John Pattison biography

John Pattison has worked extensively as both composer and musical director. His music has been heard in numerous productions in America, Japan, Australia and throughout Europe.

John has enjoyed a long association with playwright Alan Ayckbourn, composing scores for many new Ayckbourn plays since 1990, including four West End runs. These were, "Time of My Life" Vaudeville, (1994), "Communicating Doors" Geilgud and Savoy, (1995), "Things We Do For Love" Geilgud (1998) and "Comic Potential" Lyric, (1999). He also wrote the score for Ayckbourn's "House and Garden" at the Royal National Theatre (2000). His score for "Comic Potential" has subsequently been used for the American premiere of the play at The Mannhattan Theater Club, New York (2000).

British theatre work includes original scores for The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Young Vic, Chichester Festival Theatre, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Leicester Haymarket, Theatr Clwyd, Watford Palace Theatre, Chester Gateway, Harrogate Theatre, Worcester Swan and Manchester Library Theatre among many others.

John has written the scores for two Alain Resnais films "Smoking" and "No Smoking" (France 1993). These won five Cesar awards and best film at the Berlin International Film festival in 1994. The scores were recorded in Paris with the orchestra of the Paris Opera.

John has also written many stage musicals. These include self penned works (book, music and lyrics) "The Last Flight Of The Phoenix" (Dartington College Of Arts 1982) "Pull for the Shore", "The Donkeys Are Eating Their Lunch" and "Sand In The Sandwiches" (Scarborough 1989). Also, with Alan Ayckbourn he has co-written three musicals "Dreams From A Summer House" (Scarborough 1992 and American tour 1993), "Word From Our Sponsor" (Scarborough and Chichester Festival Theatre 1995) and "The Musical Jigsaw Play" (Scarborough and Bowness 1994). "Dreams from a Summer House" has been translated into Japanese and German and has been produced recently in both these countries.

While he was resident Musical Director at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round, Scarborough (1990 - 1997), John wrote various scores for successful television writer Tim Firth, these included the World Premiere productions of "A Man of Letters", "Nevilles Island " and "The End of the Food Chain". Also with Tim Firth he was, amanuensis, arranger and orchestrator for "Love Songs For Shopkeepers", a new musical set in a radio station's jingle writing department.

He also collaborates regularly with British playwright, John Godber. Scores include; "Up'n'Under", "Seasons in the Sun", "Perfect Pitch" and a reworking of Georg Buechner's "Woyzeck". For Christmas 1999 John worked with John Godber on the family musical "Big Trouble In The Little Bedroom" (Hull Truck Theatre, Hull). John also collaborated with Godber on the highly successful musical play "Thick As A Brick" which toured the UK during 2000.

Last updated 1 February 2003 from original created on 8 Nov 2000. Page hosted in the UK at www.johnpattison.com created by John Allsopp. Music © John Pattison, text and page design © John Allsopp, photography © Adrian Gatie