After the success of the first Tim Williams’ Awards programme ‘First Time’, launched in memory of the London Shakespeare Workout´s (LSW) late Musical Director, eleven vibrant British composers have been given 18 lyrics (8 original) inspired by/drawn from classical/established texts, a dramatic scenario for each alongside a suggested musical style (to ensure variety) and the range of one of the 22 West End Singers who are to take interactive part.

Original compositions will be paired lyrics not originally intended to be set to song from pens ranging from William Shakespeare, Elizabeth I and Noel Coward to Mary Stuart and Charlie Chaplin to be performed by leading performers. Song themes range from a witty take on 17th Century feminism to an Afgan widow’s determination to overcome her guilt at an unhappy end; from frustrations in attaining Depression housing repairs to an African Bishop’s struggle with homosexuality in the Church of England.  All results are to be unveiled at LSW’s second ‘Just Do It’/Tim Williams Awards Programme, ‘Readiness Is All’ on Sunday, 11th October 2009 between 6 pm and 8.45 pm at the Cochrane Theatre Composers that will take part in this event are Mark Allcorn, Tim Arnold, Tom Attwood, Edward Bell, Liam Dunachie, Christopher Hamilton, Adam Langston, Richard Link, Conor Mitchell, Ross Power and Nicholas Paul Simpson.

These new songs will be performed by West End artists: John Addison (A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, LOVE NEVER DIES, LES MISÉRABLES, TITANIC), Madalena Alberto (ZORRO THE MUSICAL, CHICAGO, FAME, OVER THE THRESHOLD), Ben Aly-Francis (ED THE MUSICAL, CHESS IN CONCERT, CLOSER THAN EVER, ME & MY GIRL), Tim Arnold, Phillip Browne (PIAF, PORGY & BESS, THE LION KING, SHOW BOAT), Killian Donnelly (LES MISÉRABLES, SWEENEY TODD, WEST SIDE STORY, MICHAEL COLLINS: A MUSICAL DRAMA), Jonathan Eio (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, INTO THE WOODS), Lorna Gayle (ONCE ON THIS ISLAND), Rachel Izen (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, WITCHES OF EASTWICK, GYPSY, THE BOYFRIEND), Devon Harrison (SHOWBOAT, CANDIDE, PORGY & BESS), Leon Lopez (TICK, TICK... BOOM, PIAF, RENT REMIXED), Samantha Mercer (FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, LES MISÉRABLES, ASPECTS OF LOVE), Adam Pearce (EVITA, OKLAHOMA!, SIDE SHOW, LOVE NEVER DIES), Michael Peavoy, Helen Power (SUNSET BOULEVARD, HOT MIKADO), Laura Pitt-Pulford (SUNSET BOULEVARD, CAROUSEL, FOLLIES), Gina Respall (THE KING & I, MISS SAIGON, THRILLER LIVE), Nigel Richards (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, MARTIN GUERRE), Sévan Stephan (GUYS & DOLLS, LORD OF THE RINGS, MARTIN GUERRE), Giles Terera (AVENUE Q, RENT, CANDIDE), Lucy Tregear (BY JEEVES), Sarah-Louise Young (SHOWSTOPPERS) with a special guest appearance by Olivier Award Winner, Nichola Mcauliffe.

Apart from performing the 18 new songs composed for this programme, they will also perform highlights from ‘First Time’, the first programme of Tim Williams’ Awards, which was held last 21st June.

After the concert, TWA judges will decide the winners to the best score and to the best lyrics.

Tim Williams Awards Programme is presented by London Shakespeare Workout, a company that employs the works of Shakespeare alongside those of other major Dramatic/Cinematic & Musical writers and thinkers as a tool towards effective interaction in order to create new work and promote confidence through the will to dream for all. LSW was created in 1997 by Bruce Wall and Dorothy Tutin.