Orch./Arranging

Arranging/Orchestration
photo Catherine Ashmore

Arranging….Orchestrating….  what’s the difference?

Well, if you really want to know, there’s a very clear description here on the website of celebrated Broadway arranger Bruce Coughlin, whose arrangements of Candide I was lucky enough to play, and occasionally conduct, at the National Theatre in 2000.

In practice, there is usually so much common ground it’s hard to distinguish the two roles.

Below is a list of shows for which I have provided arrangements/orchestrations. The majority of these are established big Broadway/West End-type musicals for which my usual brief was something like “terrific sound, but with an affordable sized band”

If you are looking for new arrangements for your production of a musical, do get in touch!

Note that if it’s a show I’ve arranged before, I can’t offer you those arrangements, because (a) in each case they were created bespoke for a particular production, and (b) the copyright belongs to the original rights holders.   However if you have permission to create your own arrangements (and this would usually be the case), then you may commission me to provide those new arrangements, and if it’s something I’ve worked on before, a lot of the donkey-work of inputting the source material will already be done.



Promises Promises – music by Burt Bacharach
Southwark Playhouse, dir. Bronagh Lagan, mus.sup. Elliot Davis
7 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, drums, bass, tpt, WW, gtr)
“Bacharach fans will find much to enjoy in Elliot Davis and Steve Edis’ reduced orchestration”
Dom O’Hanlon, London Theatre


Oklahoma – music by Richard Rodgers
Northampton/National Tour, dir. Rachel Kavanaugh, MD Steve Ridley
orchestration based on Robert Russell Bennett’s original
10 musicians (MD/keys. keys2, drums/perc, bass, 2xWW, tpt, horn, tbn, vln)
“In the pit, there’s a ten-piece band playing lush orchestrations by Steven Edis under the baton of Stephen Ridley, which are modern and wonderfully executed, adding another dimension of excitement to the whole package. “   Michael Davies, whatsonstage.com


High Society – music by Cole Porter
National tour, dir. Anna Linstrum, MD Michael Haslam
8 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, bass, drums, WW, tpt, tbn, vln)
“The orchestration by Steven Edis is nothing short of superb with the music in this show being a real highlight. “   Sarah Forrester, thereviewshub.com


A Christmas Carol – music Trad
Noel Coward Theatre, dir. Phelim McDermott
mainly vocal arrangements, some (recorded) accordion and brass music


Crush! – music by Kath Gotts
Belgrade, Coventry & tour, dir. Anna Linstrum, mus.sup. Steven Edis
(Show and arrangements now published by Nick Hern Books)
6 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, drums, bass/vln, gtr, WW)


Ace Of Clubs – music by Noel Coward
Union Theatre, dir. Jack Thorpe-Baker, mus.sup. Steven Edis
4 musicians (MD/keys, accordion, vln, drums/perc)


Chaplin – music by Roger Anderson
Guildhall School of Music and Drama, dir. Martin Connor, MD/conductor Steven Edis
27 musicians (piano, keys2, harp, gtr, drums, perc, bass, 5xWW, 5xBrass, 10xStr)


Laugh and Be Happy – music by Randy Newman
Minerva Theatre Chichester, dir. Peter Polycarpou, MD Steven Edis
9 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, bass, gtr, 3xWW, vln, cello)


A Chorus Of Disapproval – music Trad
Harold Pinter theatre, dir. Trevor Nunn, MD Steven Edis
keyboard/vocal arrangements


She Loves Me – music by Jerry Bock
Minerva Theatre Chichester, dir. Stephen Mear, MD Phil Bateman
8 musicians (MD/keys, keys2/accordion, bass, drums, gtr/bouzouki, WW, vln, cello)


Inherit the Wind – music Trad
Old Vic Theatre, dir. Trevor Nunn, mus.sup. Steven Edis
vocal + banjo arrangements


Gigi – music by Frederick Loewe
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Tim Sheader, MD Phil Bateman
9 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, bass, drums, gtr, WW, tpt, tbn, vln)
“One of the great joys of the production is the lovely, sly wit of Steven Edis’s orchestration, which gets up to all kinds of clever cheek as it gives a fresh boost to such well-worn numbers as The Night They Invented Champagne and I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore.”   Paul Taylor, Independent


