"James Cleeve’s smoothly accomplished musical supervision hits advanced standards".
The Guardian on Yank!
I am an experienced Musical Director and Composer who loves to get the best out of the people I work with.
I've MD'd numerous theatrical productions, workshops, cabarets and education projects in London and across the UK, including conducting in the Festival Hall and playing in West End pits. I play piano, keyboards, accordion and organ, and also transcribe,
arrange and orchestrate.
I'm currently composing and workshopping two new musicals - Bette and Joan & Baby Jane and Oh Yes I Am! - and won
the Iris Theatre Xmas Factor Prize with "Heroes of Christmas, Celebrated Panto Dames" .
Check out Sound Cloud to hear my work, and feel free to get in touch - I'm always on the lookout for great projects with great people!
I'm represented by Access Artiste Management.
Charing Cross Theatre
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Musical Director
Following a critically acclaimed European Premiere in Manchester, The Squad of Company Y transferred into London with this really special show written by the Zellnik brothers.
Set in the U.S. Military during WW2, this intimate
love story between two men captured the imaginations of audiences and the press alike.
★★★★★ Attitude
★★★★ The Guardian
★★★★ The Stage
★★★★ Daily Express
National Tour
Associate Musical Director
Associate MD for David Steadman on the BKL National Tour, starring Lucy O'Byrne and Andrew Lancel.
"A cast full of marvellous musical theatre voices ... Is there a stronger score in Broadway history?" (Broadway World)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Arts Theatre West End
Musical Director
The London revival of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award winning musical transferred from The Landor straight to the West End, playing at the Arts for four weeks.
Time Out ★★★★ "Excellent", WhatsOnStage "spirited musical direction."
National Theatre Studio
Musical Director & Arranger
An amazing couple of weeks working with director Mark Bell and writer Mark Ravenhill on an exciting adaptation of this graphic novel. I was also lucky enough to arrange the beautiful music of Jez Lowe for our talented cast.
Wendi Peters: Let Me Sing
Live at Zedel
Musical Director
Among my many gigs with the gorgeous Wendi Peters was this special one-off night at the Crazy Coqs.
We spun our way through an hour of our own arrangements of medleys and songs, all telling the story of Wendi's life and career
in theatre, TV and on the UK baking scene!
Photo Credit: Martin Smith @ Origin8 Photography
Tristan Bates Theatre
Musical Director, Orchestrator & Vocal Arrangements
An intimate tale of love, loss and the struggle to survive, this show was based on the reality of Mussolini’s persecution of gay men.
I MD'd a 16-strong ensemble of actor-musicians, as well as orchestrating the score and writing
all the vocal arrangements.
The Stage were impressed: "Talented musicians, great musical direction, ... and the cast are terrific", as were Musical Theatre Review: "★★★★ - The music impresses from the
off".
Mountview
Composer & Arranger
Mountview staged the first performance of this fantastic piece after its run in the West End. My compositions for this production have been licenced by Nick Hern Books, and are now offered to all companies performing the play.
Orange Tree Theatre Richmond
Composer & Musical Director
I wrote the songs and score for this gorgeous adaptation of the classic children's tale, staged over Christmas 2021 at the Orange Tree.
Time & Leisure wrote: "The songs work astonishingly well - catchy and memorable for kids and adults alike – a rare feat in fringe musical theatre".
King's Head Theatre | Bread & Roses Theatre
Composer & Musical Director
Lyricist Mike Stocks and I were extremely proud to premiere our first show at the gorgeous King's Head Theatre. After a sell-out opening night, The Reviews Hub gave us ★★★★ - "A highly entertaining show!"
Our transfer to the Bread & Roses Theatre went on to get ★★★★★ from Broadway Baby and Musical Theatre Review. Very chuffed!
London Accordion Orchestra
Composer & Arranger
I was commissioned by LAO to write this exciting new piece for their 40-piece orchestra.
