Ecco on BBC Radio 4 with Haley Atwell

I’ve recently been working again with long term collaborator director Sam Yates on radio drama Ecco playing on BBC Radio 4 Monday 6th March 2017. A science fiction radio drama staring Haley Atwell and written by Chris Harrald, it tells the story of a neuroscientist who triggers a new digital consciousness into being..

Below is a taster of my music score..

The drama will be available on the BBC’s iPlayer after broadcast here.

“Edmund The Magnificent” staring Sir Ian McKellen & David Bradley

Something else that has kept me busy over the last few months has been a magical film by writer/director Ben Ockrent called Edmund The Magnificent. Funded through the emerging talent fund with Creative England and the BFI, and produced by Haus Films, it tells the story of a pig farmer (David Bradley) down on his luck and his journey to get back on top (wonderfully narrated by Ian McKellen). One of the most funny and brilliant short films I’ve ever seen let alone had the privilege to work on… with the whole piece musically scored throughout telling every twist of the journey…

I’ll be putting up my score to the film very shortly.. and hopefully a link to watch the film.. so watch this space.

Nureyev recording at Abbey Road with the London Metropolitan Orchestra

It has been a busy start to 2017… the first project of which to see the light of day is my score to Nureyev which was recently recorded by the London Metropolitan Orchestra under the baton of Andy Brown at Abbey Road Studio 1 (with choir conducted by Nigel Short). Directed by Jacqui Morris (with whom I previously scored the multi BAFTA nominated McCullin and the multi award winning Attacking The Devil); it is an incredibly beautiful documentary of the life of ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev, told solely through never before seen archive and newly commissioned choreography.

I’ll be releasing an accompanying album closer to the theatrical release, and perhaps a couple of teasers before that…

Here’s a snap from the session (along with engineer/mixer Joe Rubel, conductor Andy Brown, Abbey Road engineers Toby and Stefano, and players from the London Metropolitan Orchestra).

(photo – Jeremiah O’Driscoll)

 

“Radio Jones And His Robot Dad” animated app by Oscar nominated Smith & Foulkes

I had immense pleasure writing the score for Smith & Foulkes’ animated app Radio Jones and his Robot Dad. All created from live instruments dotting around my studio, including a piano which hadn’t been tuned for a decade that had just been delivered! Thanks to the brilliant Siren Music and Nexus Productions… this is amongst many award winning animated collaborations with this brilliant team including BBC One Christmas’ “Spout Boy”, The Grand National’s “The Outsider” and Channel 4’s “Stand Up To Cancer”.

Download the app for free here.

Second collaboration with Grammy winning Clean Bandit for M&S

Very pleased to have collaborated again with Grammy winning Clean Bandit for the latest M&S Food Christmas films. Recorded with the London Metropolitan Orchestra at Mark Knopfler’s British Grove Studio the track is an orchestral remix of their number one song Rather Be. Made with agency RKCH/Y&R who I’ve collaborated with on numerous projects in the past including BBC ONE Christmas “Sprout Boy” films in 2015.

ATTACKING THE DEVIL wins Grierson Award

Very pleased that the made for cinema documentary Attacking The Devil directed by Jacqui Morris (our second collaboration together, after the twice BAFTA nominated McCullin) has won a coveted Grierson Award for Best Historical Documentary.

For a full list of winners take a look at the Grierson Trust website here.

We are presently in the final stages of our third collaboration, Nureyev, which will be appearing in cinemas next year.

Nureyev feature film directed by BAFTA nominated Jacqui Morris

Over the course of the last year or so I’ve been working again with brilliant director Jacqui Morris – with whom I’ve collaborated previously on twice BAFTA nominated (and award winning score) McCullin and the multi award winning / Grierson nominated Attacking The Devil. This film tells the story of acclaimed ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev, told beautifully and uniquely – Nureyev is on its way into the final stages of production – with cinema release slated for 2017.

Play On! Shakespeare in Silent Film for the BFI

Very happy to have been part of a new film project for the BFI entitled “Play On! Shakespeare in Silent Film”. Consisting of newly digitised and restored silent films based on Shakespeare’s work – some so old dating back to the beginning of film itself – complete with a newly commissioned live score, the film premiered at the BFI Southbank cinema (accompanied by live musicians). The project was produced along with Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, with five composers each writing music for the five acts of film – mine was the third act; other composers involved included Oscar winning Stephen Warbeck, Olly Fox, Jules Maxwell and Sophie Cotton, with music direction by Bill Barclay.

The film is available to watch online here and purchased on BluRay / DVD from the BFI store here.

Nineteen Eighty-Four wins South Bank Award… and now available to watch on iPlayer

Fresh from a very successful and sold out run at Sadler’s Wells, London, very happy that my ballet piece for Northern Ballet, 1984, choreographed and directed by Jonathan Watkins, has won the prestigious South Bank Award for Dance.

Celebrating the best of film, theatre, classical music, literature, art and dance, it is an honour to be nominated alongside some incredible talent.. a brilliant team effort from the fantastic dancers, musicians, creatives & crew at Northern Ballet who made it all possible.

The filmed version is available on the BBC Arts website for the next two months here – http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03w5418

“A Streetcar Named Desire” transfers to St Ann’s Warehouse, New York

Very happy to be transferring the award winning Young Vic production of A Streetcar Named Desire to St Ann’s Warehouse in New York in April 2016. Directed by Benedict Andrews with a cast including Gillian Anderson, Ben Foster and Vanessa Kirby, the production runs between April 23rd – June 4th.

The show was also released in cinemas as part of NT Live and a spin off short film “The Departure” directed and staring Gillian Anderson was released last year, on which I also composed the music.

My music score can be heard on the listen page and downloaded from here.