Melody Merriweather, the nation's favourite weather girl is fired for being too optimistic. Her encounter with Valerie Von Vulgar, a busking Vulgarian refugee, with the missing Vulgarian accordion, leads her into a fairytale adventure where she discovers music is the key to love.

We raised £500 through friends and family each donating £5. This paid for the mix at Britannia Row Studios and a physical cd. 

Sian Lloyd, the nation's favourite weather girl contributed her services as narrator and was an absolute delight!

Melody Merriweather - Helena Murchie

Melody - The Musical

Thunderpussy

Frank's Closet was premiered at Hoxton Hall, London in July 2009. The recordings of 5 shows remained on a hard drive for 12 years and with help from Arts Council England, they are now archived here. The visual archive can be found on Instagram @ FranksClosetShow

Frank's Closet

An original British parlour musical, staged at the Landor Theatre in South London, in June 2005. The show was directed by Robert McQuir and starred Carol Ball, Paul Spicer, Leo Andrews and special guest star, Colleen Daley.

The Musical Medium

Toyota  Music Pitch

The closet doors are pushed open to reveal a silhouette of a music hall chairman in tall top hat with cane. Followed by three Gaiety Girls. A procession ensues with the chairman walking down through the audience. The Gaiety Girls remain on stage.

Frank's Closet Overture

FRANK’S CLOSET
FRANK’S CLOSET
A PANTHEON OF GODDESSES
A DIVA DRESS DEPOSIT
A WARDROBE
FULL OF THE WORK CLOTHES OF APHRODITE
WHO’LL BE APPEARING NIGHTLY A CABINET
THAT LINKS THE INFINITE
TO THE IMMEDIATE
YOU GOT IT?
OPEN THE DOORS
OPEN THEM WIDE
COME STEP INSIDE
FEEL THE STARLIGHT FRANK’S CLOSET
OPEN THE DOORS OPEN THEM WIDE 
COME STEP INSIDE 
FEEL THE STARLIGHT 
FRANK’S CLOSET YEAH

Frank's Closet!

TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK
I’M A MAN’S MAN A GENTLEMAN
I COULD STROLL DOWN THE STRAND
TO PICCADILLY
BUT ON SATURDAY FROM BATTERSEA
I BICYCLED TO BERM-ON-SEA (GEDDIT?)
GOT THE BIKE NICKED AND HAD TO WALK BACK SO I WALKED WITH A SWANK
TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK
TO BE PERFECTLY FRANCIS
I COULD TAKE THE TRAIN FROM ST PANCRAS SIPPING BUBBLY IN PARIS
BUT INSTEAD OF THIS
I EAT BUBBLE AT THE GREASY SPOON
NAP IN THE AFTERNOON
CALL ME MORE BARKING THAN BANK
TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK
IF THE WORLD WERE A THEATRE AND IF LIFE WERE A SHOW
OR IF THERE WAS A PLACE FOR US OVER THE RAINBOW
WOULD I SWAP ALL MY TROUBLES WHERE THERE’S NOWT IN THE BANK HEAVENS NO GIVE ME THIS LIFE THIS IS MY LIFE
TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK
LET’S GET THIS THING STRAIGHT I’M NOT THE MARRYING TYPE I’M A BACHELOR DANDY
IN NEED OF A SHANDY
‘TWEEN A REGENT PARK OPEN AIR OR BACK SEAT AT LEICESTER SQUARE I’D RATHER AN ARTHUR J RANK
IF THE WORLD WERE A MUSIC HALL AND IF LIFE WERE A SONG
I’D WIN ME THE STARRING ROLE AND I WOULD BELONG
WOULD I EXCHANGE MY FORTUNE FOR A BALANCE THAT’S BLANK HELL YES GIVE ME THIS LIFE THIS IS MY LIFE
TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK IT’S A MIRACLE
THAT I’M EVEN HERE AT ALL TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK

To Be Perfectly Frank

IS YOUR CLOSET A TERRIBLE MESS? CONFESS 
No...yes! ARE YOU IN A BIT OF A MESS? CONFESS 
Noooo. Yes  WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ROOM FOR A NEW DRESS - YEAH?  Yes, no oh I don’t know...  YOU PROBABLY HEAR THAT YOU SHOULD CLEAR THE CLOTHES YOU DON’T OR SHOULDN’T WEAR 
Yeah.  AND WHILE YOU PROBABLY HEAR THAT YOU SHOULD DO THIS REGULARLY 
THE CHANCES ARE YOU HAVEN’T. 
Nah BUT WHY? BUT WHY? BUT WHY? 
Well, because...  CLEARING OUT ONE’S CLOSET ISN’T AS SIMPLE AS PUTTING CLOTHES 
INTO A PILE WHEN YOU’VE DEPENDED ON THAT CLOSET LIKE THE EGYPTIANS DEPEND UPON THE NILE  AH BUT THE NILE EMPTIES INTO THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA 
OH! BY CLEARING OUT MY CLOSET WILL I DISCOVER A NEW ME? I very much doubt it. 

