Conductor/Arranger
‘Robert Hyman once again not only providing a score with a sparkling collection of numbers but pounding away in the orchestra pit with an effervescent energy that helps to drive the show.’
British Theatre Guide on Dick Whittington 2013
Letchworth City Chorus
City Chorus is a community choir founded on the 20th January 2010. Open to anyone with a desire to sing the repertoire extends from jazzy show tunes to haunting sacred music. With performances from Union Chapel to Cardiff to Normandy the choir specialises in a beautiful sound and lots of fun!
Tommy
TOUR MD/ARRANGER/ACTOR 2017
A New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich co-production with Ramps on the Moon.
Music and Lyrics by Pete Townshend based on the iconic 1969 concept album,
Performed by a company of 22 disabled and non-disabled performers and musicians, this is the story of the pinball-playing boy which has entertained and intrigued audiences for more than 40 years. Described as a one-of-a-kind theatrical event! Tommy featured a creative use of audio description, captioning and British Sign Language. Not only did Robert MD but also played the role of ‘The Specialist’ made famous by Jack Nicholson in the film!
Reasons To Be Cheerful
GRAEAE THEATRE COMPANY 2010-2017
Directed By Jenny Sealey
It’s 1979: Labour loses to the Tories, strikes rock the nation and Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ Reasons to be Cheerful (Part 3) climbs the charts. As the ultimate fans, Vinnie and his mates would do anything to see Dury at the Hammersmith Odeon, only the gig is sold out. Celebrating the infectious music of Ian Dury and the Blockheads, REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL is a punk rock musical and gritty coming of age tale, which always leaves audiences shouting for more. With a book by Paul Sirett and featuring Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ greatest hits including Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, Sweet Gene Vincent, Spasticus Autisticus and Hit Me with your Rhythm Stick this acclaimed show filled theatres with raucous glee.
Robert (as ‘Uncle “Arry) was the Musical Director over a period of 7 years from it’s inception in 2010 for nationwide tours, concert versions across the world and a performance at the London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony.
The Big Life
A British Ska musical with book and lyrics by Paul Sirett and Music by Paul Joseph, produced first at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, directed by Clint Dyer in 2004. It combines Shakespeare’s ‘Loves Labours Lost’ with the story of the Windrush immigrants who arrived in 1948. The musical transferred to the West End’s Apollo theatre in 2005. Robert was Musical Director/Arranger from its conception and into the West End. It was nominated for Best New Musical at the 2006 Olivier Awards.
Come Dancing
‘Come Dancing’ looks nostalgically and critically to the heyday of the Ilford Palais in the ’50s, The show is a love letter to the dance halls of yesteryear, and specifically the glittering Ilford Palais where Davies’ sisters and parents used to “dance the night away” every Saturday, a temple to stale beer, Brylcreem and cheap perfume. The family that ex-Kinks Frontman Ray Davies and his co-writer Paul Sirett put on stage is loosely based on Davies’s own. Julie (one of three sisters) finds herself pursued both by Tosher, an ex-borstal boy, and a Jamaican saxophonist. Wandering through the past is Ray Davies’s storyteller, as if Bill Nighy had been let loose on the set of ‘Chicago’. A good-time evening which never loses its dancing shoes.
Threepenny Opera
By Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill Presented by Graeae Theatre Company, West Yorkshire Playhouse, New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company and Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company
An opera for beggars. Conceived with magnificence such as only beggars could imagine, and an economy such as only beggars could afford
The New Wolsey Theatre’s Peter Rowe and Graeae’s Jenny Sealey joined forces to create their anarchic version of Weill and Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera – adapted from John Gay’s The Beggars Opera. Including well-known songs such as Mack the Knife and Pirate Jenny, it was a riotous musical comedy! Robert was Musical Director for this 5***** touring production.
Theatretrain
Theatretrain is a Performing Arts organisation founded by teacher/director Kevin Dowsett in 1992. It gives part-time training in drama, dance and singing to children and young people aged between 6 and 18 years of age. Since 1993 it has grown into one of the largest professional performing arts training organisations in the United Kingdom. There are currently over 70 Centres across the UK and Ireland and as far afield as the Czech Republic and Australia! Robert has been Musical Director for the company since it’s inception and has created and conducted all the vocal and orchestral arrangements for all their many shows from the London Palladium to the Royal Albert Hall and even the O2 Arena. Robert also wrote the company theme song ‘Calling All Stations’
Fusion – Voices in Harmony
This forty strong amateur choir has been running for over 25 years in Hertfordshire performing concerts and raising money for many local charities. Robert has been their music director since the start and creates all the vocal arrangements that they sing. Their vast repertoire is formed of popular songs from the 1940’s to the present day.
TAKEAWAY
TRSE MD & ARRANGER 2011
TAKEAWAY tells the coming-of-age story of Eddie Woo, a British Chinese youth struggling to balance a dead-end job at his father’s down-and-out East London Chinese takeaway restaurant with a rich fantasy life where he is a British Chinese version of his idol, international singing sensation and Las Vegas legend Tom Jones.
Boden Show Choir
The Boden Show Choir was an 80 strong youth choir that ran from 1986 to 2002. They toured the U.K. and abroad every summer singing in 14 European countries and in theatres all over the country. They even won their heat and made the final of Bob Says Opportunity Knocks in 1989 with Robert’s arrangement of ‘At The End Of The Day’ from ‘Les Miserables’. The choir signature song was written especially for them by Robert called ‘There’s a Light’ all about that unique feeling you get performing on a stage.
In 2020 the choir reunited to make a very special fund raising video of ‘There’s a Light’ for ‘Acting For Others’ and to remember their founder Tony Boden.
