GRANT OLDING​
GRANT OLDING
From his studio between the Black Mountains and the Golden Valley award winning composer, lyricist and multi-instrumentalist Grant Olding writes and produces music for television, stage, film and dance. He also works as a vocal and performance coach, and has provided provided song, performance and instrument coaching for James Corden, Anna Friel, Pixie Lott, Martin Freeman, Rufus Hound, Emily Browning, Rory Kinnear, Emily Atack, Owain Arthur, Ashley Tisdale and the cast of Upstart Crow over three series.
Composition highlights in theatre include his many collaborations with Nicholas Hytner both at the Bridge Theatre: LA BELLE SAUVAGE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, TWO LADIES, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, ALYS ALWAYS, YOUNG MARX and at the National Theatre: TIMON OF ATHENS, TRAVELLING LIGHT, GREAT BRITAIN, ENGLAND PEOPLE VERY NICE, THE ALCHEMIST, SOUTHWARK FAIR, THE MAN OF MODE and most notably writing and performing the songs in ONE MAN TWO GUVNORS, the National Theatre's smash hit comedy starring James Corden, which ran for over three years in the West End and Broadway where Grant was nominated for a Tony Award and won the Drama Desk Award for best music in a play.
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Grant has also written many scores for the Royal Shakespeare Company including THE ROVER, THE FANTASTIC FOLLIES OF MRS RICH, and THE HYPOCRITE as well as DON QUIXOTE and OPPENHEIMER which both transferred to the West End.
In 2013 Grant wrote the songs and score for the animated feature film SAVING SANTA starring Martin Freeman and Tim Curry, and for the same creative team in 2021/22 Grant scored the Warner Brother's animated TV series MOLEY starring Warwick Davis, Stanley Tucci, Gemma Arterton and Richard E Grant.
Other television highlights include scoring the film CHRISTMAS CAROLE starring Suranne Jones for Sky, three series of UPSTART CROW for the BBC and two series of MARLEY'S GHOSTS for UKTV Gold. Also for the BBC he has scored sitcoms including I WANT MY WIFE BACK and THE BLEAK OLD SHOP OF STUFF, as well as one off films like A CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG and THE PACT.
In 2016 Grant's first full length dance piece JEKYLL & HYDE premiered at the Old Vic Theatre, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, and in 2021 the pair's first classical ballet MERLIN premiered with the Northern Ballet Company and in 2022 was broadcast in cinemas.
LATEST NEWS
Richard II by William Shakespeare - Bridge Theatre
Directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring Jonathan Bailey in the title role this thrilling production is winning over new audiences, giving this rarely produced Shakespeare text an exciting contemporary setting.
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Turning the Bridge into a theatre in the round, Nicholas Hytner reunites with Bob Crowley (set and costume design), Bruno Poet (lighting design) and Carolyn Downing (sound design) with Grant providing the original score.
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Composer Grant Olding and sound designer Carolyn Downing come together spectacularly, providing an epic, cinematic score that feels more like a proper all-encompassing soundtrack that bookends or accompanies almost every scene. It’s exquisite. - Broadwayworld.com
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Playing at the Bridge Theatre now until 10th May 2025.
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For more info and to book tickets click here.
The Hay Shantymen
Grant became the new musical director of the Hay Shantymen in 2024 - a rollicking bunch of landlubbers from the east coast of Wales.
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Singing rousing shanties and other sea songs the Hay Shantymen have a well earned reputation for their ambitious arrangements and spirited singing.
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In December the Hay Shantymen released their first Christmas single on the Besant Hall label. A double A side of Drunken Santa (a new version of What Shall we do with the Drunken Sailor) and We Sail (a nautical and Christmas themed version of the Gloucestershire Wassail) the festive single is available on all platforms and paves the way for a full album in 2025 amongst appearances at various festivals throughout the year.​
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Check out www.hayshantymen.com for more info.
Moley on Boomerang/Pop/Peacock worldwide.
The 52 part animated TV series Moley, with music by Grant is currently playing daily on Warner Brothers' channel Boomerang as well as POP and Peacock in over 130 countries. With a star studded voice cast which includes Warwick Davis, Stanley Tucci, Gemma Arterton, Julie Walters, Richard E Grant and Charles Dance.
Coming soon...
Romeo and Juliet - Shakespeare's Globe, directed by Sean Holmes. Apr 25th - Aug 2nd 2025.
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A Midsummer Night's Dream - Bridge Theatre, directed by Nicholas Hytner. May 31st - Aug 23rd 2025.
Merlin - Northern Ballet, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie. Sep 13th - Nov 15th 2025.