“inventive, mischievous and thrilling”

The Times ***** on Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear the Musical! for the National Theatre

Jim comes from an Irish family and grew up above a pub in Soho, London. He went on to study Philosophy down the road at UCL. After graduating, he embarked on a singing career that took him around the world, signing to EMI records and working with, among others, Tom Jones, Geri Halliwell and Blondie, as well as many comedians and musicians from happy summers at the Edinburgh Fringe.

He studied the flute with John Francis (professor at the Royal College of Music) and, later, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Recent Musical(s) credits include:

Hex, Pericles, The Odyssey and Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear The Musical! (Olivier Award Nomination) for the National Theatre. The Beautiful Cosmos of Ivor Cutler (Vanishing Point and National Theatre of Scotland) for which he won Best Music and Sound at the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland. Cowbois (RSC) ]. We Begin Again (The Guardian and National Theatre)

Hex can be watched here on NT Live https://www.ntathome.com/hex

Jim is delighted to be writing a brand new musical version of Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio, which will open later in 2025 at Shakespeare’s Globe. This continues his working relationship with writer Charlie Josephine and director Sean Holmes.

Digging into his proud Irish parentage, Jim is also developing a new musical based on the notorious No Blacks No Dogs No Irish sign from the 1950’s. He is also developing a trio of sporting musicals, starting with a show based on the UK’s current obsession with Darts.

Jim is also proud to have collaborated with Jeanie O’Hare on Make Good, a show made for, and with, victims of the Post Office scandal. Conceived before the brilliant ITV drama, which successfully opened the story to the world, Make Good was produced by Pentabus and toured villages around the country, many of which were very affected by the scandal. Jim’s songs from the show, as well as another song by Maimuna Memon, will be released in 2025 to continue the support for the many that have still not received compensation. More details announced soon..