Draft:Neil McArthur (composer)

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Neil McArthur
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresMusical theatre, folk, blues, jazz
Occupation(s)Music director, composer, arranger, performer
Instrument(s)Piano, bass guitar, keyboards
Years active1970s–present

Neil McArthur is a British music director, composer, and arranger with a career spanning over four decades in theatre, television, and live music performance. He is known for his work on the West End and Broadway production Five Guys Named Moe, among other theatrical productions.[1]

Early career

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McArthur began his professional career as a pianist and musical director for theatre productions in the United Kingdom.[2] He later played bass guitar in the jukebox musical Leave Him to Heaven, which subsequently transferred to the West End.[3] During the late 1970s, he also worked at several theatres, including the Theatre Royal Stratford East.[4]

Harvey and the Wallbangers

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After a four-year hiatus following his early professional work, McArthur joined the Cambridge University band Harvey and the Wallbangers in the early 1980s. The group appeared on television in the UK and Europe, released four albums on their own label (Hubba-Dots), hosted two BBC Radio 2 series, and performed at venues including Sadler's Wells Theatre and the Royal Albert Hall.[5]

The band also performed at the Royal Variety Performance in 1983 and 1985, and recorded an album with conductor Simon Rattle in 1987 (The Jazz Album with the London Sinfonietta).[6]

Following the band’s disbandment in 1987, McArthur served as musical director for the West End and Broadway production Blues in the Night.[7] He also worked as musical director for the 1992 production of Merrily We Roll Along at Leicester Haymarket Theatre, directed by Paul Kerryson.[8]

Musical director and arranger

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1980s–1990s: Early theatre work

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McArthur has worked extensively as a musical director and arranger in London and regional theatres. His notable early credits include serving as musical director and arranger for Five Guys Named Moe, which ran for six years in the West End and one year on Broadway, earning Silver and Gold discs for its soundtrack sales.[9][10]

He also contributed to Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (National Theatre, 1989).[11]

2000s: National Theatre and RSC

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During the 2000s, McArthur worked on numerous productions, including A Streetcar Named Desire (National Theatre, 2002),[12] Fix-Up (National Theatre, 2000),[13] The Villains’ Opera (National Theatre, 2000),[14] His Girl Friday (National Theatre, 2003),[15] Elmina’s Kitchen (National Theatre, 2005),[16] and Tamar’s Revenge (Royal Shakespeare Company, 2008).[17]

He also worked on regional and West End productions including High Society (Sheffield, 2003),[18] Half A Sixpence (West End, 2008),[19] The Wizard Of Oz (West End, 2011),[20] Bad Girls (Leeds Playhouse, 2006),[21] and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (West End, 2001; Broadway, 2003).[22][23]

2005–2007: Other projects

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In 2005, McArthur co-produced and served as musical director for the Jerry Lee Lewis musical Great Balls Of Fire. [24] He was musical director and arranger for Tutti Frutti, the first production of the National Theatre of Scotland in 2006,[25] and served as musical supervisor for Stephen Fry’s pantomime Cinderella at The Old Vic in 2007.[26]

He has also contributed to workshop productions by Yusuf Islam, Ray Davies, and Lionel Bart.[27]

Television and film

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McArthur composed music for several BBC productions, including the adaptations The Ancient Mariner (1997)[28] and Young Jung (1997)[29]. He also composed for the ITV series Frank Stubbs Promotes (1993–1994)[30] and the Miramax feature film Victory (1996)[31].

Recent work

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In recent years, McArthur has concentrated on co-writing songs with playwright Tony Jones and musician Ben Brierley. Songs co-written with Jones appear on The Green House Band’s double CD Anthology (Talking Elephant Records), and collaborations with Brierley are featured on the album Meanwhile.[32][33][34]

Soho Folk & Blues

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McArthur is the founder of Soho Folk & Blues, a live music venue located at Cuts, 41 Frith Street, Soho, London. The club was established to revive the intimate atmosphere of 1960s folk and blues clubs such as Les Cousins, The Troubadour, and Bunjies. It presents unplugged acoustic performances approximately once every two weeks. Details of upcoming events are available on the club’s official website.[35][36][37]

References

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  1. ^ "Neil McArthur – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  2. ^ "About Neil McArthur". neilmcarthur.org. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  3. ^ "Leave Him to Heaven - 1976 West End - Creative Team". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  4. ^ "The Funniest Man in the World - Theatre Royal Stratford East 1977". Theatricalia. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  5. ^ "Harvey Brough – Biography". Greenbelt Festival. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  6. ^ "The Jazz Album – Simon Rattle, London Sinfonietta, Harvey and the Wallbangers". Presto Music. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  7. ^ "Blues in the Night – Original London Cast". CastAlbums.org. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  8. ^ "Merrily We Roll Along – 1992 Leicester Haymarket Theatre Production". Theatricalia. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  9. ^ "Five Guys Named Moe – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  10. ^ "Five Guys Named Moe – West End Production". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  11. ^ "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom – National Theatre Production". National Theatre Archive. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  12. ^ "A Streetcar Named Desire – National Theatre Production". National Theatre Archive. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  13. ^ "Fix-Up – National Theatre Production". Black Plays Archive. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  14. ^ "The Villains' Opera – National Theatre Production". Theatricalia. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  15. ^ "His Girl Friday – National Theatre Production". Playbill. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  16. ^ "Elmina's Kitchen – National Theatre Production". Black Plays Archive. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  17. ^ "Tamar's Revenge – Royal Shakespeare Company Production". Royal Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  18. ^ "High Society – Sheffield Theatres Production". Sheffield Theatres. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  19. ^ "Half A Sixpence – West End Production". London Theatre. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  20. ^ "The Wizard of Oz – West End Production". London Theatre. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  21. ^ "Bad Girls – Leeds Playhouse Production". Leeds Playhouse. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  22. ^ "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof – West End Production". London Theatre. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  23. ^ "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof – Broadway Production". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  24. ^ "Great Balls Of Fire – Musical Production". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  25. ^ "Tutti Frutti – National Theatre of Scotland Production". National Theatre of Scotland. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  26. ^ "Stephen Fry's Cinderella at The Old Vic". The Guardian. 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  27. ^ "Neil McArthur – Workshop Contributions". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  28. ^ "The Ancient Mariner". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  29. ^ "Young Jung". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  30. ^ "Frank Stubbs Promotes". British Film Institute. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  31. ^ "Victory (1996)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  32. ^ "Neil McArthur – Work". Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  33. ^ "Anthology – The Green House Band". Discogs. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  34. ^ "Meanwhile – Ben Brierley". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  35. ^ "Soho Folk & Blues Official Website". Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  36. ^ "Soho Folk & Blues". Folk and Roots. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  37. ^ "The Soho Society Hour – Interview with Neil McArthur". The Soho Society. Retrieved 2025-08-07.