We’ve grown up in a world of the internet and accelerating tech. What can musical theatre do to match that?
Our dream is to come up with a style of music theatre that is fast and futuristic.
Whether we’re reimagining old stories like Galileo as the story of the birth of technology or Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro for a world of the Kardashians; whether we’re using VR to tell gay stories or AI to tell stories about human life in coffee shops; whether we’re playing with cutting-edge techniques in AI, VR, mo-cap; whether we’re working on big stages or educational settings, we’re always asking how to bring the ancient power of musical storytelling into the world of now.
What does it mean to write new musicals? For us:
Who are we anyway?
leo&hyde is led by writer Leo Mercer, who leads on the concepts and creative direction of the work and, together with resident sound designer Dan Mawson, produces their early workshops (aka beta tests).
Our lead composer is Stephen Hyde (aka &hyde), whose innovative, sophisticated electronic soundscapes are the core of our musical style, and is the composer behind our foundational shows Marriage of Kim K, GUY, Pop Art and The Coffee Shop Musical.
In addition, we regularly work with composer in multiple genres, from the PC music of Tiiva, the rich indie-classical of Talia Erdal, to Leo and Dan’s own a cappella theatrical pop.
What do we do?
We are available for:
- Licensing our musicals
- Commissioning new songs and musicals
- Music for theatre / film / games / VR
- Projection mapping
- Digital commissions
- Cutting-edge community engagement
We love a challenge, and one of our internal mottos is: we never do the same project twice. We're always fusing new skills with storytelling and music.
Recent Collaborators / Commissioners
Theatres
- National Theatre
- Shakespeare North Playhouse
- The Lowry
- ARC Stockton
- Enable US, Sheffield
Universities
- University of Sheffield
- University of Lancaster
- University of Bristol
- University of Winchester
- Edge Hill University
- Leeds Conservatoire
Producers
- National Trust
- Paul Taylor Mills
- Helen Milne
Arts Organisations
- Made With Many
- Lancashire Encounter Festival
- Liverpool LightNight
- idontloveyouanymore
- High Peaks Community Arts
- Barrowful
Touring Theatres
- Hope Mill Theatre
- The Other Palace
- The Arcola
- The Turbine
- Birmingham Old Rep
- Warwick Arts Centre
Core Team
Writers
Leo
Words Music
1. Spends his day daydreaming about what future musicals look / sound like.
2. Loves coming up with concepts for musicals about and ft new tech.
3. In spare time, loves Beat Saber, indie coffeeshops and Spotify Shuffle.
4. Outside of l&h, works as a creative producer in XR.
Stephen
Music Music Production
1. On a mission to marry charts music with powerful storytelling.
2. Gets a buzz reframing age-old stories for the 21st century
3. In spare time loves lapsang tea, Paolo Sorrentino films and Scottish landscapes.
4. Outside l&h works as a folk composer and writer for Shakespeare company Three Inch Fools
Dan
Production Sound
1. Gets excited by crunchy harmonies and good sound systems.
2. Loves working collaboratively, bring artistic visionso their best life.
3. In spare time, loves klezmer, Tik Tok tips and scrolling.
4. Outside of l&h, works as a multi-instrumentalist.
There’s no doubting the smarts of [leo&hyde], nor their ambition in conceiving this uncategorisable piece of musical meta-theatre.
The Independent
They have the ear of today and speak directly to the heart with their exquisitely crafted and deliciously infectious songs.
British Theatre
Fizzing with inspired ideas... a dazzling technical achievement.
Hollywood Reporter
[Stephen Hyde's] music does the impossible.
The Express
The originality bursting from this fresh young talent is really exciting and marks [leo&hyde] as a musical duo to watch out for.
Broadway Baby
[leo&hyde's] The Marriage of Kim K seems to achieve what so few [new operas] do: its own voice.
Culturised