It’s not usual to record music videos to promote musical theatre albums. The company Speckulation Entertainment created by Paul Spicer and Neil Eckerlsey, keeping on with their aiming of supporting young musical theatre composers and the new British musical, has decided to take a step forward and recording a video of one of the songs from Michael Bruce´s debut album ‘Unwritten Songs’, that has been released today, 21st March 2011.

“Portrait of a Princess” is the name of this song and it’s performed by Julie Atherton. The song was written by Michael Bruce expressly for Atherton to perform it and it’s a parody of the popular “prince and princess” Disney tales. The first time the song was performed in front of an audience was the night of the 1st November 2009 in the concert ‘Michael Bruce: A Little Less Ordinary’ that was held at London’s Apollo Theatre.

In the “Portrait of a Princess” video, Julie Atherton, who plays the princess of the story, is joined by different West End performers such as Russell Tovey, Sheridan Smith, Paul Spicer, Tom Parsons, Jon Lee, Anna-Jane Casey and Steven Webb.

The video was launched on the 20th March 2011, in Michael Bruce album launch concert that took place at London’s Delfont Room at the Prince of Wales Theatre. The video has been posted online this morning and since then it has caused a social network revolution, becoming “julieatherton” and “portraitofaprincess” twitter trending topics in the UK.

Speckulation Entertainment’s Executive Producer Neil Eckersley says of the video’s release: “We wanted to find a way of introducing Michael’s music to a wider audience. Having an audiovisual tool to do that with is invaluable and we’re delighted with the result. A stellar cast, a stunning song and BAFTA winning creative team combine to provide a first for contemporary musical theatre.”

Michael Bruce is currently composing the music for the Sonia Friedman´s production of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, at the Wyndham’s Theatre, starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate. Michael Bruce has also recently written the score for Josie Rourke’s acclaimed production of ‘Men Should Weep’ at the National Theatre. He is Resident Composer at London’s Bush Theatre and orchestrator of the current Confused.com TV ad campaign featuring the well-known songs “Somebody to Love” and “Chain Reaction”.

Julie Atherton is one of the West End’s most prolific and successful young musical theatre stars, having played the lead roles of Sophie in the smash hit musical MAMMA MIA!, Serena in the everlasting FAME and Cathy in Jason Robert Brown’s THE LAST 5 YEARS. Recently she has starred in London productions of TOMORROW MORNING and ORDINARY DAYS. Best known for originating the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut in the popular puppet musical AVENUE Q in the UK, she is also an experienced concert artist, having headlined numerous musical engagements at venues as diverse as the Donmar Warehouse and the Royal Albert Hall; and also starred the first ‘canta... todoMUSICALES’ concert at Barcelona’s L’Auditori on April 2010. Julie has released two albums, ‘A Girl of Few Words’ and ‘No Space for Air’, as well as being part of the original cast recordings of ‘A Spoonful of Stiles & Drewe’, ‘Christmas in New York’ and ‘Just So’, and performing in the recent albums of Lance Horne and Tim Prottey-Jones.