Benjamin Kwasi Burrell is a 2024 Ivor Novello Award nominee, honoured for his outstanding original score for the Douglas Road Productions / ITV six-part drama series THREE LITTLE BIRDS. This series, written by Sir Lenny Henry, brings to life the experiences of Henry’s mother as part of the Windrush generation arriving in Britain from Jamaica. Benjamin’s score is a masterful blend of jazz, swing, reggae, Jamaican folk music, and orchestral elements, enriching the series with profound emotional and cultural resonance.

As a multi-talented composer, orchestrator, arranger, and musical director, Benjamin brings a wealth of experience from the jazz world and a distinguished theatrical background. Benjamin’s musical prowess is evident in his compositions and arrangements, showcased prominently in productions such as Shelagh Delaney’s A TASTE OF HONEY at the National Theatre in London, the acclaimed play SMALL ISLAND, adapted from Andrea Levy’s novel, and his collaboration with director Sam Mendes for the National Theatre / Neal Street Productions play THE MOTIVE AND THE CUE.

Benjamin recently completed the score for the forthcoming Lightbox (Man On Wire, Searching For Sugar Man) feature documentary on the extraordinary life of free-climber Thomas Bubendorfer. He is currently working on the score for a forthcoming six-part BBC drama series created by the award-winning writer, Janice Okoh.

Benjamin Kwasi Burrell is a 2024 Ivor Novello Award nominee, honoured for his outstanding original score for the Douglas Road Productions / ITV six-part drama series THREE LITTLE BIRDS. This series, written by Sir Lenny Henry, brings to life the experiences of Henry’s mother as part of the Windrush generation arriving in Britain from Jamaica. Benjamin’s score is a masterful blend of jazz, swing, reggae, Jamaican folk music, and orchestral elements, enriching the series with profound emotional and cultural resonance.

As a multi-talented composer, orchestrator, arranger, and musical director, Benjamin brings a wealth of experience from the jazz world and a distinguished theatrical background. Benjamin’s musical prowess is evident in his compositions and arrangements, showcased prominently in productions such as Shelagh Delaney’s A TASTE OF HONEY at the National Theatre in London, the acclaimed play SMALL ISLAND, adapted from Andrea Levy’s novel, and his collaboration with director Sam Mendes for the National Theatre / Neal Street Productions play THE MOTIVE AND THE CUE.

Benjamin recently completed the score for the forthcoming Lightbox (Man On Wire, Searching For Sugar Man) feature documentary on the extraordinary life of free-climber Thomas Bubendorfer. He is currently working on the score for a forthcoming six-part BBC drama series created by the award-winning writer, Janice Okoh.

Film

2021 – Mikes House [short]
Directed by Jack Ryder
Arts Ed Films

2021 – Saving Connor [short]
Directed by Jack Ryder
Arts Ed Films

2020 – Shortcut
Directed by Alessio Liguori
Play Entertainment

2020 – Shiney [short film]
Directed by Paul Holbrook
Shunk Films /BFI

2019 – Inheritance [short film]
Directed by Gabriella Blumberg
Met Film School

2018 – Lipstick
Directed by Sydney Van Gelder
Met Film School

TV

2023 – Three Little Birds
Directed by Darcia Martin, Charles McDougall, Yero Timi-Biu
Douglas Road Productions / Tiger Aspect Productions / ITV

2017 – Guerilla [additional music]
Directed by John Ridley
ABC Signature / Fifty Fathoms Productions

 

Theatre

2023 – The Motive and the Cue [Composer]
Directed by Sam Mendes
National Theatre

2021 – Get Up, Stand Up [Co-Musical Director]
The Lyric Theatre

2021 – Coventry Moves [Composer / Musical Director]
Coventry City of Culture

2020 – Dick Wittington [Musical Director / Additional Composition / Arranger]
Directed by Ned Bennett
National Theatre

2019 – Small Island [Composer / Musical Director]
Directed by Rufus Norris
National Theatre

2019 – A Taste of Honey [Composer / Musical Director]
Directed by Bijan Sheibani
The Lowry

2017 – Lady Day [Assistant Musical Director]
Directed by Lonny Price
Wyndham’s Theatre

2017- One Love [Assistant Musical Director]
Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah
Birmingham Rep

2015 – Memphis The Musical [Assistant Musical Director]
Shaftesbury Theatre

2011 – A Clockwork Orange [Assistant Musical Director]
Directed by Dawn Reid
Theatre Royal Stratford East

 

Awards

2019 – Music Director Recognition Award
Black British Theatre Awards