TONY BRITTEN

ABOUT

RECENT PROJECTS

Having pursued a successful career as a film, television and theatre composer and conductor, with credits ranging from arranging and conducting the legendary National Theatre Guys and Dolls, to conducting Robocop and composing the Champion’s League anthem for UEFA, Tony turned to film making in 1999 with Boheme, his radical re-interpretation of the Puccini opera.

 

Since Tony founded Capriol Films in 2005 he has made: Falstaff, based on the final MTL stage production, Peter Warlock – Some Little Joy, A Salaried Wit, She Stoops to Conquer, Gilbert and Sullivan – A Motley Pair, and In Love with Alma Cogan. 2012’s Benjamin Britten – Peace and Conflict is the culmination of a lifetime’s love of his namesake’s music.

 

In 2014, he wrote and directed the romantic comedy drama ChickLit, as well as Draw on Sweet Night – an Elizabethan romantic drama

set to the madrigal music of 16th Century composer John Wilbye. In 2018, he wrote and directed the documentary Through Lotte’s Lens, telling the fascinating story of the ‘Hitler Émigrés.

 

In 2022 Tony wrote and directed a film about the painter John Craxton to coincide with the centenary exhibitions and is researching several new film and television ideas and developing his SVOD project www.theartschannel.online – Arts Curated for the Curious.

In 2023 Tony wrote and directed a play with music; ‘Astoria’ about the brilliant young Viennese journalist and playwright Jura Soyfer which had a highly successful run at the Jack Studio Theatre.

 

He has also gone back to his church music roots and is composing sacred music, including the Christmas carol ‘Barn House Carol’ , recently published by Stainer and Bell (stainer.co.uk) as part of their Choral Now series of contemporary choral music.

 

Tony is currently writing a second solo album as well as various concert commissions.

A play with music, written and directed by Tony Britten

 

Vienna, 1937. Germany is poised to annex Austria, social democracy has been all but obliterated and the country is lurching ever further to the right.

 

 In the tiny ABC Theatre, the most politically noisy of the Kleinkunstbühnen - the “little theatres” of Vienna - a young communist Jewish playwright, Jura Soyfer, is a rising star. But he is increasingly in danger for lampooning the establishment with his blackly comedic plays such as Astoria, which brilliantly skewers the populism that shatters so many dreams.

 

Using material from Soyfer’s original, this new Astoria tells the story of a group of actors and writers who take huge risks to make theatre that entertains, engages and asks big questions. Come and join us at the ABC and meet them and their friend Jura, this extraordinary young man whose work resonates as loudly now as it did then.

The painter John Craxton was born into a famous musical family in 1922, and although he had a lifelong love of music, his passion and genius was an artist. In his late teens, he and his best friend Lucian Freud attained much early success. But his subsequent move to Greece and finally to Crete, where he lived for many years, removed him from the London art scene and his work became somewhat overlooked. His relationship with Freud soured in later life, but his unrepressed homosexuality, and deep relationships with women such as Lee Miller and Margot Fonteyn made his life gloriously colourful. And his paintings reflected this, particularly after his move to Crete, where vibrant colour and vivid action are expressed in a fashion that elevates Craxton to the first rank of  twentieth century English artists.

This film, inspired by the eponymous book by Ian Collins, published in the centenary year focuses attention back to this great artist and life-loving character.

CONTACT DETAILS

Email me at: tony.britten@capriolfilms.co.uk

Or phone me on: +44 (0)7831 243942

ASTORIA

FEATURE FILMS

writer, director, producer, music

TELEVISION

director, writer, producer, music, conductor

 

TELEVISION

composer, selected credits

TELEVISION

arranger/conductor, selected credits

SPORTS TELEVISION

 

OPERA

THEATRE

RECORDS AND COMMERCIALS

 

COMPOSER SHOW REEL

FEATURE FILMS

Writer, Director, Producer, Music

  • John Craxton - A Life Of Gifts

  • ChickLit

  • Draw On Sweet Night

  • Benjamin Britten : Peace and Conflict

  • In Love with Alma Cogan

  • John Craxton - A Life Of Gifts. Documentary - Exploring the life and work of John Craxton. Writer and director.  For More Info Click Here

 

  • Through Lotte’s Lens. Documentary - The story of the ‘Hitler Emigres’. Writer, producer, director. For More Info Click Here

 

  • Draw on Sweet Night. Drama on the life and works of Elizabethan composer; John Wilbye. Writer, producer, co-composer, director. For More Info Click Here

 

  • ChickLit. Comedy – four regulars co write an erotic novel save their local pub. Writer, producer, composer, director. For More Info Click Here

 

  • Benjamin Britten – Peace and Conflict. Drama-documentary concentrating on Britten’s life-long pacifism. Writer, producer, director. For More Info Click Here

 

  • In Love with Alma Cogan. Romantic comedy set on and around Cromer Pier. Writer, producer, composer, director. For More Info Click Here

 

  • Burndown: Composer.

 

  • Joyriders: Composer.

 

  • Robocop: Conductor.

