Photo credit: Ravinder Bhurji
Welcome
Bruce O’Neil works across theatre, live performance and visual media, providing music direction and supervision for productions
Photo credit: Ravinder Bhurji
Bruce O’Neil works across theatre, live performance and visual media, providing music direction and supervision for productions
Bruce O’Neil is a highly experienced Music Director and Music Supervisor, known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Photo credit: RSC
Musical Director for the final workshop, original Stratford production, Original Cast Recording and West End opening at the Cambridge Theatre. Matilda was the winner of seven Olivier Awards.
Photo credit: RSC
Music Supervisor for Phelim McDermott’s production, which won six Olivier Awards. Bruce was the Winner of the What’s On Stage Award for Best Music Supervision.
Photo credit: RSC
Principal Conductor, Arranger, Orchestrator and Pianist for the live broadcast marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. The broadcast was nominated for a BAFTA Television Award.
Photo credit: Helen Maybanks
Bruce works with theatre companies, production teams, broadcasters and creative organisations to deliver world-class musical leadership across stage, screen and live performance.
Leading musical delivery for theatre productions, workshops and live performance, from concept through to opening night.
Overseeing music strategy, commissioning, recording and integration across productions and creative projects.
Conducting orchestras and ensembles for recordings and live performance.
Supporting productions with music planning, composer and musician sourcing, licensing and repertoire curation.
Bruce has developed an interactive lecture-recital and workshop, The Sweet Power of Music, exploring how music creates meaning and emotional impact in a dramatic context.
Photo credit: Sara Beaumont
Bruce was Music Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2006 to 2013, and Head of Music from 2013 to 2026.
During this time, he was Music Director and Supervisor for over 50 productions across the Shakespeare canon and contemporary theatre, working with composers including Paul Englishby, Tim Minchin, Evelyn Glennie, Laura Mvula, Adam Cork, Will Gregory, Paddy Cunneen, Jamie Cullum, Gary Yershon and Tim Sutton.
Bruce was principal Conductor, Arranger, Orchestrator and Pianist for Shakespeare Live!, a BBC broadcast from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Presented by David Tennant and Catherine Tate, the production featured Judi Dench, David Suchet, Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Helen Mirren, Rufus Wainwright, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Opera and many others, including King Charles III.
The production was nominated for a BAFTA Television Award.
Photo credit: Helen Maybanks
Photo credit: Sam Allard
Bruce has developed an interactive lecture-recital and workshop, The Sweet Power of Music, exploring how music creates meaning and emotional impact in performance.
Delivered for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Birmingham University, the work brings together Elizabethan philosophy, contemporary neuroscience and musical analysis.
“Bruce O’Neil’s keyboard wizardry is a joy.”
“Bruce O’Neil clearly has an ear for the visual"
Best Music Supervision
My Neighbour Totoro
Reflections on music, theatre and performance, drawn from work across stage, broadcast and live production.
