Chris is a full-time songwriter. He writes songs for musical theatre, cabaret and revue and hopes to make people laugh and cry. (He has definitely achieved the former – the latter is harder - but one singer at least claims to have cried in rehearsals over Chris’ lyrics.) There is, Chris feels, something almost magical about the successful marriage of words and music – something quite distinct from music alone, poetry or prose.

He usually writes both music and words but he also enjoys collaborating with lyricists on songs and shows, producing original material to order.

In 2002 Chris wrote the book/music/lyrics for OFSTED the Musical attracting praise from The Times  and in Sep 2003 his musical showcase revue Thwarted! at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington, played to a full house. Linda Trapnell, Editor of Musical Stages described the songs as  “well-constructed, interesting and fresh” and, on the strength of the show, Kit and the Widow aired two of the songs on their Radio 3 cabaret programme.

In 2005 Chris co-wrote Love Bytes, a half-hour musical for three players. This  was work-shopped at the Royal Academy of Music and is now in the next stage of development.

Chris has written and co-written a number of cabaret/revue songs for professional singers including artists in the Trilby cabaret fold. Singers have used his songs for performances in London - most recently at RADA and at the Theatre Museum - and in regional shows including Luton, The Plaza, Romsey and The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth. He was invited to contribute cabaret material for the London International New Musical Theatre Festival and three of his songs were chosen by theatre group Impetuous Kinship for their 2006 tour. His first songbook is published by www.dotdismus.com as part of their ‘Writers of Note’ series.

Chris receives regular commissions for bespoke songs including comic mini-operas for the theatre group Fingask Follies and comic songs for corporate events such as for Rolls Royce plc where songs replace after-dinner speaking.

Current major projects:-  

• Chris is delighted that the Children’s Laureate (2003-2005), Michael Morpurgo, has given his backing to an adaptation of his book, The War of Jenkins’ Ear, as a musical.  

• Act your Age - A full-length musical for amateur performers – book written with assistance from TV writer, Brian Clemens. This premiered in Southampton in Nov 2006 playing to sell-out houses. Performances in Sheffield and Kent are already booked. The show is published by www.playsandmusicals.co.uk
  

• With BAFTA-award winning writer, Roy Apps, Chris is writing Fang Gang the Musical.  The title song featured recently on Radio4’s Go4It. The first two productions are in March 2008 and June 2008.
  

•  Animator Lodovic Gene is currently working with Chris, turning one of his comic songs into a cartoon character.

• Chris has been asked to work as a songwriter on the Sing-Up programme for schools.

Chris is a Professional Writer Associate of Mercury Musicals Development.

songs@christopherwortley.org     07973 152210