 

  • Wetherby: Arranger/conductor.

 

 

TELEVISION

Writer, Director, Producer, Music, Conductor

  • Gilbert and Sullivan – A Motley Pair: 5 part series - Sky Arts. Still the only full authoritative television performance documentary about this brilliant duo. Director, producer.

 

  • She Stoops to Conquer: 5 part drama series/single - Sky Arts. Popular television version of Goldsmith’s perennial. Filmed entirely on location in North Norfolk.

 

  • A Gooseberry Fool: Oliver Goldsmith Stoops to Conquer - Single documentary - Sky Arts. Accompanies She Stoops to Conquer - Executive Producer.

 

  • A Salaried Wit: Grossmith, Gilbert and Sullivan - Single documentary – Sky Arts. Simon Butteriss discusses and portrays Gilbert and Sullivan’s comedy muse; George Grossmith. Producer/director.

 

  • Falstaff: TV opera movie - Sky Arts. Based on the stage version by Music Theatre London, filmed on location. Writer (English version), orchestrator, executive producer, director.

 

  • Peter Warlock – Some Little Joy: TV movie – Sky Arts. Drama about the hedonistic and tragic English composer. Writer, executive producer, director.

 

 

 

  • Not Quite at the Opera: TV opera – Sky Arts. Three short operas around a performance of The Marriage of Figaro, first performed at the Drill Hall Arts Centre. Co-composer, producer, director.

 

  • Boheme: TV opera movie – C5. Based on Music Theatre London’s successful stage version, filmed on location in South East London. Writer (English version), orchestrator, conductor, director.

 

  • The Marriage of Figaro: Opera mini-series - BBC/Sony Classical. Mozart’s evergreen re-imagined as a sit-com. Originally staged by MTL. English libretto, associate producer, orchestrator, conductor.

 

  • The Magic Flute: TV opera – NDR. Relay of stage production by MTL from the Kammerspiele Theatre, Hamburg. English libretto, orchestrator, conductor.

 

  • Cosi fan Tutte: TV Opera – NDR. Relay of stage production by MTL from the Kammerspiele Theatre. English libretto, orchestrator, music director.

Composer, Selected Credits

  • The Adventures of Toad: Animated Film – C4. Charming and definitive version of the Kenneth Grahame classic.

 

  • The Adventures of Mole: Animated Film – C4. As above.

 

  • Mole’s Christmas: Animated Film ITV. A short film which started Sue Radley and Martin Gates’s Wind in the Willows project.

 

  • Once Upon a Time in the North: Drama series – BBC. Written by Tim Firth and produced by Phil Partridge.

 

  • Gentlemen and Players: Drama series – ITV. High finance, posh houses and cricket. Starred Brian Protheroe and the late Nicholas Clay.

 

  • Grushko: Mini-series/single - BBC. Art imitated life in this story about the Russian mafia in St. Petersburg. Starred Brian Cox and directed by Tony Smith.

 

  • The Saint: Drama series - ITV. Rather eccentric French/British remake of the TV classic.

 

  • The Irish RM – series 3: Drama series – C4. The channel’s first filmed drama series – enormous charm and something that would similarly never be considered now

 

  • Hancock: Single drama BBC. Elegiac bio-pic, Hancock brilliantly played by Alfred Molina.
  • The Fortunate Pilgrim: Mini-series – source music – RAI. Starred Sophia Loren!
  • Lost Belongings: Drama series – ITV. Powerful story about the Northern Irish troubles. Wonderful writing from the much missed Stewart Parker.

 

  • Talk to Me: Single drama – BBC. Claustrophobic three hander about a nervous breakdown, by William Humble.

 

  • What Mad Pursuit: Single drama - BBC . Based on the Noel Coward play, studio production – the sort of thing that the Beeb would never do now.
  • Echoes: Drama series – C4. Gentle and winning, based on Maeve Binchy’s bestseller.

CONCERT WORKS

  • Brass Quintet
  • ‘Blakesongs’ for choir and orchestra
  • ‘Mural Music’ for flute, violin, ‘cello and piano
  • ‘The Poisoned Chalice’ Chamber opera
  • ‘Scenes from a Movie’ (London Chamber Orchestra commission)
  • Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in D
  • ‘Barn House Carol’ for choir and organ
  • ‘Veni Jesus Dulcis’ for unaccompanied choir

Arranger / Conducter, Selected Credits

  • The Return of the Antelope: Drama series. (Conductor) - ITV

 

  • John and Yoko – a Love Story: TV movie - Turner

 

  • Lace 1: Mini- series - ITV

 

  • Lace 2: Mini-series - ITV

 

  • Country: Single drama. (conductor) - BBC

 

  • Ashenden: drama series (conductor) – C4

 

  • Head Over Heels: Drama series (source music) - ITV

 

  • Four Days in July: single drama. (conductor) BBC

 

  • A Christmas Carol: TV movie - CBS/ITV

 

  • The Scarlet Pimpernel: TV movie - CBS

 

