Neil Brand, trained originally as an actor, he has made his name as a writer/performer/composer, scoring BFI video releases of such films as South (SHACKLETON S JOURNEY TO THE SOUTH POLE), THE RING by Alfred Hitchcock (also touring live with a swing band), the great lost film THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DAVID LLOYD GEOURGE (for which he performed the world premiere in 1996 and subsequently recorded his acclaimed score) and Early Cinema, avant-garde cinema and Russian pre-Soviet cinema. He has also written extensively for radio.
His first musicals were: EASY MONEY set in South London (1986)which enjoyed great success and the Vivian Ellis prizewinner HOUSE OF DREAMS (1989), both written with Alison Gray; who he also collaborated with on the musical, WILDCAT ON SAFARI. Neil went on to write music and lyrics for shows at theatres as diverse as Polka Children's Theatre (productions included: THE GIRAFFE, THE PELLY AND ME, THE FOUR FRIENDS, THE PATCHWORK QUILT, THE JUNGLE BOOK and SLEEPING BEAUTY), Nuffield Theatre Southampton ( SINBAD'S ARABIAN NIGHTS, WIND IN THE WILLOWS and TREASURE ISLAND) and Gateway Theatre, Chester (ALICE IN WONDERLAND, THE PHOENIX AND THE CARPET and THE LOST DRAGON). He is about to go into production on TALKING WITH MR.WARNER, (directed by Nickolas Grace, produced by Eoin O'Callaghan) a former Ken Hill prize finalist for which he has written book, music and lyrics and is based on his own radio play in which Jack Warner of Warner Brothers is kidnapped on the opening night of The Jazz Singer in Chicago (the first real talking picture) and held to ransom by a disaffected musician.
Mr Brand has also been accompanying silent films for over 17 years, regularly at the NFT on London's south bank and throughout the UK and increasingly at film festivals and special events throughout the world, including Australia, New Zealand (twice), America, Israel, Sweden, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the Pordenone, Bologna and Bergamo festivals in Italy.
He has written the book: Dramatic Notes publisher University of Luton Press
