Frew

Composer/Musical Director

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Heads of Department

Assistant: Phoebe O'Donnell

Heads of Department

Frew is a Composer, Musical Director and Performer.

He is an Associate Artist of Middle Child and graduated with a Masters degree in Music from the University of Hull in 2011.  

PRAISE FOR AFTER THE ACT (NEW DIORAMA):

★ ★ ★ ★
Frew’s fabulous electronica sends us back to a 1980s synthesised clubland ... this musical feels exceptional

The Guardian

★ ★ ★ ★
the script is a potent blend of sharp satire and harrowing tragedy, while the musical element (composed by Frew, with sound design from Owen Crouch) features heartfelt lyrics and rich harmonies, played against a euphoric soundscape of 80s synth chords.
 
The Telegraph

★ ★ ★ ★
Composer and musical director Frew gives the 1980s-set first half a propulsive, electro-synth backdrop, as Section 28 comes malignantly into being while evoking bands such as Underworld as the show moves into the 1990s and explores the law’s impact. The music captures a freneticism ... The songs are less neatly formed numbers and more outbursts of feeling – in sadness, hatred or anger.

The Stage 

★ ★ ★ ★
Streams of verbatim lyrics are squashed into dancy, synthy, driving music by mono-named composer Frew who stands on a raised platform at a keyboard, like Chris Lowe from Pet Shop Boys. Often the songs sound like the score to some amazing ’80s action movie.

Time Out 

In Development

ProductionCompanyNotes
2024

Sheffield Theatres

Dir. Robert Hastie
Composer & MD

THE CANARY AND THE CROW

Maia Pictures/Channel 4

Composer

Theatre

ProductionCompanyNotes
2023

Traverse Theatre

Dir. Billy Barrett
Composer and Musical Director

2023

New Diorama/Breach

Dir. Billy Barrett
Composer and Musical Director
Nominated for Off West End Award for Best New Musical

2022

Oldham Coliseum

Dir. Gitika Buttoo
Sound Designer

2022

Middle Child Theatre

Dir. Paul Smith and Maureen Lennon
Co-Composer with Kobby Taylor

2020

Middle Child Theatre/Summerhall/Arcola Theatre

Dir. Paul Smith
Co-Composer/Musical Director
Off West End Awards for Performance Ensemble and Performance Piece

2019

New Diorama

Dir. Billy Barrett
Composer and Musical Director

2019

Bolton Octagon

Dir. Lotte Wakeham
Musical Director

2019

Birmingham Rep

Dir. Alex Brown
Sound Designer

2019

MIddle Child Theatre/Hull Truck/Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse

Dir. Paul Smith
Composer/Musical Director

2019

Silent Uproar

Dir. Alex Mitchell
Musical Supervisor

2018

Bush Theatre

Dir. Paul Smith
Composer/Musical Director

2018

Wilton's Music Hall

Dir. Thomas Hescott
Composer/Sound Designer

2018

Sheffield Crucible

Dir. Rebecca Frecknall
Composer/Sound Designer

2018

Middle Child

Dir. Paul Smith
Composer (with Honeyblood)

2018

Royal Exchange

Dir. Matt Hassall
Composer/Musical Director

2017 - 2018

Birmingham Rep

Dir. Tessa Walker
Composer/Musical Director/Musician

2017

Middle Child

Dir. Paul Smith
Composer/Musical Director

2017

Middle Child/Paines Plough/Roundabout @ Summerhall

Dir. Paul Smith
Composer/Musical Director

2017

Orange Tree Theatre

Dir. Alex Thorpe
Composer/Sound Designer

2016 - 2017

New Vic Theatre

Dir. Theresa Heskins
Assistant MD/Performer
Nominated for Best Show for Children and Young People, 2017 UK Theatre Awards

2016

Pilot Theatre

Dir. Katie Posner
Composer/Sound Designer

2016

Birmingham Rep/Watford Palace/Hull Truck

Dir. Tessa Walker
Composer/Musical Director

2016

Pentabus Theatre

Dir. Jo Newman
Sound Designer

2016

Northern Stage/UK Tour

Dir. Lorne Campbell
Sound Design, Additional Composition and Musical Supervision

2015

Hull Truck

Dir. Mark Babych
Composer/Musical Director

2015

Hampstead Theatre Downstairs

Dir. Caitlin McLeod
Sound Designer

2015

Middle Child Theatre

Dir. Paul Smith
Composer/Sound Designer

2015

Cast Doncaster

Dir. Esther Richardson and Lucy Hind
Musical Director/Performer

2015

Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe/New Diorama

Dir. Paul Smith
Co-written with Luke Barnes
Musical Theatre Network Development Award 2015

2015

Pentabus Theatre

Dir. Tinuke Craig
Sound Designer

2015

Hampstead Theatre Downstairs

Dir. Anna Ledwich
Sound Designer

2014

Middle Child Theatre

Dir. Paul Smith
Composer/Musical Director

2014

Hull Truck

Dir. Mark Babych
Composer/Musical Director

2014

Middle Child Theatre

Dir. Paul Smith
Composer/Musical Director

2014

Paines Plough/Tour

Dir. Stef O'Driscoll
Musical Director

2014

Watford Palace Theatre

Dir. Brigid Larmour & Shona Morris
Composer/Sound Designer

2014

Hull Truck

Dir. Paul Smith
Composer/Musical Director

2014

Park Theatre/Big Bear

Dir. James Bounds
Composer

2014

Hull Truck

Dir. Mark Babych
Composer/Sound Designer

2013

Soho Theatre

Dir. Steve Marmion
Musical Director/Performer

THE UGLY SISTERS

2013

Rash Dash/UK Tour

Dir. Kyle Davies/Rash Dash
Sound Designer

2013

National Theatre

Dir.Jeremy Herrin
Assistant Composer to Stephen Warbeck/Dep Performer

SATURDAY NIGHT, SUNDAY MORNING

2013

Middle Child Theatre

Dir. Paul Smith
Musical Director/Performer

2013

Red Ladder/UK Tour

Dir. Rod Dixon
Composer/Sound Designer