Landor confirms programme for second annual new musicals festival

The Landor Theatre has announced its second annual From Page to Stage Festival, a season showcasing new musicals in development.

Running from 10 February to 9 March 2014, From Page to Stage will feature two fully-staged UK premieres, which will each receive a week-long run.

Before the Night is Through (15-23 February) is a new British musical by Olivia Thompson and Chris Whitehead. Set in 1935, it centres on a party thrown by "England's biggest movie star" Honey Quenelle, which swiftly descends into chaos.

The Mistress Cycle (4-9 March), by American team Beth Blatt and Jenny Giering, tells the story of a struggling 30-something photographer living in Manhattan who is made an offer by a wealthy, older man to “keep her” as his mistress.

The festival will also feature rehearsed readings of Merman's Apprentice by Stephen Cole and David Evans, Claus the Musical by Simon Warne and Andy Collyer and The Return of the Soldier by Tim Sanders and Charles Miller.

There will also be a series of 'scratch nights' and open mic sessions.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural festival, From Page to Stage, which is co-produced by Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment and Robert McWhir of The Landor, has been awarded an Arts Council grant to support the 2014 programme.

"We are thrilled to have secured a Grant For The Arts in support of the work we are doing," Lipson said.

"From Page To Stage serves as a platform for new writing and supports not only the writers but our audiences too. We hope the season will establish a strong vehicle for the development of new musicals here in the UK and help secure partners for the future of some of the works included."