DEREK ROWE

BOOK; SCRIPT; LYRICS; DRAMATURG; ADAPTATION OF THE MUSIC OF BEETHOVEN, AND ADDITIONAL MUSIC 

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Derek's latest musical, The Audition, has completed its "off-Broadway run in Hobart. You can read a review here.

Now a music theatre writer and recording musician, I was raised in a family of musicians and entertainers, so that’s probably why I was just nine when I wrote my first song. Hundreds, if not thousands, of songs later, I find myself carrying on the family tradition of mixing music with at least one extra ingredient - e.g. character, story, comedy. Just being a singer songwriter or being in a band was never on the cards - or in the gene pool! Even when I work as a studio musician and producer, it’s for stand-ups and performers, Sammy J and Randy being the most prominent (and lovely). 

My focus is on writing shows that explore relevant themes via textured, truthful, human stories.

⦁ Some shows have been produced, some await that opportunity.

⦁ Some have been commissions, some have just come to mind and I’ve decided to see where they go.

⦁ Some are big shows, some are tiny. 

Hopefully they all have something to say that speaks to something you’d like to hear.

LARGE BROADWAY-STYLE SHOWS

⦁ Call of the Jungle – 12 Principals and ensemble (Music & Lyrics) – commissioned by Producer Malcolm Cooke. Currently in post-workshop, pre-production. 

⦁ Bright Legacy – 8 Principals and ensemble (Book Music & Lyrics) First draft completed.

OFF-BROADWAY STYLE SHOWS

⦁ Audition – 2 acts, 4 performers (Book, Music & Lyrics). Commissioned by producer Malcolm Cooke. Workshopped by The Marriner Group.

⦁ I Hear You – 1 act, 2 performers (Book, Music & Lyrics) 

⦁ Sexercise – 2 acts, 6 performers (Book, Music & Lyrics). Professionally commissioned and produced in 2015.

⦁ Launceston the musical. Commissioned and produced as part of the 2021 Australian Music Theatre Festival.

TV SOUNDTRACK WRITING/PRODUCTION

⦁ Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane: Soundtrack and song recording (2015)

⦁ Tadpole – Soundtrack design and song composition (2005)

ONE-OFF SONGWRITING/PRODUCTION FOR TV/STAGE

⦁ Australian Music Theatre Festival – Commissioned writer (2021/22/23/24)

⦁ Good News Week – Channel 10 – Sammy J & Randy (2016)

⦁ ABC – Sammy J – (2019 – ongoing)

⦁ STAN – