'Business', by Andrew Whelan. Jake and The Boss go Head to Head. Photo. ©Peter Collins
'My Right to Be' - Best Original Song. From the Film 'The Secret of Joy'. Music Gianluca Cucchiara. Lyrics Andrew Whelan
'Vanara' workshop. Eva Noblezeda sings 'What is Ours'. Music - Gianluca Cucciara. Lyrics - Andrew James Whelan.
Dracula - Fangs of Destiny. By Andrew Whelan & Mark Fitzgerald. Photo.©Robert Voss
'TIMECODE'. Royal Opera House. Created by Will Tuckett, Martin Ward and Andrew Whelan. Written by Andrew Whelan.
The Cast of 'Stormy Weather'. The Common Players. Devised by Anthony Richards & Company. Editing, co-scripting, lyrics and score by Andrew James Whelan.
I am an experienced writer and lyricist with a background in sketches, songs and scripts for Theatre, TV and Revue.
If you want to reach me to discuss a project - please contact john@collectiveagents.co.uk
Past Work Includes…
A scripted ballet for the Royal Ballet co-devised and directed by Will Tuckett, a libretto (co-written) for About Face, a community opera for the Royal Opera House, directed by Jo Davies.
Three produced plays - A Little Patch of Ground, Business and Dracula - Fangs of Destiny.
The one-woman musical, Nothing But The Ruth, (score, book and lyrics.) Directed by Joe Harmston, this went to the Edinburgh Festival and transferred to London’s Kings Head Theatre and Greenwich Theatre. The Musical MacGregor (book and lyrics) at the Bridewell Theatre Workshop. The Family Musical Leo Holly Billy and the Big, Bad, Bug book (co-writer, music and lyrics) at GSMD. Music and Lyrics for The Ugly Duckling (Theatre Foundry and Tour).
I was the writer of several Children’s TV shows for Granada TV, including ‘TV’s favourite kid’s Cooking Show’ ‘Flantastic’ which was nominated for a regional BAFTA. Songs for Russ Abbott (music and Lyrics) for his 1995 TV Shows (2 series 1 Christmas Special) and two seasons (plus two Christmas specials) of scripts and links for You’ve Been Framed. Sketches and songs for BBC Radio 2, 4 BBC 1 and ITV shows.
My work has been performed by Honor Blackman, Frances Ruffelle, Reece Shearsmith, Alistair McGowan, Carrie Hope-Fletcher, Eva Noblezeda, Shane Ritchie, Rahul Kohli, Russ Abbott, Emma Kennedy, Greg Proops, Ted and Kate Robbins, Anna Richardson, Milton Jones and even Brains from Thunderbirds, amongst others.
I received an award for best song in a short film from the LA International Film Festival with my long-time musical collaborator Gianluca Cucchiara.
The Musical ‘Vanara’, for which I am the lyricist, recently finished a preliminary run at the Hackney Empire to audience acclaim. The next stage of this exciting journey is about to begin…
Vanara - The Legend. Hackney Empire. The Kogalisk and the Pana in conflict.
Vanara - The Legend. Hackney Empire. Ayla and Mohr lock eyes
Vanara - The Legend. Hackney Empire. Crohm explains the world to his children - Ayla and Lordu
What’s Happening Now?
I am currently developing two new musicals and a re-working of Stormy Weather, a family show loosely based on The Tempest, with co-writer Anthony Richards of Common Players.
With the rest of the creative team from ‘Ayla’ (previously Vanara) I am working on the a new album and the next production.
Plays Currently Available for Production.
A Little Patch of Ground: A play with songs. The Judd family face their differences and their demons when they gather to scatter the ashes of their recently deceased father on his allotment.
The Rest is Businesss: A duet of short plays, Business and The Rest is Silence, which deal with violence, suppression and manipulation.
Contact: john@collectiveagents.co.uk
Dracula - Fangs of Destiny. A comedy-horror play based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, with a nod to Universal and Hammer. Co-written with director Mark Fitzgerald.
Contact: john@collectiveagents.co.uk or markfitzgerald999@gmail.com