Constellations is a beautiful play by Nick Payne,directed by Michael Longhurst with Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall . I am thrilled to have my music in this.  On til Feb 11th 2012 www.royalcourttheatre.com

A review by Libby Purvis in The Times re the sound and music:

is as unsettling as the fragmentary conversations, with a touch of Caryl Churchill about its dreamlike quality. At its best it feels like music, a sort of Bach fugue coming back endlessly to the same theme from a different direction and a new instrument. Or maybe it is more like the video-wall at the Hockney exhibition: multiple cameras showing everything slightly out of phase with itself.

Also my score can be heard in Nora -Ingmar Bergman’s adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House at the Belgrade Studio Coventry. Catch it if you can Directed by Patricia Benecke

Synopsis

Derek is a skilled photographer, very down on his luck, until a mysterious envelope drops through the letter box.  It seems that a stranger wants to hire him to take pictures of an elegant young woman as she walks through leafy Holland Park. The catch is she must not know she is being photographed… the reward is handsome.

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I have composed a score for this new funny play by Steve Thompson directed by Edward Hall at Hampstead theatre Press Night is Tuesday 13th September and it runs until October 15th. It is set in 1975 and is about Monty Python,namely Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam challenging ABC the American network over the editing of their TV show Great fun! Hampstead theatre

Also congratulations to Gerard Logan in his performance of The Rape of Lucrece for winning the Stage award of best actor at the Edinburgh Festival this year. It features my music. Well done to you!

“Composer Simon Slater‘s opening music is full of urgent drums and haunting strings, staccato and advancing, setting the scene for the ensuing struggle.” ( Fringe Report)

An original score can be heard in this 50 year anniiversary production of The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan at the West Yorkshire Playhouse starring Maxine Peake and directed by Sarah Esdaile. It opens on February 18th and runs til March 14th

Also I have written an unusual soundscape for a new play Fatherland by Tom Holloway directed by Caroline Steinbeiss playing at the Gate Theatre London from Feb 10th -12th March. A disturbing and intense drama between father and daughter.

Also Beachy Head is on a national tour wtih Analogue Theatre Company- again a haunting score The tour goes on until March 23rd 2011

Reviews For Beachy Head:”music which plays emotively like Phillip Glass…”  Liverpool Echo  “A quietly spendid production..it lingers long” The Observer.

This highly praised production featuring a mixture of my rollicking songs and atmospheric incidental music is playing at the Watermill Theatre Newbury until Jan 2 2011. A great production directed by Robin Bellfield,with the songs brought to life by a very able cast of actor musicians-script by Toby Hulse. This same team will be bringing you Wind in the Willows next year! Reviews of the music:

“first-class music” Oxford Times

“a vibrant score” British Theatre Review

I have written the score for a new production of As YOU LIKE IT opening at the West Yorkshire playhouse directed by Ian Brown- a combination of live songs to Shakespeare’s lyrics with a contemporary feel and a filmic recorded soundtrack.Opens 16th September 2010

I am thrilled to be composing a score for a new play by Shelagh Stephenson “ENLIGHTENMENT” which is the first production of the season at the Hampstead theatre directed by Ed Hall. A  topical, gripping and moving play-opens to the press on October 6th 2010.

Great reviews for this production of Arthur miller’s play presently running at the West yorkshire Playhouse directed by Sarah Esdaile with Phillip Jackson as Willy Loman

“Simon Slater has created a soundtrack with depth and subtlety,most remarkably the eerie piping notes of live flute playing..” The show runs until May 29th 2010

Future projects include As You like It again at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in September 2010

Great reviews for the score of James and the Giant Peach-”engaging and cleverly arranged music”. Next comes a busy start to the year a score for a new play Cling to me like Ivy at the Birmingham Rep- set in an orthodox Jewish family kitchen, directed by Sarah Esdaile and then music for Heroes translated by Tom Stoppard at the Watermill Newbury directed by Paul Hart.

I have just written the music for a beautiful contemporary American play Ones that  Flutter which was critically acclaimed at  London’s Theatre 503 and also the music for  the audio book of The Greek that Stole Christmas by Anthony Horowitz for Heavy  productions. Also my music and songs can be heard in the forthcoming production James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl at the  Watermill Theatre Berkshire England. This production opens on November 26th. Check watermill.org.uk And for Christmas at the Theatre Royal Winchester- a new set of songs for a Pantomime version of the Wizard of Oz,opening in Deccember 09

I have composed two new scores for two premiere  productions presently playing to packed houses at the Edinburgh Festival this year. Beachy  Head -a new piece by the multi award winning Analogue Theatre Company,at the Pleasance Kingdome, the second play after the hugely successful Mile  End,which also featured my music. Secondly, a one woman play Becoming Marilyn at the Assembly rooms starring Issy Van Randwyck and directed by Gareth Armstrong. Both productions run until the end of August 2009.

Mad Forest by Caryl Churchill has completed a succesful run at the Battersea Arts Centre for the JMK award, with my recorded score. The show sold out and was given great reviews from the Guardian and The Times. It was directed by Caroline Steinbeis.

Humble Boy Boston Kippy Goldfarb-Carolle Photography

MUSIC FOR THEATRE

I have just composed the original music for a new play- Two Men of Florence by the American writer Richard N. Goodwin,directed by Ed Hall at the Huntington Theatre, Boston, Massachusettes. A fascinating  piece about the struggle between the astronomer Galileo and the Pope in 1600. The production played to fantastic houses -sold out with standing ovations.

Also I have just composed a new soundtrack for The Publick Theatre Boston’s current production of Humble Boy playing at the Plaza Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts, Massachussettes,directed by Diego Arciniegas.

MUSIC FOR RADIO

My music can be heard in an exciting new weekly BBC Radio 4 current affairs programme  The Report,  edited by Hugh Levinson and produced by Nicola Meyrick, which is currently aired on Thursdays at 8pm. featuring news with a variety of topical items,subjects ranging from Dignitas to Saudi Arabian arms sales.

MUSIC FOR FILM

In April, my music can be heard at Bafta in a short film directed by Patrick Lau-A Christmas Tale .

2 BIRDS and A BLOKE

Simon is presently performing in this musical review throughout the summer .