"James Cleeve’s smoothly accomplished musical supervision hits advanced standards".
The Guardian on Yank!
Current Projects
Midnight At The Palace | Guilded Balloon / SFTW Productions | Musical Director
Bette & Baby Joan & Baby Jane | Composer & Musical Director
West End Musical Choir | Musical Director
Musical Direction & Coaching at LAMDA, Mountview, Trinity Laban and Central
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 & 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
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.
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.
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)
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!