The Madras College Archive

     


Former Pupil Biographies

Finn Anderson (1942 - current)

Finn Anderson is a songwriter, composer and theatremaker based in Glasgow. Raised in Fife on the east coast of Scotland, Finn spent his early teens staging self-penned theatre productions at local halls and theatres. Using the ticket sales to build a home recording studio, he had released two solo EPs before leaving school age 16 to study Music at the University of Highlands and Islands. He then completed a M.A. with distinction in Musical Theatre Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. Now based in Glasgow, Finn continues to move between writing and composing for theatre, and performing and recording as a singer-songwriter. He has also created music for film, art, dance and circus projects throughout the UK and internationally.


Musical theatre writing includes:
  • Islander (Mull Theatre/Helen Milne, Scotland-wide tour, Paines Plough Roundabout, Southwark Playhouse, Edinburgh Fringe)
  • LIMBO: City of Dreams and A Mother’s Song (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland/American Music Theatre Project)
  • Come Hell or High Water (Citizens Theatre) Streets (Hackney Empire/The Cockpit, ‘Best New Musial’ nominee, Off West End Awards)
  • Alba (Edinburgh Fringe, MTN Award nominee)
  • Wolf (Tristan Bates)

He is currently developing a new musical The Bow Maker. Following an international research trip facilitated by Creative Scotland and British Council, The Bow Maker was initially developed through a lab with National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep, and was chosen as one of eight new headline works at BEAM 2018, the UK’s largest festival of new musical theatre.

Music for theatre includes:

  • A Night To Remember
  • One More Sleep ’Til Christmas (Citizens Theatre)
  • Look Up
  • Moonfall (Hikapee Circus Theatre/Jacksons Lane)
  • Jellyfish (Intrepid/International Youth Arts Festival)
  • Buckets
  • The Birds and Southside Stories (Citizens Young Co/Chrysalis Festival)
  • Fandom (YMTUK)
  • Forbidden (Scottish Youth Theatre)
  • Cat Loud’s Big Night In (Edinburgh Fringe/UK Tour)
  • The Iguanodon Queen (Bush Theatre)
  • Slingshot (Park Theatre)
  • Foreplay (The Cockpit)

Other work includes three films with acclaimed video artist Rachel Maclean (Tate/National Galleries Scotland/Venice Biennale), several collaborations with Scottish Dance Theatre’s ‘Do Your Thing’ group, and musical direction for WHITE by spoken word artist Koko Brown (Ovalhouse/Roundhouse/Vault Festival).

Finn has also written, composed and facilitated projects for the UK’s leading companies for young people including BYMT, Scottish Youth Theatre, Young Norfolk Arts Festival, Citizens Young Company, International Youth Arts Festival.

Finn’s debut album 'Until the Light' as a singer-songwriter was released in summer 2019.

Finn is the 2020 recipient of the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer Award. He will undertake a 6-month residency at The Lowry and Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, where he will work on a range of projects across both venues.