director, added: “Under Jon Bromwich’s leadership, BYMT encourages writers to develop music theatre which pushes artform boundaries and gives young people performance opportunities in keeping with the complexity and sophistication of their lived experiences. Jordan stood out, among a typically strong shortlist of applicants, for the synergy of his creative ideas and experience with BYMT’s ambitious, UK-wide activities.”
The five other composers who made the shortlist for the coveted placement – Adam Howell, Matt Regan, Joanna Taylor, Michael Betteridge and Nimrita Kaur – will work for the musical theatre charity across various projects in 2022. Further details will be announced at a later date.
The Cameron Mackintosh Foundation-backed development scheme pairs musical theatre composers with venues giving the recipients the opportunity to be involved in a range of work which could include underscoring plays, setting text to music or creating their own new work.
Venues involved in the scheme have included the Royal Shakespeare Company, Dundee Rep, Lyric Hammersmith, Leeds Playhouse, Curve Leicester and the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich.
Angela Thomas
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