London-based Scottish composer and lyricist Michael Bruce writes for film, television and theatre. He has worked extensively at the National Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway. His new musical, based on the film THE ILLUSIONIST premiered in Toyko in January 2021.
Recent work includes original songs for HARD CELL (Netflix), the original score for THE NAN MOVIE (cinemas in the UK & Ireland) and the soundtrack for the groundbreaking and critically acclaimed film ROMEO & JULIET (Sky Arts in the UK and PBS in the USA) starring JESSIE BUCKLEY and JOSH O’CONNOR.
His other theatre work includes productions of ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA with RALPH FIENNES and SOPHIE OKONEDO, MAN AND SUPERMAN, TWELFTH NIGHT and THE BEAUX’ STRATAGEM at the National Theatre, TIMON OF ATHENS, THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA and CANDIDE for the Royal Shakespeare Company and THE VOTE, broadcast live on More4 on election night 2015.
Michael was formerly composer-in-residence at the DONMAR WAREHOUSE, where he wrote scores for many plays including MEASURE FOR MEASURE, THE RECRUITING OFFICER, PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME! and CORIOLANUS starring TOM HIDDLESTON.
Trained at Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Michael’s other credits include Sonia Friedman’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with DAVID TENNANT and CATHERINE TATE in the West End; OTHER DESERT CITIES and NOISES OFF at the Old Vic; PRIVACY at the Public Theater in New York; and THE WINSLOW BOY and LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES on BROADWAY.
Michael’s debut musical theatre album UNWRITTEN SONGS entered the iTunes vocal chart at no.1.
His book WRITING MUSIC FOR THE STAGE was published by Nick Hern in 2016.