Benjamin Kwasi Burrell is a is an Ivor Novello Award nominee, honoured for his outstanding original score for the Douglas Road Productions / ITV 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.

Recent screen highlights include the BBC’s six-part comedy drama JUST ACT NORMAL, written by award-winning playwright Janice Okoh; the Sky Original political documentary REWRITING TRUMP; and the Netflix feature documentary GRENFELL: UNCOVERED, a powerful investigation into the events behind the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Benjamin collaborated with Tomorrow’s Warriors and the renowned Metronomes Steel Orchestra, crafting a deeply moving score that honours the voices and communities at the heart of the story.

Alongside his screen work, Benjamin has contributed to a range of acclaimed theatrical productions as a composer, orchestrator, arranger, and musical director. His credits include A TASTE OF HONEY, SMALL ISLAND, and THE MOTIVE AND THE CUE, directed by Sam Mendes for the National Theatre.

Benjamin Kwasi Burrell is a is an Ivor Novello Award nominee, honoured for his outstanding original score for the Douglas Road Productions / ITV 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.

Recent screen highlights include the BBC’s six-part comedy drama JUST ACT NORMAL, written by award-winning playwright Janice Okoh; the Sky Original political documentary REWRITING TRUMP; and the Netflix feature documentary GRENFELL: UNCOVERED, a powerful investigation into the events behind the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Benjamin collaborated with Tomorrow’s Warriors and the renowned Metronomes Steel Orchestra, crafting a deeply moving score that honours the voices and communities at the heart of the story.

Alongside his screen work, Benjamin has contributed to a range of acclaimed theatrical productions as a composer, orchestrator, arranger, and musical director. His credits include A TASTE OF HONEY, SMALL ISLAND, and THE MOTIVE AND THE CUE, directed by Sam Mendes for the National Theatre.

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

2025 – Grenfell: Uncovered
Directed by Olaide Sadiq
Rogan Productions / Netflix

2025 – Just Act Normal
Directed by Nathaniel Martello-White
The Forge / BBC

2025 – Rewriting Trump
Directed by Arthur Cary & Yasmine Permaul
Sky Studios

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