WRITING

Having studied music and composition at University, Neil has written numerous songs and incidental music for the stage and television, written under several ‘nom de plumes’.

Neil arranged, realised and orchestrated songs for Sarah Kestelman’s one woman show ALL ABOUT ME which was performed all over the world including New York, Sydney, the Royal National Theatre and on Radio 4. Classical works include a Clarinet Concerto, a Children’s Orchestral Suite based on Enid Blyton characters, Un Mois D’Amour (a ballet originally commissioned by the London Contemporary Dance Company) and several

choral works including settings of Shakespeare's Sonnets entitled SHALL I COMPARE THEE.

Neil has written three musicals, the first of which, LETTERS, was sponsored by Sir Cameron Mackintosh and received several professional productions. The third, BEYOND DESIRE had a reading of the new version at the Sydney Opera House in September 2012 and it’s world premiere at the Hayes Theatre Co in November 2014, which was nominated for Most Outstanding New Australian Work. A Suite of the music from BEYOND DESIRE was commissioned for the Sirius Ensemble in Sydney and was premiered at their May 2015 Concert of British Music.

As Artistic Director of POLAR ECLIPSE THEATRE in Sweden, Neil has written and adapted several new plays including SHERLOCK HOLMES and an adaptation of LA RONDE. He also adapted an abridged version of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM for Parktheatern, which he first directed in 2015.

Neil is currently working on a TV Musical entitled HOME commissioned by Opera Australia. This will be a 4 episode project and is set in the historic Rocks area of Sydney.

Neil has also orchestrated for several solo recording artists, most recently Simon Beck’s album - COURAGE OF A DREAMER.

All music and textual writing is published by NEIL RUTHERFORD PRODUCTIONS and available for performance. Please use the CONTACT button to request perusal copies and permissions.

NEIL is also a published author with Bloomsbury Publishing and Methuen Drama, where his book about casting and auditions is now in its fifth print, available on AMAZON or BLOOMSBURY ONLINE