CLEAR OUT YOUR CLOSET 
IT’S TIME TO CONDENSE CLEAR OUT THAT CLOSET YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE YOU’LL FEEL BRIGHTER AND LIGHTER AND HENCE IF YOU PACK UP YOUR JUMBLE 
AND NO YOU MUSTN’T GRUMBLE LET THE BATTLE COMMENCE 

 I’M GETTING MARRIED IN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS 
SO FROM CLUTTERDOM TO COUPLEDOM IN JUST ONE DAY 
THE CAR 
THE CAKE, THE FLOWERS 

AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE LOCAL TELEGRAPH 
 HE’S GETTING MARRIED IN TWO DOZEN REVOLUTIONS 
FRANK THE NIGHT WAS STARRY 
IT FELT LIKE THE BEST SOLUTION 
THE GAIETY GIRLS HE’S GETTING HITCHED 
THE TIME YOU’VE GOT IS NOT A LOT 
FRANK I’M GETTING SPLICED 
TAKE THE PLUNGE AND TIE THE KNOT 

CLEAR OUT YOUR CLOSET 
IT’S TIME TO DISPENSE CLEAR OUT THAT CLOSET DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE YOU’LL MAKE A CLEARING WHERE ONCE IT WAS DENSE IF YOU TIDY UP YOUR TOP SHELF YOU’LL BE POLISHING A NEW SELF LET THE BATTLE COMMENCE 

I’M GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW ADIEU TO SINGLEDOM BONJOUR CONJUGALDOM IN JUST ONE DAY 
I GIVE AWAY MY POWER AND THE FINAL LAUGH WILL BE MY EPITAPH 
HE’S GETTING MARRIED 
IT’S ALL ABOUT COLLABORATION TO MATRIMONY AND BLISSFUL COHABITATION 


I’LL TROTH MY PLIGHT 
I NOW RENOUNCE BACHELORHOOD I’M HEARING BELLS 
OR MAYBE THAT’S JUST THE DRUGS 
THERE’S NO ESCAPE 
THE GAIETY GIRLS AND YOU’LL BE MISTER & MISTER 
I’LL WEAR MY CAPE 
OH DEAR YOU’LL LOOK MORE LIKE SISTERS

Clear Out Your Closet

I LIKES TO HAVE A WINKLE ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON 
WHEREAS MY HUSBAND PREFERS A TART !
I ALSO LIKES TO CUDDLE IN THE PARLOUR OR TO SPOON WHILST MY OL’ MAN IS NOT ABOUT 
THEN AT THE DOOR THE CHIMNEY SWEEP
 WHO SAID HE’D DO MY FLUE FOR CHEAP YOU NEVER LOOK A GIFT-HORSE IN THE MOUTH 
OH I LOVE THE BOYS OF LONDON TOWN 
OOH FROM HAMPSTEAD HEATH TO HACKNEY DOWNS AND MORE LOVELY LADS YOU’LL NEVER MEET AT VAUXHALL CROSS OR COMPTON STREET
 YET CONFUSINGLY
 THE PRETTY BOYS I SEE 
HAPPEN TO NEVER FANCY ME 

So, come the weekend, me ol’ pot’n’pan said ‘I’m going up the dogs’ - or was it walking the dog? I thought, hold on! We haven’t even got a dog - he’s the only animal in this house! Anyway... what was it? Oh, yes! He was off out dogging. Oh well... 
(sings)
 I LIKE TO HAVE A SPIT-ROAST AS A PROPER SUNDAY LUNCH 
WHERE AS MY BETTER HALF PREFERS TO STUFF A BIRD AS MUCH AS I LIKE FINGER LICKING CHICKEN WINGS TO MUNCH I THINK A MEAL FOR TWO COULD STRETCH TO INCLUDE A THIRD 
THEN AT THE DOOR THE SANDWICH BOY 
HIS BASKET HELD A SAVELOY THE INQUEST FOUND NO FOUL PLAY OCCURRED 
OH I LOVE THE BOYS OF LONDON TOWN OOH FROM CAMBERWELL TO KENTISH TOWN AND MORE LOVELY LADS YOU’LL NEVER KNOW UP AT EARL’S COURT OR DOWN SOHO YET CONFUSINGLY THE PRETTY BOYS I SEE HAPPEN TO NEVER FANCY ME 

