MTM Winners Soap & Over Lead Jermyn St Season

Two of the winning productions in the 2009 Musical Theatre Matters Awards, sponsored by Whatsonstage.com at last month’s Edinburgh Fringe (See News, 25 Aug 2009), are transferring directly to Jermyn Street Theatre this month as part of a four-week season celebrating new British musical theatre.

The Great British Soap Opera and Over the Threshold will each receive a two-week run at the fringe central London venue. The first opens the season this week, running from 8 to 19 September, followed by Over the Threshold from 22 September to 3 October.

The Musical Theatre Matters Awards, the only prize at the Edinburgh Festival specifically dedicated to musicals, were established in 2007 to champion the next generation of musical theatre producers, writer and composers.

This year’s Awards saw Over the Threshold composer Christopher Hamilton take home the trophy fo Best Music for a New Musical for his debut show. Developed by Perfect Pitch, the mischievous four-hander about two neighbouring – possibly philandering couples – features a West End cast including Trevor Jary, a Whatsonstage.com Award winner for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The Great British Soap Opera won a Judges’ Discretionary Award for its composer and co-lyricist Pippa Cleary, who reunited with Jake Brunger to pen this comedy about a much-loved but flailing TV soap. The show has been developed by Take Note Theatre, the team behind the 2008 Edinburgh hit Jet Set Go!, which transferred to Jermyn Street last autumn. Take Note are also co-producing this season at large.

Jermyn Street artistic director Gene David Kirk said: “I am delighted to be welcoming back Take Note Theatre and these fantastic new pieces. Jermyn Street Theatre has a commitment to new writing and always endeavours to give space to young companies.”

The season will also feature showcases of two more musicals seen in Edinburgh last month: Chat! The Internet Musical (10-11 September) and Six Ways (16-18 September).