By david owen
A man who began composing music while in the depths of despair and sleeping rough on the streets has written music for a West End show. The Unknown Divas, origninated by singer songwriter Jonathon Brosnan has its premier at London's Leicester Square Theatre tonight.
It marks the culmination of two years' work by Stuart Sharp, from Melton, and is the latest chapter in an extraordinary personal journey.
He has arranged a series of 20 songs, including original compositions, for 10 international singers – including former X Factor contestant Louise Emmanuel. Jonathon's vision of putting 10 International singers together came to reality after years of searching for the perfect combination of female artists. "When Jonathon put the concept to me over two years ago I instantly knew it was a unique vision. No one had ever put such a show together before and I was excited to start work on the music." said Stuart.
It is all a far cry from the late 1970s and early '80s when Stuart spent 10 years as a homeless drifter in London.
His life as a married father of two daughters, working as a chef in The Red Lion pub, Sibbertoft, near Market Harborough, disintegrated into a haze of alcoholism, poverty and depression following a family trgerdy in 1975.
"It tore me apart," said Stuart. "My marriage broke up, I lost my family and ended up penniless and living on the streets in London for a time in the late 70's. But out of Stuart's despair came his inspiration to begin writing music. While living rough, he began having a recurring dream about beautiful, orchestral music and I remembered every note." Determined to record his "symphony" one day, Stuart bought a 50p guitar. But he still had a long time to wait until an orchestra brought it to life. In the meantime, Stuart began doing odd jobs and, after finding shelter in a hostel, started work as a salesman. He earned enough to buy his own flat and then embarked on career as a property developer – which ultimately made him enough money to hire the world's greatest orchestras. Stuart paid London's Philharmonia Orchestra to record his symphony, which has since been broadcast on the BBC. He has composed and recorded two more symphonies since, and has written an autobiography of his life – including his staging in 1991 of a benefit concert for disabled Zambians attended by 100,000 people. "It's very exiting," he said. "It's a one-off show but Jonathon and I intend to other concerts.
Despair became inspiration for former homeless man who has written music for West End musical
By david owen
A man who began composing music while in the depths of despair and sleeping rough on the streets has written music for a West End show. The Unknown Divas, origninated by singer songwriter Jonathon Brosnan has its premier at London's Leicester Square Theatre tonight.
It marks the culmination of two years' work by Stuart Sharp, from Melton, and is the latest chapter in an extraordinary personal journey.
He has arranged a series of 20 songs, including original compositions, for 10 international singers – including former X Factor contestant Louise Emmanuel. Jonathon's vision of putting 10 International singers together came to reality after years of searching for the perfect combination of female artists. "When Jonathon put the concept to me over two years ago I instantly knew it was a unique vision. No one had ever put such a show together before and I was excited to start work on the music." said Stuart.
It is all a far cry from the late 1970s and early '80s when Stuart spent 10 years as a homeless drifter in London.
His life as a married father of two daughters, working as a chef in The Red Lion pub, Sibbertoft, near Market Harborough, disintegrated into a haze of alcoholism, poverty and depression following a family trgerdy in 1975.
"It tore me apart," said Stuart. "My marriage broke up, I lost my family and ended up penniless and living on the streets in London for a time in the late 70's. But out of Stuart's despair came his inspiration to begin writing music. While living rough, he began having a recurring dream about beautiful, orchestral music and I remembered every note." Determined to record his "symphony" one day, Stuart bought a 50p guitar. But he still had a long time to wait until an orchestra brought it to life. In the meantime, Stuart began doing odd jobs and, after finding shelter in a hostel, started work as a salesman. He earned enough to buy his own flat and then embarked on career as a property developer – which ultimately made him enough money to hire the world's greatest orchestras. Stuart paid London's Philharmonia Orchestra to record his symphony, which has since been broadcast on the BBC. He has composed and recorded two more symphonies since, and has written an autobiography of his life – including his staging in 1991 of a benefit concert for disabled Zambians attended by 100,000 people. "It's very exiting," he said. "It's a one-off show but Jonathon and I intend to other concerts.