YET CONFUSINGLY THE PRETTY BOYS HAPPEN TO NEVER FANCY ME 
YET CONFUSINGLY THE PRETTY BOYS HAPPEN TO NEVER FANCY ME

The Boys Of London Town

A collaboration with performance artist, Sergina, 
also known as friend and collaborator, Elly Clarke.

Turn It Off, Turn Me On - Sergina

The song is the culmination of all our hard work. Maybe the success we so wanted was A Bridge Too Far. But looking back, we were a success at every single rehearsal, gig and recording.

A Bridge Too Far

I don’t know where the people go
When they want to go from the to and fro
No, I don’t know where the people go
When they wanna get away from it all.

I don’t know what seeds to sow
What (routes?) to go, I just don’t know, no
I don’t know what seeds to sow 
When I wanna get away from it all 

Many rivers, not enough bridges
Too many rivers and not enough bridges

Chorus
Do I need the guarantee of a boring job in the working week
Do I need that guarantee in my name
The strength I need to come unstuck
Have some money in my pocket and a little it of luck
Can I have that guarantee in my name
No no no.

Life, life, life, life….

Many rivers, not enough bridges
Too many rivers and not enough bridges

Chorus

I don’t know where the people go
When they want to go from the to and fro
No, I don’t know where the people go
When they wanna get away from it all.

Many rivers, not enough bridges
Too many rivers and not enough bridges

Chorus

Live work live play
Live work live play
Live work live work..

Many rivers, not enough bridges
Too many rivers and not enough bridges

A Bridge Too Far (The Six 1986)

Rehearsal track for Bass singers for October 24th, 2024 recording.

Bass Part - Postcards From Cleethorpes - choir

Alto part for choir recording on 24th October 2024

Altos - Postcards From Cleethorpes

Soprano part for choir recording on 24th October 2024

Sopranos - Postcards From Cleethorpes

Demo of the ending with part of the score for the children's voices.

Children's Choir

Postcards From Cleethorpes - full choir demo

The New River Cantata - section 2

An interview about Postcards From Cleethorpes, with Lara King - which went out on BBC Radio Humberside Breakfast Show with Kofi Smiles on 29th October 2024.

Interview about Postcards From Cleethorpes with Lara King, BBC Radio Humberside.

Performed by Carol Ball and Paul Spicer this song from The Musical Medium is where piano teacher Peggy Trivet tries to cheer up her young pupil George Mortimer. The working title was Etude in B.

We Make The Music

'Haunting, whimsical, sublime'. 'Beautifully tragic in the best possible way'
Postcards From Cleethorpes is a musical in four minutes — a love letter to Cleethorpes, inspired by a collection of postcards sent from the town in the 20th century.

Composer Stuart Wood worked with local voices and musicians - including a brass band - to capture both the joy of a Lincolnshire seaside pleasure garden and the quiet melancholy of the Humber estuary, as the backdrop to an evocative tale of love and loss.

Alice Murray and Sam Simmons bring their gifts for heartfelt storytelling through song.

Ruth Varela’s art direction weaves the drama into original vintage postcards.

Part-funded by Create North East Lincolnshire, the project brings together professional and community talent in a celebration of seaside culture, identity, and memory.

Postcards From Cleethorpes

This was a pitch for a product for people with bladder problems - no kidding! I asked a trumpet player friend to play on it, which they did remotely and sent me the file.

60's TV Theme

Thunderpussy were Londoners, Alexia 'Pussy' Masardo and Stuart 'Thunder' Wood. Armed with a demo tape, which included this song, we flounced around the A&amp;R departments of several major record labels landing a deal with Tim Bullement at MCA Records in May 1989. The themes of international adventures ran through most of the songs and Tim put us together with producer Mark Maguire who had come from the SAW stable and had recently worked with S’Express. The song was recorded in a week at Marcus studios in Fulham in July 1989. Marcus Studio's sister studio in Stockholm was home to ABBA before they built Polar Studios in 1978. The track was mixed at The Roundhouse in Camden and released in February 1990. It lasted for 4 days in the shops before it was pulled due to a law suit from a clothing company with the same name.

