Watch West End Stars singing songs in contention for the Stiles and Drewe Prize

The event is in aid of Mercury Musical Developments’ ‘Keep Writing’ Support Fund to help struggling writers. George Stiles & Anthony Drewe said: “Together with our fellow judges, to whom we are deeply indebted, we have whittled down this year’s 167 entries to 15 finalists - each of which will be performed by a seasoned West End performer in our ‘virtual concert’. With lockdown still inhibiting live theatre performances - which has prevented the normal theatrical presentation of the final songs - we are delighted that Mercury Musical Developments has agreed to take a different approach this year and that Joanne Benjamin and The Entertainment Business have generously co-sponsored the £1,000 cash prize. We hope that technology will be kind to us on the night and that all our 15 finalists are heartened, encouraged and happy with the way that their work is to be showcased and celebrated.” Since 2008, musical theatre writing partnership Stiles and Drewe have recognised new musical theatre writing via their annual prize for Best New Song. This is open to members of Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) of which George and Anthony are founding board members. Stiles and Drewe’s own multi-award-winning scores include the international smash-hit Cameron Mackintosh/Disney production of ‘Mary Poppins’, the Olivier Award-winning ‘Honk!’, which has been seen by more than 6 million people in over 8,000 productions, and the recent West End productions of ‘Half A Sixpence’, ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ and ‘The Wind in the Willows’.

The prize recognises an outstanding song from a new musical, with the winner receiving £1,000 to put towards the development of their work. Previous winners include Theo Jamieson, Adam Wachter, Tamar Broadbent and Tim Sutton. The Prize is usually offered in conjunction with the Stephen Sondheim Society’s Student Performer of the Year Award, with 12 student finalists performing a Sondheim song of their choice, and one of the Best New Song finalists, at a West End gala. However, due to the closure of all theatres, the gala is not happening this year. George and Anthony will be joined by guest judges, live on the night, who will help them decide which writing team is awarded the prize - Olivier Award-nominated writers Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss (‘SIX the Musical’), composer and musical director Tim Sutton (‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’, ‘Warhorse’, UK Tour, ‘Memphis’, West End) , Dan Gillespie-Sells (frontman of The Feeling & composer of ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’), and award-winning composer Cassie Kinoshi (former Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer at the Dundee Rep). During the judges’ deliberation, CheerUpCharlie campaigner Charlie Kristensen will perform the song ‘Different’ from ‘Honk!’ and writer Omar Baroud will perform his own song ‘My Pain’ from his musical ‘After Elijah’. MMD launches ‘Keep Writing’ Support Fund to help struggling writers

Composers, lyricists and scriptwriters need community support more than ever at this difficult time. You can give them access to a network of over 500 writers, wellbeing sessions, panel discussions, skills development and the latest funding opportunities. That’s why this year’s Stiles and Drewe Prize Ceremony is in aid of MMD’s ‘Keep Writing’ Fund, to help writers stay connected. Together, let’s raise the curtain on exciting new shows in development by helping writers to keep going over the challenging months ahead.

https://youtu.be/5ZwKVy63KJw

The final songs ‘Bottle It’ by Jonathan O’Neill & Isaac Savage from Tanya: A New Musical (performed by Lizzie Bea) ‘Broken Guitar’ by Meg McGrady & Zoe Morris from The Phase (performed by Alex Thomas-Smith) ‘Colour’ by Charli Eglinton from Colours (performed by Fra Fee) ‘Heaven Can Wait’ by Julian Woolford & Richard John from The Devil’s Advocate (performed by Maiya Quansah-Breed) ‘Home’ by Jonathan O’Neill & Isaac Savage from Windows in the West (performed by Louise Dearman) ‘I’m Your Guy’ by Amir Shoenfeld & Matthew Greene from Benny In Beta (performed by Tyrone Huntley) ‘Juliet Kind Of Love’ by Victoria Saxton & Charles Miller from Marriage a la Mode (performed by Zizi Strallen) ‘Minnesota’ by Julian Woolford & Richard John from Comrade Rockstar (performed by Luke Bayer) ‘My First Ex-Boyfriend’ by Richard Marsh, Miranda Cooper & Nick Coler from Son of Rambow (performed by Natalie Paris) ‘Ride’ by Freya Smith & Jack Williams from Ride (performed by Laura Pitt-Pulford) ‘Shape The Future’ by Thomas Sutcliffe from Borders (performed by Melanie La Barrie) ‘Sparks’ by Freya Smith & Jack Williams from The Limit (performed by Lauren Samuels) ‘The Something Else’ by Vikki Stone from #zoologicalsociety (performed by Allyson Ava-Brown) ‘Two Ways To Australia’ by Rachel Bellman & Elizabeth Sybil Charlesworth from The Dickens Girls (performed by Rebecca Trehearn) ‘You Got A Problem’ by Rob Green & Nic Harvey from Hoarding: A Musical (performed by Marisha Wallace)