Finalists revealed for the 2024 Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize

The stage is set for another night of musical magic as the finalists for the 2024 Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize have been unveiled.

Mercury Musical Developments, in collaboration with Stiles + Drewe and Broadway Licensing Global, will celebrate the event with a concert at London’s The Other Palace on Monday, 2 December 2024.

This year’s competition saw 202 submissions from talented musical theatre writers across the UK, but only twelve songs have made it to the final cut.

The finalists for 2024’s Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize are:

• ‘The Temptation of Me’ from Proud by Mark Anderson & Lee Freeman
• ‘I’m Going To Stay With You’ from The Tale of the Gifted Prince by Lezlie Wade & Dan Green
• ‘It Starts Small’ from Unfolding by Emma Vieceli
• ‘Ideal Robot Assistant’ from A.I. Will Solve All Your Problems by Leo Mercer
• ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’ from Queering the Canon by Cheeyang Ng & Eric Sorrels
• ‘Viareggio’ from Lifeboats by Gus Gowland
• ‘Die Like Trees’ from Girl Goes to the Underworld by Sam Norman & Bela Kawalec
• ‘Hero’ from Man Vs Snake the Epic Musical by Stuart Matthew Price & Daniel Fletcher
• ‘Spread a Little Joy Around The Place’ from Retail Therapy by Hilmi Jaidin
• ‘Locked Away’ from The Queen is Mad by Amy Clare Tasker & Tom McGrath
• ‘Drek!’ from Otto’s Weidt’s Brush and Broom Workshop for the Blind by Amir Shoenfeld & Caitlyn Burt
• ‘Invisible’ from Hatched! by Lydia Shaw & Edward Court

These songs will be performed by a dazzling cast of West End stars in a night that promises to showcase the very best of emerging musical theatre talent.

The Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize, awarded annually, recognises an outstanding song from a new musical.

It’s an opportunity for writers to have their work celebrated on a prestigious platform, and for audiences to get a glimpse of the musicals of tomorrow.

Founded by the legendary writing duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, known for their work on *Mary Poppins* and *Honk!*, the Song Prize has become a highlight of the musical theatre calendar.

The evening will not only feature the twelve finalist songs but will also include performances of numbers from some recent hit musicals, making it a must-see event for theatre lovers.

A panel of industry judges, including Stiles and Drewe themselves, will be tasked with selecting the winner, who will receive a £1,000 prize to help further develop their musical.