  • To Catch a King: TV movie – CBS

 

  • Oliver Twist: TV movie - CBS

 

  • The Irish RM – series 1&2: Drama series – C4

 

  • It’ll all be over in half an hour: entertainment series. (Musical Director) C4

 

SPORTS TELEVISION

  • Mustafa V. Sports Awards: Composer, orchestrator, conductor, music producer

 

  • The Sun online goals app: Composer, orchestrator, conductor, music producer

 

  • The Champions Hockey League: Composer, orchestrator, conductor, music producer

 

  • The Champions League: Title music/UEFA anthem. Writer/Composer, orchestrator conductor, music producer

 

     UEFA Documentary Here

 

OPERA

All Productions With Music Theatre London (MTL) Unless Specified

  • The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart): New English version, orchestration, conductor. (Subsequent new version director). Croydon Warehouse Theatre, Ambassadors Theatre, Barbican Hall, The Drill Hall Arts Centre, Vienna Festival, Hamburg Kammerspiele, German tour, Dutch Tour, British Tour. New York University - Steindhart Theatre, BBC 2/Sony

 

  • Don Giovanni (Mozart): New English version, orchestration, conductor. Greenwich Theatre, Hamburg Kammerspiele, Vienna Festival, Barbican Hall, the Drill Hall, Dutch Tour, British Tour. ORF Austrian television.

 

  • Cinderella (Rossini): New English version, orchestration, conductor. (Subsequent new version director) Vienna Festival, London Opera Festival, Brighton Festival, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Drill Hall, British Tour, ORF Austrian Television.

 

  • Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart); New English version, orchestration, conductor. Greenwich Theatre, Hamburg Kammerspiele, Dutch Tour, British tour, Queen Elizabeth Hall. NDR German Television.

 

  • La Traviata (Verdi): New English Version, orchestration, conductor. Donmar Warehouse, Drill Hall, Hamburg Kammerspiele, German Tour, British Tour, Dutch Tour. (Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Opera)

 

  • The Poisoned Chalice: Writer/composer. The Drill Hall

 

  • La Belle Hélène (Offenbach) Orchestration. Vienna Festival, ORF Austrian Television.

 

  • The Magic Flute (Mozart) New English version. Orchestration, conductor. Donmar Warehouse, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, Hamburg Kammerspiele, Dutch tour, Belgium tour, British Tour. NDR German Television

 

  • La Boheme (Puccini): New English version, orchestration, director. Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, Hamburg Kammerspiele, the Drill Hall, Snape Proms, Dutch Tour, British Tour. TV film version Channel 5

 

  • Die Fledermaus (Johann Strauss): New English version, orchestration, Director. Arts Theatre (Covent Garden Festival), the Drill Hall, The Lyric Hammersmith, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, Snape proms, British Tour.

 

  • Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky): New English version, director. Lyric Hammersmith, British tour.

 

  • Susanna’s Secret (Wolf-Ferrari). New English version, director. The Drill Hall.

 

  • Falstaff (Verdi): New English version, orchestrations, director. The Drill Hall, British Tour. TV version for Sky Arts HD.

THEATRE

  • Guys and Dolls. National Theatre original production with Julie Covington, Julia Mackenzie, Bob Hoskins and Ian Charleson. Musical director and orchestrator. Subsequent tour and revival – musical supervisor.

 

  • Oliver! Producer: Cameron Mackintosh. Albery Theatre starring Roy Dotrice and Helen Schapiro. Musical director and subsequentlymusic supervisor.

 

  • Also for Cameron Mackintosh, musical director/supervisor:

 

  • Godspell

 

  • The Gingerbread Man

 

  • The Rocky Horror Show

 

  • Tomfoolery

 

  • Music director/arranger for many other shows including European premiere of Lady in the Dark, West End Revival of Stop the World I want to get off with Antony Newly at the Lyric Theatre and Eastward Ho! at the Mermaid Theatre.

 

  • New orchestration for La Belle Helene for Vienna Volksoper.

 

  • Incidental music composed for over thirty plays at theatres including Bromley Churchill Theatre, Chester Gateway, Mel Smith and Bob Goodie, Croydon Warehouse, Drill Hall Theatre.

 

RECORDS & COMMERCIALS

Keyboards/Arranger/Conductor/Producer for many recordings including albums by

  • Julie Collins; Amazing Grace

 

  • Anita Dobson; On my Own

 

  • George Zamfir; Beautiful Dreams., Love Songs., Dances of Romance

 

  • Elkie Brooks; Amazing

 

  • Orchestrator/conductor/producer for

 

  • Guys and Dolls – National Theatre original cast recording

 

  • Suites from Miss Saigon and Les Miserables – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

 

  • Suites from Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cats, Aspects of Love – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

 

  • Composer for many television commercials including major campaigns for Amstrad and Surf soap powder!

 

  • Sinitta – ‘So Macho’ (as never heard before) for Pilgrims Cheese. Arranger, conductor

 

  • The Golden Age Redux – with Andrew Findon

 

  • Nature and Nostalgia – solo album