Experience & Credits
Bruce O’Neil is an experienced Music Director, Music Supervisor, conductor and pianist with a distinguished career in theatre, broadcast and live performance.
Photo: credit: Ravinder Bhurji
Bruce O’Neil is an experienced Music Director, Music Supervisor, conductor and pianist with a distinguished career in theatre, broadcast and live performance.
Photo: credit: Ravinder Bhurji
Bruce was Music Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2006 to 2013.
During this time, he worked on the global success Matilda the Musical, serving as Musical Director for its final workshop, original production in Stratford-upon-Avon, Original Cast Recording and West End opening at the Cambridge Theatre.
He subsequently became Head of Music from 2013 to 2026.
During his time with the RSC, Bruce was Music Director and Supervisor for over 50 productions of the Shakespeare canon and other works.
He collaborated with a wide range of 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 Music Supervisor for Phelim McDermott’s production of My Neighbour Totoro, for which he received the What’s On Stage Award for Best Music Supervision, alongside Matt Spencer-Smith and Will Stuart.
Bruce was principal Conductor, Arranger, Orchestrator and Pianist for Shakespeare Live!, a BBC broadcast marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
The event was presented by David Tennant and Catherine Tate and featured Judi Dench, David Suchet, Tim Minchin, Rufus Wainwright, Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren, Simon Russell Beale, Harriet Walter, Benedict Cumberbatch, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Opera and many other performers, including King Charles III.
The production was nominated for a BAFTA Television Award.
Bruce supervised music for the RSC’s ‘Live to Cinema’ broadcasts and filmed productions of the Shakespeare canon between 2013 and 2023, including music direction and score supervision.
Between 2013 and 2023, Bruce was Music Supervisor for the RSC’s Music & Speeches series.
This body of work includes 35 studio albums of music commissioned for every Shakespeare play, alongside archival works from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, representing music from productions across the 20th century.
Recordings were engineered and mixed by Gareth Cousins.
Bruce joined the RSC as a full-time Music Director for the Complete Works Festival in 2006, conducting Merry Wives the Musical, with music by Paul Englishby and lyrics by Ranjit Bolt, featuring Judi Dench, Simon Callow, Alistair McGowan and Scarlett Strallen.
He later served as Musical Director for Matilda the Musical, contributing to its development, original production and West End transfer. The production won seven Olivier Awards.
He was also Music Supervisor for The Boy in the Dress, a musical by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, which was due to transfer to the West End prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bruce has conducted Orchestra of the Swan in numerous concerts and recordings, including Timelapse with Signum Classics and a Somm Recordings release of music by William Walton, including Façade and the score for Laurence Olivier's film of Henry V.
He has also conducted recordings of contemporary ‘Transclassical’ concertos by Lucia Caruso and Pedro H Da Silva with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields at Abbey Road Studios.
Bruce’s career spans a wide range of musical styles and performance contexts.
He has performed as a keyboard player with The Red Lemon Electric Blues Band, supporting Chuck Berry on his UK tour, and as an orchestral pianist in Stravinsky’s Petrushka conducted by Pierre Boulez.
He has composed scores for productions including Uncle Vanya and Bats at Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre, and performed in cabaret settings at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Pizza on the Park, Jermyn Street Theatre in London and Don’t Tell Mama in New York.
His work also includes music direction for Cyrano de Bergerac at the National Theatre and performance of Berlin Cabaret songs at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Proms.
Bruce has developed The Sweet Power of Music, an interactive lecture-recital exploring the relationship between music, emotion and storytelling.
He has delivered this work for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Birmingham University, alongside contributing to panel discussions, pre-concert talks, media interviews and educational workshops.
Bruce holds a professional Certificate in Music Supervision from Berklee Online.
He supports productions and creative teams with:
“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.
