Fuel New Talent Open Call: Associate Music Director

We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for an emerging music director or composer to work with us on a new and innovative composition for stage, funded by the PRS Development Network. The successful candidate will support the development of a new opera with music by Michael Henry and libretto by Inua Ellams. The opera deals with themes of migration and displacement, drawing on both traditional East African music and Greek mythology. 

What the Associate will do 

• Work alongside composer Michael Henry 

• Support research and development (R&D) and rehearsals of the project in an Associate Music Director role 

Who we’re looking for 

We want to hear from: 

• Early-career composers or music directors with at least one paid, ideally professional, credit in a relevant role (such as music director, composer, arranger, music supervisor etc.) at any level (including assistant) for stage, screen, etc.  

• Whilst the applicant’s experience can be in a variety of media and genres, we want to see a commitment to composing and/or music directing for stage productions, and an interest in learning about opera. 

• Underrepresented voices in music and arts – including global majority, marginalised genders, and disabled artists. 

• Artists who are making work in new, innovative ways – whether through form, structure, or approach – and who show promise and ambition. 

Timeline 

• Applications due: 12pm midday, 13 October 2025 

• Successful applicant confirmed: mid-November 2025 

• Preliminary planning work with Michael: December – Early February 2026 

• R&D workshop, in person in London: February 2026 

• Next steps including future rehearsals: TBC 

What you’ll receive 

• £2,500 for your time  

• Artistic support from Fuel and Michael Henry, including: 

• Advice on developing creative teams 

• Creative advice 

• Regular mentoring 

• The opportunity to collaborate closely with Fuel’s creative team and contribute to a live stage project 

• A formal credit as Associate on the project 

How to apply 

To apply, please complete an application form by 12pm (midday) on 13 October 2025. Please let us know if you require the application form in another format. 

Application form PDF

Application form Word Document
 

About the artists 

Michael Henry – Composer 

Michael Henry is an award winning composer, vocalist and musical director. He studied Clarinet and Composition at the Royal College of Music and began his professional singing career as lead vocalist in R&B group Buddy Curtess and the Grasshopers from 1985-9. He went on to perform in a variety of groups including Flying Pickets, Shiva Nova, Errollyn Wallen’s Ensemble X, The Tarantinos and The Shout. 

He has undertaken the dual role of composer and musical director in numerous projects including Mr Burns and They Drink It In The Congo (Almeida Theatre), Boi Boi Is Dead (Leeds Playhouse, Watford Palace Theatre, Tiat Fahodzi), The Barbershop Chronicles (National Theatre, UK & International Tour), The Bloomsbury Songbook (Bloomsbury Festival) and The Long Song (Chichester Festival Theatre).  

He has also acted as musical director/performer in numerous productions at venues such as the National Theatre, Young Vic, Old Vic and Theatre Royal Stratford and the Pet Shop Boys’ debut international tour in 1989. 

Michael Henry has been awarded the Horowitz, Stanford and Cornelious Cardew prizes for composition and was nominated for the Musical Director Recognition Award at the 2019 Black British Theatre Awards. 

Inua Ellams – Librettist  

Born in Nigeria, Inua Ellams is a poet, playwright and performer, graphic artist and designer. He is a Complete Works poet alumni and facilitates workshops in creative writing where he explores reoccurring themes in his work – Identity, Displacement and Destiny – in accessible, enjoyable ways for participants of all ages and backgrounds. He founded The Midnight Run (an arts-filled, night-time, urban walking experience.) The Rhythm and Poetry Party (The R.A.P Party) which celebrates poetry and hip hop, and Poetry + Film / Hack (P+F/H) which celebrates Poetry and Film. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.  

Theatre includes: The 14th Tale (Arcola/National Theatre/UK tour); Black T-Shirt Collection (UK/World tour); The Riddler (Theatre 503); Barber Shop Chronicles (also UK tour), Three Sisters (National Theatre); New Dogs (Soho); The Calm (RSC); The Half-God of Rainfall (Kiln); An Evening with an Immigrant (UK & international tour).  

Television includes Swipe Slow (BBC). Radio includes Wild Blood (BBC Radio 3). Poetry includes Candy Coated Unicorn and Converse All Stars; The Wire-Headed Heathen; The Half-God of Rainfall; The Actual.  

Awards include Edinburgh Fringe First Award 2009; The Liberty Human Rights Award; The Live Canon International Poetry Prize; The Kent & Sussex Poetry Competition; Magma Poetry Competition; Winchester Poetry Prize; Best Theatre Production for The Half-God of Rainfall, Black British Theatre Awards; The Hay Festival Medal for Poetry.  

Fuel – Producer  

Fuel leads the field in independent producing in the UK’s live performance sector, working with brilliant artists to explore the big questions of our times, shining a light on how we relate to each other and the world around us, and telling untold stories by under-represented voices. From theatres to car parks, from schools to public spaces, Fuel produces high quality new theatre that reaches diverse audiences across the UK and internationally. Fuel collaborates with outstanding theatre makers with fresh perspectives and approaches who produce shows, performances or experiences which have direct and playful relationships with their audiences.  

Fuel is celebrated for its pioneering producing model that develops innovative ideas through attentive collaboration, a spirit of curiosity, and an emphasis on trust. Fuel has developed a reputation for spirited and surprising new theatre, deep relationships with a wide range of artists, and passionate commitment to inclusion and care for young and diverse audiences.  

Fuel was founded in 2004 and is led by Kate McGrath. Since its story began, Fuel has produced shows, festivals, films, installations, podcasts, apps and books. In doing so, Fuel has supported the artistic development of over 120 lead artists or companies and reached more than 1.5 million people, live and digitally, hosted over a hundred internships and been recognised with awards for its work. Fuel is currently working with artists and companies including Khalid Abdalla, Will Adamsdale, Jay Bernard, Inua Ellams, Charlie Josephine, Lucian Msamati, Racheal Ofori, Toby Olié, Joelle Taylor, Uninvited Guests and Melanie Wilson. Fuel is supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and the PRS Foundation (Talent Development Network).