LW Entertainment (LWE) is an entertainment company with musical theatre at its heart.
Founded in 1977, we exist to represent, manage, and licence the work of the most commercially successful composer of all time, Andrew Lloyd Webber. We oversee the portfolio of brands under Andrew Lloyd Webber (ALW) Musicals and collaborate with best-in-class partners to extend into traditional and non-traditional entertainment mediums, reaching existing and new audiences all around the world.
The Entertainment Development team leads creative strategy and non-theatrical development across the Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals portfolio, conceiving, developing and executing projects across categories including, but not limited to, Film & TV, publishing and gaming.
Reporting to the Development Director, the Entertainment Development Manager is responsible for managing the development and execution of a variety of LW Entertainment’s creative projects from early-stage strategy and ideation through to pitch and development. The Entertainment Development Manager will drive projects forward, manage internal and external stakeholders, and help turn creative strategy into compelling concepts and opportunities. You will be a strong collaborator, naturally curious with a strong eye, highly organised, and a passionate consumer of entertainment.
Reporting to the Development Director, the Entertainment Development Manager is responsible for managing the development and execution of a variety of LW Entertainment’s creative projects from early-stage strategy and ideation through to pitch and development. The Entertainment Development Manager will drive projects forward, manage internal and external stakeholders, and help turn creative strategy into compelling concepts and opportunities. You will be a strong collaborator, naturally curious with a strong eye, highly organised, and a passionate consumer of entertainment.
• Act as the key point of contact for creative agencies and artists, supporting clear communication and effective collaboration throughout the development of creative projects.
• Manage the review, feedback and approval process across development projects, ensuring timely and effective stakeholder input.
• Review scripts, treatments, book drafts, publishing proposals and other development materials, providing thoughtful creative and commercial feedback, consolidating input from multiple stakeholders.
• Apply knowledge of musical theatre and live entertainment when assessing development opportunities and creative materials.
• Ensure new development projects authentically reflect the core creative DNA and audience appeal of the underlying theatrical properties.
• Champion a franchise-led approach to development, ensuring stories, characters and worlds are considered across multiple formats and audience touchpoints.
• Develop a detailed understanding of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals portfolio, applying this knowledge when developing new products, concepts and assets.
• Create clear and compelling pitch materials and presentations for external partners, prospective collaborators and other development opportunities.
• Represent the development slate effectively at internal meetings, providing clear updates on the status and progress of development projects.
• Proactively drive projects forward, anticipating challenges and identifying solutions before issues arise. • Build a strong understanding of the wider business and its individual business units, including how new products and development projects connect with or affect different teams.
• Maintain a strong awareness of developments across the wider entertainment landscape, including theatre productions, Film, TV, Publishing and Gaming, identifying relevant entertainment news, activity and insights, and share useful developments with the wider business.
• Track incoming materials, proposals and partner communications, ensuring that relevant information is recorded and appropriately managed.
• Support projects from early-stage strategy and ideation through to pitch and development, helping to turn creative strategy into compelling concepts and opportunities.
• Manage relationships and communications across internal and external stakeholders, helping projects progress efficiently through development, feedback and approval stages.
Experience and Knowledge
• Experience managing development projects from initial strategy and ideation through to pitch and development.
• Experience coordinating multiple projects, deadlines, approval stages and external partners.
• Experience reviewing and assessing creative materials, including scripts, treatments, manuscripts or publishing proposals.
• Experience managing internal and external stakeholders, providing clear project updates and securing feedback and approvals.
• Experience collaborating across different business functions, particularly creative and consumer products teams.
• Strong knowledge of the entertainment industry, with an understanding of Film, TV, Publishing and Gaming, and a particular interest in musical theatre and the development of theatrical IP.
• An understanding of franchise strategy and development, brand storytelling and the development of brands across new formats and products.
• Knowledge of current entertainment trends, releases, competitive activity and partner developments.
Skills and Attributes
• Highly organised and proactive, with the ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines and approval processes.
• Strong project management and coordination skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across teams and partners.
• A strong creative eye and the ability to develop compelling concepts and materials.
• Strong storytelling skills, with the ability to apply brand and franchise strategy across different formats.
• Naturally curious, commercially aware and knowledgeable about the wider entertainment landscape.
• Able to develop a detailed understanding of brands, shows and the wider business.
• Confident presenting projects and representing the development slate in internal and external meetings.
• Detail focused, with the ability to track projects, materials and communications accurately.
• A passionate consumer of entertainment, and passion for theatre, musical theatre and storytelling.