The RSC's Head of Music Stephen
Warbeck was today celebrating after his triumph at the Oscars.
The RSC music maestro won the Oscar for the Best Original or Comedy Musical Score for
his soundtrack of Shakespeare In Love.
This current box-office hit also won Oscars for Best Picture, Original Screenplay,
Costume Design and Art Direction. Judi Dench also won Best Supporting Actress for her part
in the film.
Stephen said after the award:
"It's thrilling. It's a vindication of the feeling that it was a wonderful film.
When you do something that you are proud of and you get a public accolade that is
thrilling."
Stephen joined the RSC as a full-time member of staff in October 1998, following the
retirement of Guy Woolfenden. Stephen’s earlier compositions for the company include
stage music for Adrian Noble’s productions of The Tempest (1998) and Cymbeline (1997)
and Michael Attenborough’s Romeo and Juliet (1997).
Stephen also worked on the soundtrack for the recently acclaimed film Mrs Brown and the
television drama Prime Suspect, for which he received a Bafta nomination for Best Original
TV Music.
Warbeck is a great advocate of live music on stage and even plays accordion in band the
Hkippers which includes in its line-up Paul Bradley who played Nigel in Eastenders.
Kate Hunter, press spokesperson for the RSC, said of Stephen's triumph:
"We are absolutely delighted with Stephen's success. Quite often the musicians go
unrecognised - it is great to see Stephen getting the personal recognition he deserves.
"We look forward to many more fruitful years for Stephen with the RSC".
