James Cleeve

I had the utter privilege of working with the inimitable Dillie Keane on her solo tour. Not a dry seat left in the house!

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.

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

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".

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

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)

I was a regular dep on the Olivier Award-winning Top Hat in the West End and on tour, covering the keys and onstage accordion chair.
MD Dan Jackson.

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."

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.

I was commissioned by LAO to write a new piece for their 40-piece orchestra.

I wrote a series of songs for this project, working with students from several schools. I collated lyrical and melodic material from the young people, and crafted them into songs that were performed at the project's culmination.

Lyricist Mike Stocks and I won the 2018 Iris Theatre Xmas Factor competition with our song Heroes of Christmas, Celebrated Panto Dames. We are now writing a one-man show inspired by this song, intriguingly titled Oh Yes I Am!