Selected Credits:
Training: St Catherine’s College, Oxford (BA Music)
Theatre credits as Musical Director include: Next to Normal (Donmar), Bonnie and Clyde (Garrick Theatre, West End and Arts Theatre, West End), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (London Coliseum for Broadway HD), And The World Goes ‘Round (Barn Theatre), Cinderella (Mercury Theatre Colchester), Rags (Hope Mill), It’s Only Life (Union), The Terrible Infants (Wilton’s), Wonderland (UK Tour), The Burnt Part Boys (Park Theatre), I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road (Jermyn Street), Princess Ida (Finborough)
As Orchestrator and Musical Supervisor include: Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Theatre Royal Haymarket, Lyric Hammersmith and Sheffield Crucible), From Here To Eternity (Charing Cross), Zorro! (Charing Cross and Hope Mill), The Last 5 Years (Garrick Theatre, West End, as co-orchestrator), Intermissions Live! (Vaudeville Theatre, West End and Stream.Theatre), A Killer Party (Stream.Theatre), Rags (Park Theatre), Just So (Barn Theatre)
As Composer: Vinegar Tom (Mountview), Peter Pan (Barn Theatre), New York (Mountview), A Christmas Carol (Middle Temple Hall), Never Change (selected as part of From Page to Stage 2018 at Southwark Playhouse), Much Ado About Nothing (UK and French tour), A Comedy of Errors (French Tour), Noisy Notes (Royal Festival Hall, as orchestrator)
Cast Recordings include: Bonnie & Clyde Original West End Cast Recording (as musical director), From Here To Eternity (as musical supervisor), Rags Original London Cast Recording (as orchestrator and music producer), A Christmas Carol Original Cast Recording (as composer and conductor), The Space Between (as arranger and orchestrator), RE:arrangement – the album (as arranger and music producer)
Selected media credits include: Closer Than Ever (Broadway HD) and appearances as part of the judging panel for Gareth Malone’s ‘The Choir’ (BBC)
Nick has worked extensively with the leading stars of the West-End in concert, arranging and performing with Kerry Ellis, Marisha Wallace, Alice Fearn, Gina Beck, Kelly Mathieson, Noel Sullivan, Jamie Lambert and others. He is lead arranger and musical director for supergroup ‘The Cardinals’, featuring Ramin Karimloo, Ben Forster, Celinde Schoenmaker and Carrie Hope Fletcher. His work as arranger and orchestrator has been performed around the world and features on numerous albums.
'Under the musical direction of Nick barstow, the cast and the five-piece band sound rousingly true to the "country" idiom.'
The Independent, Burnt Part Boys
'It is a pleasure to hear voices of this calibre acoustically, under Nick Barstow's excellent musical direction.'
WhatsOnStage, It's Only Life
‘Nick Barstow is a multi-hyphenate of a different order - a behind the scenes triple threat, if you will.’
There Ought To Be Clowns, RE:arrangement
'Barstow is truly a maestro at work which did not go unnoticed by the audience. Alongside the vocal performances this would make a magical cast recording.'
Theatre Weekly, It's Only Life
'‘the cast sing the bluegrass-style songs with tuneful conviction... Expertly sung’
The Stage, The Burnt Part Boys
'Nick Barstow’s musical direction is faultless. The unfamiliar songs are given treatment which is meticulous and full of verve ... the balance is finely judged. The singing throughout is full of beauty, joy and fragrant close harmonies. From full belt to pianissimo floating, the cast master every vocal challenge of the fruity, raucous score.'
Live Theatre UK, I'm Getting My Act Together And Taking It On The Road
'Richard Baker and Nick Barstow perform prodigies of telepathic togetherness to bring Sullivan’s music to brilliant life'
Daily Mail, Princess Ida
'skilful double piano accompaniment - fresh and buoyant'
Mark Shenton, The Stage, Princess Ida
'this production is a sparkling extravaganza of prohibition-era costumes and jazzy tunes played live by a brilliant cast'
Everything Theatre, The Comedy Of Errors
'Bright, talented and sharp'
The ReviewsHub, Nick Barstow and Friends