Laurence Owen is a British composer, musician, comedian and actor.
Early career Laurence Owen's career began in the 1990s as a child actor. He had notable creditsBritish Film Institute. "Acting credits: Laurence Owen". Retrieved 18 November 2014. in the feature film Wilde (playing Vyvyan Wilde opposite Stephen Fry) and the BBC period drama Berkeley Square, in which he had a recurring role.
Composer Owen attended Brighton University from which he graduated with First Class Honours in Digital Music and Sound Arts.University of Brighton. "Digital Music & Sound Arts graduate wins award", 25 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
Since 2011 he has written music for a number of stage and film projects, including several short pieces for film festivals. In 2013, he won the Früh Kölsch Audience Award for Best Music in a Short FilmSoundtrack_Cologne. "Prize-giving Ceremony of the 10th Soundtrack-Cologne" , English version. Retrieved 18 November 2014. for his score for the animated short White Morning.British Film Council. "Film detail: White Morning". Retrieved 18 November 2014. In the Autumn of the same year he provided sound design for 1927 Productions' Golem,Young Vic. "What's On – Golem". Retrieved 18 November 2014. which was first performed at the Salzburg Festival before transferring to the Young Vic, London, and the Théâtre de la Ville, Paris. For his work on Golem, he was nominated for Best Theatre Sound at the Pro Sound Awards 2015.Pro Sound Awards . Retrieved 16 July 2015.
Owen was composer and musical director of the live music and cartoon theatre show Cat & Mouse, a 1927 and Village Underground co-production Village Underground. . Retrieved 17 July 2019. which was also part of the 2017 Latitude Festival. WhatsOnStage Review. . Retrieved 17 July 2019.
In 2019, he acted as arranger and music producer of songs by Richard Thomas (musician) for the National Theatre of Scotland production My Left / Right Foot - The Musical. National Theatre of Scotland. . Retrieved 17 July 2019.
Music From 2009 to 2012, Owen played bass for The Indelicates appearing on their albums David Koresh Superstar and Diseases of England.
His concept album South of the River was released at the beginning of 2012. Genre Fiction, an album of orchestral compositions, was released in 2018. Apple Music. "Laurence Owen releases". Retrieved 17 July 2019.
Since 2016, he has played bass for musical impressionists Jess Robinson and Christina Bianco.
Comedy While a member of The Indelicates, Owen had experimented with humour, singing and accompanying himself on the guitar. He did not believe this was well received by audiences at music gigs,Comedy Blogedy. "Interview with Laurence Owen" , 25 February 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014. so he developed and took an act to comedy bills.
He has been a regular on the London cabaret circuit since late 2011, providing short turns on variety and comedy nights. In addition to solo performances, he has also contributed to a number of comedy collectives, including Adam Larter's Weirdos Comedy Club for which he has appeared in two 'alternative pantomimes'Unknown author. "A Christmas Tail – Weirdos Alternative Panto", 10 November 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2015.Williams, Ben. "Weirdos for Christmas Number 1: An Alternative Panto", 6 November 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015. among other productions. As well as acting in these shows he has provided original music; recordings of songs from the pantomimes have been issued as digital downloads with the proceeds donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
He has also appeared in full-length shows as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In the first, 'Owen and Bettesworth Sung and Unsung'Edinburgh Festival Fringe. "Past shows – Sung and Unsung". Retrieved 18 November 2014.Kelly, C. "Owen and Bettesworth: Sung and Unsung review", 8 August 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2014. (2012), he performed with stand-up comedian Oli Bettesworth. They made a "mini sit-com"Bettesworth, O. "Sung and Unsung microsite". Archived from the original ('www.sungandunsung.co.uk'). Retrieved 18 November 2014. in daily instalments to accompany this and released it via YouTube and other media.
His first solo show was Lullabies of PervlandEdinburgh Festival Fringe. "What's On – Lullabies of Pervland" . Retrieved 18 November 2014.Paxman, L. , The Stage, 14 August 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.(2014). An album of the same title"Be the first to listen to Laurence Owen's Lullabies of Pervland", Thisiscabaret.com, 21 May 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014. was made available to complement it, featuring studio versions of most of the songs from the set.
His contribution to the 2015 Fringe, CinemusicalEdinburgh Festival Fringe. "Laurence Owen: Cinemusical" . Retrieved 15 May 2015. won him that year's Malcolm Hardee Award for 'Act Most Likely To Make A Million Quid'.Hardee, Malcolm. "Awards". Retrieved 25 September 2015.
His other Edinburgh Fringe shows include Cinemusical High in 2016, and The Time Machine in 2017, which he performed with his wife and co-writer, Lindsay Sharman.
In 2014 he was a finalistChappel, Ed. , 26 April 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014. at the Musical Comedy Awards.
Personal life He is married to comedian, actress and writer Lindsay Sharman.
Discography
Albums Studio South of the River (2012) Lullabies of Pervland (2014) Cinemusical (2015) Cinemusical High (2016) The Time Machine (2017) Genre Fiction (2018) Cast recordings The Hound of the Baskervilles (2011) Soundtracks The Hound of the Baskervilles (score) (2011) Compilations Sung (2012) Bad Hair Years (2016)
EPs Yarnripper (2010) Offcuts (2011) Carmelite (2012) The David Lynch EP (2014) Weirdos For Christmas Number 1 (2015)
Singles “Kith and Kin (A Christmas Song)” (2012) "Baltimore Whores" (2013) "The Ballad of Maddy Ferguson / The David Lynch Guide To Coffee" (2013) "A Christmas Tail: Weirdos Panto 2014" (2014) "Disappointing Sequel" (2015) "The Christmas Movie Song" (2015) "When She's There" (2019)
References
External links Official website (as entertainer) Official website (as soundtrack composer)