2023 |
Once (& Additional Arrangements) |
Mountview |
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2023 |
Dillie Keane |
National Tour |
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2022 |
Sleeping Beauty |
New Theatre Royal Portsmouth |
"Top-class orchestra...Panto exactly as it ought to be" Chichester Observer |
2022 |
Oh Yes I Am! (& Composer) |
King's Head Theatre |
★★★★★ Broadway Baby ★★★★★ Musical Theatre Review
★★★★ The Reviews Hub |
2022 |
Christine Bovill: Paris |
National Tour |
|
2022 |
New Zealand Young Shakespeare Co. |
Shakespeare's Globe |
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2022 |
Tonight at the Musicals |
Paul Burton Productions |
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2022 |
Cells Season II |
Metta Theatre |
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2022 |
Twelfth Night |
Shakespeare's Globe / Royal College of Scotland |
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2021 |
Pinocchio (& Composer) |
Orange Tree Theatre Richmond |
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2021 |
Dick Whittington |
Jordan Productions |
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2021 |
Are You Ready? (Cover MD) |
Jess Robinson |
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2021 |
Tonight at the Musicals |
Paul Burton Productions |
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2021 |
[title of show] |
Mountview |
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2020 |
Jess Robinson |
Glastonbury & National Tour |
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2020 |
Shoo Shoo Baby |
National Tour |
|
2019 |
Cinderella |
Jordan Productions |
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2019 |
Emilia (& Composer) |
Mountview |
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2019 |
Caroline Nin: Piaf |
Celebrate Voices Festival |
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2019 |
Shoo Shoo Baby |
National Tour |
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2019 |
Claire Sweeney: Cabaret |
P&O Cruises |
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2019 |
Dillie Keane: Love & Other Bad Ideas |
National Tour |
|
2019 |
Alice in Sunderland (& Arranger) |
National Theatre Studio |
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2019 |
Molly Mahoney: Mischief |
Crazy Coqs |
|
2019 |
Liza Pulman Sings Streisand |
National Tour |
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2019 |
Yank! Renuion Concert |
Cafe de Paris |
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2019 |
Wendi Peters: Live at Zedel |
Crazy Coqs |
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2019 |
Swallows & Amazons (& Orchestrator/Arranger) |
Mountview |
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2018 |
Dick Whittington |
Jordan Productions |
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2018 |
East 15 Young Shakespeare Company |
Shakespeare's Globe |
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2018 |
Shoo Shoo Baby |
National Tour |
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2018 |
Claire Sweeney: Cabaret |
P&O Cruises |
|
2018 |
San Domino (& Orchestrator/Arranger) |
Tristan Bates Theatre |
★★★★★ The Gay UK ★★★★ Musical Theatre Review & London Theatre 1 |
2018 |
Liza Pulman Sings Streisand |
National Tour |
|
2018 |
Wendi Peters: Let Me Sing & I'm Happy |
P&O Cruises |
|
2017 |
Jack & The Beanstalk |
Gordon Craig Stevenage |
|
2017 |
Yank! |
Charing Cross Theatre |
★★★★ Daily Express, Broadway World & WhatsOnStage |
2017 |
Yank! |
Hope Mill Theatre Manchester |
★★★★★ Attitude ★★★★ The Guardian & The Stage |
2016 |
Wendi Peters: Let Me Sing & I'm Happy |
The Other Palace |
★★★★ Musical Theatre Review |
2016 |
New Zealand YSC |
Shakespeare's Globe |
|
2016 |
Christine Bovill: Paris |
Crazy Coqs |
|
2016 |
Peter Pan |
Gordon Craig Stevenage |
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2015 |
Ushers: The Front of House Musical |
Arts Theatre West End |
★★★★★ The Scotsman |
2015 |
Sleeping Beauty |
Gordon Craig Stevenage |
★★★★ The Stage |
2015 |
Midnight |
The Other Palace |
★★★★★ Musical Theatre Review |
2014 |
San Domino |
Grimeborn @ Arcola Theatre |
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2013 |
A Class Act |
The Landor |
★★★★★ Whats On Stage |
2013 |
Avenue Q |
Theatre Royal Windsor |
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2013 - 2016 |
Lambeth Singing Festival Concerts |
Royal Festival Hall |
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2012 |
The Mystery of Edwin Drood |
Arts Theatre West End |
★★★★ Time Out |
Composer
2023 |
Bette & Joan & Baby Jane |
The Other Palace - Musical Bites Season |
|
2022 |
Oh Yes I Am! |
King's Head Theatre and Bread & Roses Theatre |
★★★★★ Broadway Baby ★★★★★ Musical Theatre Review
★★★★ The Reviews Hub |
2021 |
Pinocchio |
Orange Tree Theatre Richmond |
"The songs work astonishingly well" Time & Leisure |
2020 |
Beginnings |
London Accordion Orchestra |
|
2019 |
Emilia |
Nick Hern Books |
|
2019 |
Noye's Fludde Retold |
ENO Baylis |
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2019 |
Die Fledermaus Retold |
Baseless Fabric Opera |
|
2018 |
Heroes of Christmas |
Iris Theatre Xmas Factor |
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Associate Musical Director
2017 |
Sing Before You Speak Again |
Young Vic |
MD - Joseph Atkins |
2017 |
Lemon |
Workshop |
MD - Juan Martin |
2016 |
The Sound of Music |
National Tour |
MD - David Steadman |
2015 |
Elegies |
Criterion |
MD - Dean Austin |
Education, Outreach & Choral Direction
2009 - Present |
Mountview |
Trinity Laban |
|
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Italia Conti |
Ambassador Theatre Group |
|
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Southbank Centre |
ENO Engage |
|
|
Young Vic Taking Part |
Glyndebourne Learning & Engagement |
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|
West End Musical Choir |
Spitalfields Music |
|
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Associated Studios |
Hackney Music Development Trust |
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West End Workshop |
Surrey Arts |
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Keys & Accordion
2020 |
Liza Pulman: The Heart of It |
National Tour & London |
MD - Joseph Atkins |
2016 |
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
National Tour Dep |
MD - Andrew Hilton |
2015 |
Top Hat |
National Tour Dep |
MD - Jae Alexander |
2014 |
Jacques Brel is Alive & Well |
Charing Cross Theatre |
MD - Dean Austin |
2012-13 |
Top Hat |
Aldwych & National Tour Dep |
MD - Dan Jackson |
2012 |
Victor/Victoria |
Southwark Playhouse |
MD - Joseph Atkins |
2015 - Present |
Audition Pianist |
Thursford Christmas Spectacular, Stricly Ballroom, Dr. Dolittle |
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2013 - Present |
Black Cat Cabaret |
Crazy Coqs, Cafe de Paris, Cafe Royal |
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