Details

When researching ideas for a new album, Tim Arnold - singer-songwriter, rock musician and composer, asked renowned Shakespearean actors Sir Ian McKellan, Sir Derek Jacobi, Pete Postlethwaite, Richard Briers, Janet Suzman and Emma Thompson to identify a single theme from Shakespeare's works. He received many considered and heartfelt responses, and from these he found the inspiration for his new album SONNET 155. The result is one man's personal navigation through these ideas. A provocative re-imagining of Shakespeare's themes through classical music, rock music and spoken word. The album SONNET 155 sounds like a major studio album, however, the reality is that Tim produced it in his bedroom. SONNET 155 is a rock/classical crossover of 11 songs written and performed by Arnold, which also re-interprets classical pieces of music by Mozart, Rimsky Korsakov and a co-write with Michael Nyman - all driven by Shakespearean themes. This production will merge the actors with a full on Rock band, string quartet and Opera singers, with words interwoven with the songs, sometimes spoken over music, sometimes over silence, sometimes with the lyrics, like ghosts on the stage. To celebrate the release of the album, on three consecutive Sunday evenings (2nd, 9th and 16th May 2010) there will be a unique performance of SONNET 155 staged at the Almeida Theatre, fusing Arnold’s music with actors, produced by B7 Productions and directed by acclaimed theatre director, Deborah Bruce.

Cast/Performers

Richard Briers, Janet Suzman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lisa Dillon, Paul McGann, Hattie Morahan

Creatives/Company

Music: Tim Arnold
Lyrics: Tim Arnold
Author: William Shakespeare (text)
Director: Deborah Bruce