I’ve written a wide variety of musicals and songs for different audiences.
On the selections below, I composed the music and provided arrangements, orchestrations and vocal arrangements unless indicated otherwise.
Extracts can be heard in the audio gallery or on my Soundcloud
Maggie May
Royal Court, Liverpool
Maggie May enjoyed huge success at the Royal Court, Liverpool in autumn 2018, receiving many five- and four-star reviews. Straight off the boat from Dublin and bound for a new life in New York, Maggie May falls victim to a light-fingered Liverpudlian minutes after arriving in port. Life takes a disastrous turn, and she’s left to fend for herself in the only profession open to a woman of her kind.
Book by Bob Eaton. Lyrics by Bob Eaton & Sayan Kent. Musical Director: Howard Gray. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Reviews:
“A powerful and emotive production that stays with you long after the show has ended.” – Lowdown Magazine
“Filled with beautifully arranged music and songs.” – Liverpool Sound and Vision.
Limestone Cowboy
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. A reboot of an earlier musical, Country, with new songs.
Book, music and lyrics by Bob Eaton & Sayan Kent.
Review:
“Some toe-tapping original songs that keep you rocking and rolling to the end of the show.” – Paul Williams, Evening Telegraph
Slias Marner
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Adapted by Bob Eaton & Sayan Kent from the novel by George Eliot.
Review:
“A very attractive score by Sayan Kent… The songs, mainly folk ballad in style, add to the rural atmosphere of the story without ever dominating it.” – Ann Fitzgerald, The Stage
The Good Companions
Co-written with Bob Eaton from the novel by J.B. Priestley.
A warm-hearted story of a group of touring theatricals in the 1920s. Commissioned by Peter Cheeseman for the New Vic, Newcastle-Under-Lyme in 1995.
The Good Companions was later produced at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (1998, directed by Bob Eaton), Theatre by the Lake, Keswick (2002, directed by Ian Forrest), and the New Wolsey, Ipswich (2003, directed by Pete Rowe).
Review:
“Many tuneful numbers which caught the spirit of the age splendidly” – John Fox/The Stage
Country
New Vic, Newcastle-Under-Lyme & Mercury Theatre, Colchester.
Book, by Bob Eaton.
Music & lyrics by Bob Eaton & Sayan Kent
Reviews:
“Into this story is woven a score full of appealing tunes …” John Fox, The Stage
“ The potential is there for a seriously big hit with lovers of country music as well as those who have their doubts. I bought the cassette” – Robin Thornber, The Guardian
Factory Follies
Croydon Warehouse Theatre.
Book by Tash Fairbanks. Additional music by Colin Sell & Juliet E Hill.
Produced by Twentieth Century Vixens. Directed by Sue Colgrave
Hot Doris the Musical
Oval House.
Book and Lyrics by Brendan Murray & The Hot Doris Band.
Directed by Brendan Murray.
Review:
“A beautiful crunchy harmony section in the song EASY” – Sarah Moore, Spare Rib
Bloody Elektra
Albany Empire, Deptford.
Book by Michael Crompton. Lyrics by Michael Crompton & Sayan Kent.
Directed by Michael Crompton.
Review:
“…lunatic, luscious, liberating… the music is an irreverent but tunefully compelling hybrid owing much to ’50s rock’n’roll, Weill and Lloyd Webber…” – Ann McFerran, Time Out
72 Days
Oval House & Tom Allen Centre.
Book & lyrics by V.T. Simpson.
1871. Women and the Paris Commune.
Directed by Sue Colgrave.
Reviews:
“There is no denying the strong tunes and lyrics” – Claire Armistead, Financial Times
“The music, simple and strongly melodious” – Paul Lewenstein, Morning Star
“Strong on lyrics and melody” – Stephany Buckler, Lewisham Mercury
Young People & Families
Spangleguts
Music, songs and soundscape
London Bubble Theatre (2007)
A fairly scary fairy tale. Spangleguts, a girl in search of a name. Written and directed by Jonathan Petherbridge.
Review:
“Achieves the right mix of magic and humour… Two hours that both nourish and entertain.” – Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
“Infectiously amusing songs.” – David Gavan, South London Press
The Phantom Sausage
Songs and music
New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
Book & lyrics by Bob Eaton.
Dinosaur Dreams
Songs and music
Unicorn Theatre, London
By Bob Eaton, based on Hiawyn Oram’s ‘A Boy Wants a Dinosaur’,
Directed by Richard Williams.
Nominated for Writers’ Guild Award for best play for Young People
Aladdin
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.
Book & lyrics by Sayan Kent & Bob Eaton.
Dick Whittington
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Book & lyrics by Sayan Kent & Bob Eaton.
Mother Goose
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Book & lyrics by Sayan Kent & Bob Eaton.
Cinderella
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (1997) & Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury (1998)
Book by Iain Laughlan & Will Brenton.
Lyrics by Bob Eaton.
Review:
“Compelling songs from Bob Eaton & Sayan Kent” – Leicester Mercury
Songs
The Hot Doris Band
Feminist alternative, cabaret group, performing for over four years. National Venues & BBC Radio 2 and BBC 1, Bob Says Opportunity Knocks.
Round and Round (Joey’s Song)
Written for my three-year-old son. Awarded a merit in the Unisong International Song Contest.