About Us
Tony Dalton
Anita Dalton
How it all began...
In 1997 Anita was directing a pantomime, Dick Whittington, Tim Spencer had written the music, and one evening over a drink Tim suggested to Tony that he could write it as a nativity play.
Tim’s reason was to make it more enjoyable for the parents who he felt would get bored if they kept seeing the same nativity play, he suggested, for example, that the Three Wise Men could come in to a calypso number!
The next day Tony was chatting to one of the parents who explained that he was a primary school head and having problems finding a nativity play for Christmas. Tony, being the salesman he is, told Tim to write The Star Child and sold it to the head, in fact that year he sold 35 that year.
At the same time Anthony James, who was working in schools showing children how to make models of things such as Viking Longboats, wrote a show called The Monster of the Maze. He felt that if children performed in a show with music they could relate to, they would remember that story for the rest of their lives. They would learn their history by default.
Anthony asked Tim to write the music for his show and then asked if he knew anyone who could sell it. You guessed it, Tim introduced him to Tony and Educational Musicals was born.
Tim Spencer
Anthony James
Our Composers
Don’t blame us, it was his idea! Anthony decides which shows we publish, they have to meet his special formula. He also creates our unique art packs. Finally, he tests them on us!
Anthony has a Diploma in General Art & Design, a certificate in Theatrical and TV Make-up and a B.A. Hons in Theatre Studies from “The Central School of Speech & Drama” in London.
Has appeared in fifty amateur and professional productions, including “The Country Wife”, “Oliver”, “Little Shop Of Horrors”, and “A Midsummer Nights Dream”. He was Press Officer for the “String O’ Pearls Revue Company” touring “1939 & All That” and Vice Chairperson of Nuneaton Arts Centre (1993-1995).
In 1992 Anthony devised the “Creaturama” concept, a touring exhibition of his alien models and costumes. Creaturama Workshops” have now visited over four hundred schools across the country.
He has a permanent exhibition of his “Creaturama Dinosaur” exhibition to Arreton Barns on the Isle of Wight. Where you can see of over 30 alien and dinosaur models and costumes, along with his unique prints.
The success of “Creaturama” has lead to regular appearances on BBC TV’s “Blue Peter”. Recently Anthony has worked for the BBC as a Vision Designer, on shows such as “Blue Peter”, “Noel’s Telly Addicts”, “Style Challenge” and “Out of Hours”. Also on ITV’s first Christmas Pantomime “Jack & The Beanstalk” recorded at The Old Vic Theatre in London.
He has performed in and written several shows including “A Grin Without A Cat” based on the extraordinary life of writer Lewis Carroll.
Daniel Dalton has a Masters on Politics and International Relations from Warwick University. Dan is also a certificate journalist and spent several years as professional cricketer before becoming an MEP for the West Midlands.
Daniel’s love of sport and cricket has given him the opportunity to see the world having played cricket in such exotic places as South Africa, the West Indies and the Far East. He got the wanderlust and has now visited several South America countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
His interest in the concept of Educational Musicals was awakened by his work as a qualified E C B cricket coach in primary schools and inner city areas and led him to write his first musical, “Gettysburg”.
Daniel has a love of writing and as well as writing several musicals has written many published articles on a variety of differing subjects.
He has been involved with theatre since a young age having appeared in many productions, his favourites being “The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe” and “Antigone”.
Daniel graduated from London’s Central School of Speech and Drama where he attained his B.A. Degree in Drama and Education.
He has appeared in countless amateur and professional productions, including “Godspell” “Romeo and Juliet” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Daniel has worked with county and national youth theatre groups. Sung in several choirs in many prestigious venues including the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff and the Royal Festival Hall.
Daniel was privileged enough to be a member of the pilot cast for Central’s “CENTRed Theatre Company” in their production “Merlin’s Child” which toured the borderland castles in the summer of 2000, taking in Rhaglan Castle and Tintern Abbey en route. Daniel also collaborated on the creation of this score.
As a composer Daniel has written scores for “The Wind in the Willows”, “A Grin Without A Cat” (with Anthony James), “An Ensemble of Rhythmical Musical Expression”, “Rite” and “Decadent Times” to name but a few. Daniel is proud to be associated with Maplewood Education and is thrilled to mark his professional debut with “St. Nicholas.”
Daniel is currently teaching music and drama in Indonesia.
Katherine graduated with a B.A. Hons from the University College Of North Wales, Bangor in 1993. Then studied for her P.G.C.E. in secondary education at the University Of East Anglia.
Her teaching career:
- began in 1994, as Head of Music at Caludon Castle School in Coventry
- Head of Expressive Arts at Hagley Park Sports College in Rugeley in September 2004 .
Having been involved with music since childhood, she was playing recorder at four, won the Cyril Collins Bursary Award for her piano playing at 12, and by 15 was a grade 8 pianist and flautist.
As a supporter of the National Trust she plays at various venues throughout the country, her favourites being Dunster Castle in Somerset, and Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. As a well known accompanist for local artists and organisations in Coventry and Warwickshire she has taken part in many charity concerts. She is principal accompanist for The Atherstone Chorale, whilst finding time in her busy schedule to be the organist at her local church.
As an accomplished flautist she has performed at the Swan Theatre Stratford and with several local orchestras. She has also musically directed shows including The Wizard of Oz at the Priory Theatre, Kenilworth.
As well as composing for Educational Musicals, Katherine has written a number of musical arrangements for various groups and organisations within the Warwickshire area.
Tim Spencer graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire in 1996. Tim has completed three “senior” musicals which have been performed throughout the Midlands. If that’s not impressive enough, he’s also performed six “junior” musicals in conjunction with Anthony James which have been performed in over 150 schools throughout the UK and the rest of the World.
Tim has also worked for:
- the BBC for the Children’s series “Playdays” as composer/musical director.
- has musically directed six shows in the West End at theatres such as Her Majesty’s, The London Palladium and most recently at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
- has musically directed several hows such as “Children of Eden”, “Assassins” and “A Slice of Saturday Night.
- completed six pantomime scores which are performed throughout the Midlands every Christmas.
- His orchestration work includes work for Dave Willetts (ex Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables) and Mark Rattray (Lanza and The Magic of the Musicals)
- he has had these performed throughout the UK and in places like the Sydney Opera House.
- He has had his songs performed at venues such as the Manchester Opera House, Her Majesty’s Theatre, London and The London Palladium.