International Adventure - Thunderpussy

Paul Spicer performs this song and makes a determination not to be defeated by his circumstances.

The Musical Medium, was the result of my MA in Musical Theatre at Goldsmith College, London in 2004. 

A showcase was performed at the Kings Head Theatre in Islington in November and the show was picked up by the Landor Theatre in Clapham and staged there in June 2005. 

This demo album was recorded with the cast of the Landor production in June 2005 in my, then, home studio in Camberwell, South London.

What's The Point Of A Dream

I composed the book, music and lyrics for the parlour musical, The Musical Medium, for my MA in Musical Theatre at Goldsmith College, London in 2004. A showcase was performed at the Kings Head Theatre in Islington in November and the show was picked up by the Landor Theatre in Clapham and staged there in June 2005. This demo album was recored with the cast of the Landor production in June 2005 in my, then, home studio in Camberwell, South London. About 50 copies of a CD were sold during the 3 week run. For more info on the show see http://tumblr.com/x4y43lew0z

The More I Know You

I Can Hear The Music

Somewhere

Using Handel's Sarabande this track was the result of a Levi commercial by Bartle Bogle and Hegarty. Jeff Wayne Music produced the music for the commercial and I was asked to do a remix for a club compilation album. The track was then also used in the Kung Fu Masters Live Show. Mary-Joy Johnson sings lead with a middle 8 interjection from Julia Morgan-Nelson.


Freedom To Move - Radio Dub

'Earth' was created out of sitting in on the rehearsals of the Shoalin Monks Kung Fu Masters Live Show and timed for the length of their performance. I had been commissioned by Steve Nolan at Chromatic Productions to create a score for the show. The brief was to do something very different from the more ethereal Shoalin Monks Wheel of Life show. I used samples of Chinese percussion and it was one of those jobs where, on presentation of the work, everyone said "great!'. Mix by Steve Pelluet at Lansdown Studios, London W11, October 2005.


Earth

From the Shoalin Monks Kung Fu Masters Live Album. Think bells and smells.

Earth Ambient

An electronica bed with hypnotic trance ethnic samples and a few top tunes. It was used for various 'don't try this at home' type feats.


The classical sample is from the Gloria by Vivaldi. There's a touch of the Boney M's going on, I know!

Fire

Enough to make you want to go to the toilet.

Water

Featuring vocalist Fi Wen Wang. I recorded her singing with my Sony DigiCam and flew the sound into my mac and used it in the master. She sang live vocals in the show.

Flow

Melody the Musical celebrated the nation's favorite weather girl and was narrated by Siân Lloyd, who was, indeed the UK's favorite weather girl at the time, and was my inspiration for the role of Melody.

Script by Dominic Wilson and with production by Gaby Montanaro.

We recorded the music and vocals at my studio in the Bon Marché building in Brixton, South London, in the Spring of 2000.

SInging on the opening sequence is Helena Gill, Hayley Kay, David Tillinghast, Jason Summerfield, and Mary-Joy Johnson. Juliette Grasby-Lewis read the part of Claudia Picture.

Artwork by Catherine Phelps

Overture, The 6 O'Clock News, Why Can't We Have Rainbows, The Forecast.

Somewhere The Sun Shines In Me

Where Has The Music Gone?

Performed by Clare Rimmer. With additional characters by Mark Lanahan and Mary-Joy Johnson.

I Want It All

Sung by Helena Gill, as Melody Merriweather, Sarah Harvey, as Valerie Von Vulgar and Jason Summerfield as Bob Mono.

Who Am I? / Trio

Performed by Helena Gill with additional vocals from Jason Summerfield and the chorus including, David Tillinghast, Mary-Joy Johnson and Sarah Harvey.

If You Want A Rainbow, You've Got To Have The Rain

My arrangement of Puccini's Humming Chorus from Madam Butterfly. It was for the Egg Credit Card commercial, which featured Stephen Hawkings floating in space! I was working through the Jeff Wayne Music Group at the time. See link for the ad. http://youtu.be/dUpkGjHC_tE
I recorded the orchestra at the famous CTS studios in Wembley, which was unfortunately demolished when Wembley Stadium was redeveloped. A history of the studio, where many film scores were recorded, including The Mission and The Living Daylights can be found here. http://www.malonedigital.com/studios-cts.htm
Mary-Joy Johnson is the featured vocalist.


