Carol Donaldson is an experienced theatre composer and has been performing and composing professionally since the 1980’s. Carol’s work has been heard in West End theatres as well as across the UK notably at the Coliseum, Oldham and The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster.
Beginnings..
It all started when Carol joined feminist comedy cabaret theatre group ‘Red Stockings’ as their pianist, touring the country for years. They performed at the Clause 28 Rally at Manchester’s Freetrade Hall. They were a feisty quintet of women (Amelia Bulmore, playwright Helen Edmundson, producer Liz Pugh and actress Henny Whitsun-Jones).
Bitten by the theatre bug, she went on to do several shows for the Library Theatre Manchester with Chris Honer – A Christmas Carol, Our day out, Aladdin, Jungle Book, Peter Pan, Working , Robin Hood.
Bolton Octagon – ‘Feed’ starring Roy Barraclough
Lancaster Dukes Theatre with director Joe Sumsion – Treasure Island, A Christmas Carol, Cinderella, and Treasure Island again, summer production in Williamson Park, Lancaster. All with writer Debbie Oates (Coronation St), except Cinderella with Ian Kershaw (Coronation St)
‘SLAVE – A Question of Freedom’
Composer for Feelgood Theatre Co. The true story of Mende Nazer.
Premiere at The Lowry, Salford November ’10. Followed by 2 National tours including The Riverside Studios, London Sept ’11. Excerpts also performed at The House of Lords. Slave returned for a new national tour in 2024.
Awards: Best New Play – Pete Postlethwaite Manchester Evening News Award & The first award for the Best Stage or Film production dealing with Human Trafficking from the Human Trafficking Foundation.
“Nuba inspired rhythms and acapella songs, combine with whole-ensemble joyful dance, to provide a sense of place and community as well as a returning theme for Mende, the girl who had been taken so young.”
The Spy In The Stalls
‘MEAT PIE SAUSAGE ROLL’! (MD/Composer)
Carol composed the songs and played the shows for the hugely popular new musical ‘Meat Pie Sausage Roll‘ at The Oldham Coliseum. Written by Cathy Crabb and Lindsay Williams. Dir Kevin Shaw, designed by Alison Heffernan.
‘lovingly drawn and the songs are a canny mix of musical fare that decorates most big venue musical hits with rousing, football chants. ‘
Northern Soul
‘Donaldson mixes original compositions with existing tunes and chants and with a large community chorus to belt them out there are plenty of uplifting stage-filling moments.’
Manchester Theatre Awards
‘football chants and new songs composed by Carol Donaldson.. one stands out, ‘Just The Light’, a beautiful duet about two people struggling to admit a mutual attraction.’
Attitude Magazine
‘Inventive, comical and full of heart… Carol Donaldson’s original compositions combine popular Oldham Athletic football chants such as Oh Lanky, Lanky into the songs to portray the passion of the fans’
The Reviews hub
TREASURE ISLAND (MD/Composer)
The Duke’s production of Debbie Oates’s ‘Treasure Island’ in Williamson Park in Lancaster for Summer ’17 and @The Dukes, Winter ’14.
‘Catchy sing-along songs by Carol Donaldson and a talented hard working supporting cast .. director Joe Sumsion has come up with another welcome slice of fast moving relief from familiar festive fare’
Blackpool Gazette
‘The lyrics and music were outstanding’
David Upton (British Theatre Guide and Lancaster Evening Post
‘DREAMERS’ (MD/Composer)
A new musical written by Cathy Crabb and Lindsay Williams, set in the nightclub of the same name in Oldham.
The Guardian, 4 stars
With an all female cast, including Sally Carman (‘Shameless’, Coronation St), Olivier nominee Rachel Leskovac, and all female community chorus the show has original songs by Carol and a host of anthemic 90’s Indie Classics. There was a real buzz about ‘Dreamers’, large groups of women, hen nights etc went and it became ‘The Dreamers Phenomen’ – it sold out many nights and broke the records for bar sales!
The Coliseum
CINDERELLA (MD/Theatre Composer)
Written by Ian Kershaw (‘Shameless’, Coronation St) directed by Joe Sumsion and produced by the Dukes Theatre, Lancaster Christmas ’14.
It’s a feministy reworking of the tale and has original folky & bluegrass influenced songs in!
Cinders hits a high note!
The West Moreland Gazette
Other Theatre Credits
West End productions:
‘Tom Sawyer’– Composer and MD A new children’s musical. Book by Debbie Oates. National tour including the Savoy Theatre, West End.
‘Aesop’s Fables’ – Composer and MD. A new children’s musical. Book by Debbie Oates. National tour including the Savoy Theatre, West End.
‘Book of Dreams’ – Composer and MD. A new children’s musical. National tour including the Strand and Royalty Theatres, West End
To discuss working with Carol Donaldson on your upcoming project, please contact Carol directly.