The Music Man – music by Meredith Willson
Chichester Festival Theatre, dir. Rachel Kavanaugh, mus.sup. Steven Edis
13 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, bass/tuba, drums, perc, 3xWW, 2x tpts, horn, tbn)


Daphne – 2 swing tunes
TV film, dir. Clare Beavan,
11 musicians (MD, 3xWW. 4x brass, gtr, bass, drums)


The Entertainer – music by John Addison (additional music Steven Edis)
Old Vic Theatre, dir. Sean Holmes, MD Alan Gout
5 musicians (MD/keys, tpt, tbn, vln, drums)


Lady Be Good – music by George Gershwin
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
9 musicians (MD/keys, bass, drums/perc, gtr, 2xWW, tpt, tbn, vln)


The Boy Friend – music by Sandy Wilson
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
9 musicians (MD/keys, accordion, bass/tuba, drums/perc, banjo, WW, tpt, tbn, vln)
“The band was in fine form – often sounding like a big band, rather than a mere ensemble of 9.”   Peter Brown, londontheatre.co.uk


Cinderella – music by Anne Dudley
Old Vic Theatre, dir. Fiona Laird, mus.sup. Neil McArthur
9 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, bass, drums, percussion, 2xWW, tpt, tbn)


The Wizard Of Oz – music by Harold Arlen
West Yorks Playhouse/Birmingham Rep, dir. Rachel Kavanaugh, MD Steve Ridley
6 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, bass, drums, tuned percussion, WW)
“…fresh arrangements by Steven Edis that brought the classic Arlen and Harburg score to life once more”   Clive Fuller, BBC


HMS Pinafore – music by Arthur Sullivan
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
9 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, bass/tuba, drums, perc, 2xWW, tpt, tbn)


Camelot – music by Frederick Loewe
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
9 musicians (MD/keys, bass, drums/perc, WW, tpt, tbn, 2x vlns, cello)


The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (RSC version) – music by Shaun Davey
Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, dir. Paul Kerryson, MD Colin Billing
6 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, 2x perc, WW, tbn)


Brighton Rock – music by John Barry
Almeida Theatre, dir. Michael Attenborough, MD Steven Edis
8 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, bass, drums, gtr, WW, tpt, tbn)


Golden Boy – music by Charles Strouse
Greenwich Theatre, dir. Rick Jacobs, MD Steven Edis
5 musicians (MD/keys, keys2/tpt, bass, drums/vibes, WW)


Oh What A Lovely War – music by various composers
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
8 musicians (MD/keys, bass/tuba, drums/perc, banjo, WW, tpt, tbn, vln)


Sweet Charity – music by Cy Coleman
Sheffield Crucible, dir. Tim Sheader, MD Cathy Jayes
Winner, TMA awards – Best Musical Production
8 musicians (MD/keys, keys2, drums, percussion, bass, WW, tpt, tbn)


High Society – music by Cole Porter
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
+ tour and West End (Shaftesbury Th), MD Jamie Dunsmore
8 musicians (MD/keys, bass, drums, gtr, WW, tpt, tbn, vln)


Pirates of Penzance – music by Arthur Sullivan
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
8 musicians


A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – music by Stephen Sondheim
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
8 musicians


Mutabilitie – music by Shaun Davey
National Theatre (Cottesloe), dir. Trevor Nunn, MD Steven Edis
[arranger of incidental music]
6 musicians


Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – music by Jule Styne
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, and tour, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
8 musicians


Kiss Me, Kate – music by Cole Porter
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
8 musicians


Paint Your Wagon – music by Frederick Loewe
Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, dir. Ian Talbot, MD Cathy Jayes
8 musicians


Watch Your Step – music by Irving Berlin
Sadler’s Wells Theatre, dir. Adam Pollock, conductor Dominic Wheeler
25 musicians


The Blue Angel – music by Friedrich Hollaender and others
RSC (The Other Place) and UK tour, dir. Trevor Nunn, MD Steven Edis
6 musicians