The Watermill Wins a Resident Composer for a Year

The Watermill Theatre is one of three winners for the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer Scheme as announced by Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network.
 
The Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer Scheme provides six-month placements in major theatres throughout the UK for emerging professional theatre composers, and Paul Herbert will join The Watermill until March 2015.

Paul has worked as a composer, musical director and arranger at several venues, including Salisbury Playhouse, University of Cumbria and the Criterion Theatre and Trafalgar Studios in London. He was Musical Supervisor and Arranger for The Watermill’s actor-musician productions of Radio Times, Thoroughly Modern Milly and The Witches of Eastwick.  Paul said:

“I have had some experience working in regional theatre on individual contracts; a residency will give me a fuller insight into the requirements and mechanics of writing to a specific brief, offer the chance to show my versatility and employ a wide range of compositional styles.”

179 applications were received for the last three placements on the scheme, which is supported by the Mackintosh Foundation. Following two intensive rounds of selection and judging, including writing new works to briefs from the respective venues, the three successful candidates were selected. As well as The Watermill, Bristol Old Vic and The Soho Theatre will also have Resident Composers.