Humming Chorus - from Madam Butterfly

The master recording of the Audi A4 Commercial form 2000. Recorded at Lansdowne Studios in West London for BBH Advertising Agency with 40 piece orchestra.

Audi A4 Commercial 2000

Recorded with 40-piece orchestra at CTS studios in Wembley, London for the Shell Formula 'Wave' campaign by JWT Advertising Agency. The vocals of Mary-Joy Johnson formed the choir at the end of the piece. The music agency was Jeff Wayne Music with Alison Wallace, producing.

Shell Formula Commercial

I was asked to compose the soundtrack for a one minute trailer for Tate Modern, London's retrospective on the Swiss surrealist sculptor, Giacometti. The director, Milo Reid, is with the Ridley Scott Agency. I worked initially from a storyboard and was given a very free range, however it was considered too dark, by the client, but a opened a dialogue. The final piece, was composed to an early cut of the film. I started the composition at the end and worked backward, that is, I  began with the resolve on the final reveal of the sculpture, in the major chord of Db and pieced together the structure to the start on the minor chord of F. It was the first time I composed a work like this. To see the movie, go to https://www.facebook.com/tategallery/videos/10155348363843993/

Music for Giacometti trailer for Tate Modern, London

Portugal wins for the first time, in 62 years and LogoTV broadcasts it live in America; What is the Eurovision Song Contest?  I take you on a short history lesson of this European cultural gem. Find me on IG + FB @stuiewood

The Million Dollar Melody Hotel - Episode 4

Museum of London - live performance mix. Featuring Celia Graham, Janet Mooney, Danielle Morris, Ben Alyn-Francis, Gordon Waterson, Lee Greenaway.

The Masque of Joy

I create music themes for Fusion Media Podcasts. I send the podcast team a Q+A form asking them, amongst other things, who is their core audience? Gizmodo answer was, "People who never owned a velvet painting of Elvis but wish they had."
https://gizmodo.com/

GIZMODO Podcast Theme Music - Fusion Media

I create the original music themes for the award winning podcasts produced by the Fusion Media Group’s podcast unit. Working closely with the writers and producers, I develop a bespoke musical identity, which helps establish a mood and provides audible cues. It's like working in the early days of radio!

The Root Podcast

I was thrilled to be asked by Drag Queen, Tony Soto to compose the Jingle for his popular weekly podcast, The Gay Power Half Hour. I used samples from his and co-presenter, Casey's, references and included the voice of Marsha P. Johnson.

The Gay Power Half Hour Podcast Jingle

When I slowed down the disco riff of ABBA's As Good As New, from the Voulez Vous Album (1979), from 138bpm to the same tempo as the Bee Gees, Stayin Alive from Saturday Night Fever (1977), which runs at around 108bpm,  I found fundamental similarities. 

ABBA 'As Good As New' vs Bee Gees 'Stayin Alive'

Recorded with 30-piece orchestra at CTS studios in Wembley, London for an Iceland supermarket Christmas campaign. The music agency was Jeff Wayne Music produced by Mandy Hughes.

Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture with Cannons!

This demo recording was made in the basement at 227 Ladbroke Grove, London, in the summer of 1989. Lex and I had just signed to MCA records on a 2 single deal and I was writing the album, which was never fully realised, but the demos captures the spirit of what could have been.

Prague at 3am

Recorded in Kingswood Road, Brixton Hill, London in 1988, this song was one of the first demos Lex and I recorded forThunderpussy album. It was inspired by a  news headline in the Evening Standard about a modern-day gangster's moll, most of the lyrics were lifted from the story.

I Was Miss Chanel

Zurich at Midnight was written in 1989 around the time Lex and I signed to MCA Records as Thunderpussy. The deal allowed me to work full time on my music. I sampled the nun's choir from the soundtrack of the Sound of Music and in the days before the internet, had to go to the library and read books and shit....
Paul O'Neil and Alexia provided the choir.

Zurich At Midnight

Lisbon features the operatic melisma of James Windsor. It was recorded at a flat above an antique shop, in Brackenbury Village, West London at the end of 1989. We were preparing ourselves for the release of International Adventure, putting together the video, and clubbing at weekends. It was a giddy time.

International Adventure (demos)

Lisbon

Using vibration to create meaningful experiences.

Stuart Wood

Pinned to spotlight

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