Biography

Current one man show 'Shakespeare The Showman' first performed Berlin 2010. Further shows to be announced.

Education:
Oxford University 1963-'66
Degree in Modern Languages (French & German)

Theatre Work: 1967-77
Oxford:
Experimental Theatre Club-cabarets and musicals with members of Monty Python team.

London:
Shakespeare Productions with director Terry Palmer, including Twelfth Night, Hamlet, Henry V. Performances in schools/town halls in London area.

Further production of Twelfth Night as composer/musician at the Key Theatre, Peterborough.

Troubador Club: organiser of music shows at the renowned club in Earl's Court from 1968 to 1975.

Composition work: 1980 to date
Own songs and settings of Shakespeare, Poe, Villon, Yeats and Lorca at various events and venues which include Hannover University, Gymnasium Schools in Germany and many festivals throughout Europe.

Collage of Shakespeare's work (songs, speeches, sonnets) entitled Shakespeare, Music and the Mask, also performed at Hannover University.

Recordings of 'poem stories' such as 'The King of the Birds' and 'Swan Poem' for work with children.

Educational work/performances: 1990 to date
Extensive experience in various educational settings with special needs adults and young people, performing and presenting shows created by and with the participants. The magic of each performance is that areas of literature such as William Blake, R.L. Stevenson are opened up and brought alive with participants who would not normally come in contact with this material.

Work in educational settings includes the following:
During 2005 ,2006 and 2007 a trilogy of shows performed at Glor Arts Centre, Pack Up Your Troubles, Making Light of Hard Times and Is It Any Wonder? In partnership with Clare Youth Service, Ireland, with students of the literacy project.

Young people learn musical instruments, most for the first time, form a band and take on texts from literature( Shakespeare, Stravinsky's Soldiers Tale, William Blake, &) which are shaped into a show-with three magic words-imagination, intuition and improvisation. Based on the stories of the philosopher Lao Tsu and ranging in theme from achievement in life to challenges we face throughout history, the shows are set in the mountains of ancient China and the players have to demonstrate what they have achieved in their lives to the gate keeper Kuan Yin. All of the songs are written especially for the shows by Tony. This format can be used in any educational setting with people of all ages and abilities. Sample dvd's of this work available on request.

In 2007, the show were the subject of a very successful photography exhibition by Ray Conway, Ennis .

Clifden Arts Festival, Ireland-schools and senior college , creating music, songs and rhythm/rap. 1998 to 2001

Clare and Limerick Youth Services, Ireland: workshops and guest artist in resident for young disadvantaged teenagers-public performance of 'Games People Play'. ( 1997)

Co. Clare V.E.C. , Ireland: Guest artiste with special needs adults to launch adult literacy publications, Simply Said.

European Year of Languages 2001: guest performer at Karlsruhe Folkshochschule.

European Schools 1999 to date-performances and interactive workshops with young students on poetry, literature and music, both composer's own and settings of other works.

Performance work in many prisons and psychiatric hospitals throughout Germany over the last number of years.

Recordings:
Five albums to date, including "Almost True" produced by Paul Millns and "No Time for Sorrow", produced by Matthew Fisher - Procul Harum.

The latest - "Where Flowers Might Dwell"  was released in April 2011 on Ancient Track Records and produced by Tony Maude with Gerry Diver. It can be ordered from contact email on this website and from www.mobydickeditore.it.

"Welcome To the Stars" - Folkest label, is due to be re-released this July in a re-mixed version.

Also available: Live recordings of "History of The Theatre" - Hannover University and "Seven Mirrors for The Moon" - Clarecastle Primary School - West of Ireland.

Poetry:
Winner of the Bill Winter Poetry Competition Italy '02 Poetry on the lake, Lake Orta, Italy