tim j. spencer
Tim J. Spencer was born in Taunton, Somerset in the UK in 1972.
the musicals
Around the age of 14 Tim discovered a love for all things musical and theatrical. His first venture as a musicals creator was a juvenile piece called "La Rivoluzione" based on the Italian revolution. Although it has long disappeared, a couple of the tunes resurfaced in later works. In 1989 Tim witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall on the television, a truly historic moment. From then Tim set about the idea of creating the musical "Berlin". Its first incarnation was a basic set of songs and a rough plot in 1991. From this developed the 1994 version which was first performed at the Priory Theatre in Kenilworth and subsequently at the College Theatre, Coventry, culminating in the full orchestral version which was staged at the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham in 1995. In 1996 Tim created two new workshop musicals: the Operetta "Vincent" loosely based on the film/book "Lust for Life" about Vincent Van Gogh, and the musical play "Rising Sun", the all female cast drama influenced by Tenko. Both were subsequently performed and, although well received, Tim left "Vincent" behind to concentrate on a full production of "Rising Sun" which was first performed in July of 1997 at the Talisman Theatre in Kenilworth. Whilst working on a cruise ship in 2000 Tim set about re-writing and scoring both musicals. In 2006 "Berlin" was staged in full at The College Theatre in Coventry for a 4 night run. Following this a showcase version of the show was performed at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London and the Original Cast Recording from the musical made it to the number 1 spot in the Dress Circle Musical Theatre Charts. In 2009 "Rising Sun" was produced in Stratford-Upon-Avon under the direction of Wilson Roberts.
Tim is presently working on several projects including a musical version of "The Man in the Iron Mask", a full version of "Vincent", an original idea called "The Tombstones", a musical based on the George Barr McCutcheon book "Brewsters Millions" alongside producer/director Steve Boden, and, just for good measure, an Opera based on the works of a ficticious 18th Century French Composer Felix Venerin called "The Legend of Venerin".
other musical excursions
Since Tim graduating from Birmingham Conservatoire in 1996 he has created and worked in various musical capacities. From working as musical director/composer on the BBC Television series "Playdays", to arranging for musical performers Dave Willetts and Mark Rattray for various productions including performances on BBC's "Pebble Mill at One" and ITV's "This Morning" and many stops along the way. Tim also has musically directed at many of the West End theatres thanks to his association with Darren Lord at Star EFX which resulted in productions at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, The London Palladium and Her Majesty's Theatres.
In 2004 Tim had his first single release with the Marc Netzer recording of "She" (to be found on New Songs for Musical Theatre Volume 1) which was released in Germany, the version on the website is the more 'English' version sung by Steve Vent. In 1999 Tim's song "Do you Like it Like that" became as US Independent Country Charts number 1 for UK artist Tracy Shield. Most recently Tim's song "Til the End of Time" was released by Keith Kingham on the "Sing out for Wounded Warriors" album as the lead track. Tim has created extensively with fellow songwriter Steve Vent, whose vocals you can hear on several of the 'pop' tracks which have made their way into the New Songs for Musical Theatre collection, and also on the full show recording of Berlin.
Over the past ten years Tim has created twelve musicals for schools, written with both Anthony James and Dan Dalton, which have been performed in over 1000 schools around the world, in over 35 countries. These are available from the publisher Educational Musicals.
In the field of Pantomime Tim has musically directed and created for shows all over the country in the past 15 years. Productions include various for Imagine Theatre in all their guises at Loughborough Town Hall, Boston Whitefriars Theatre, Kilmarnock Palace Theatre and Tewkesbury's Roses Theatre. In 2008 he musically directed "Dick Whittington" at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry and 2009 has seen Tim working on the Bedworth Civic Hall Production of "Jack and the Beanstalk".
And, as a by the by, in 2008 Tim even got the chance to sing Bat Out of Hell on the Sky One series "Don't Forget the Lyrics" with Shane Ritchie.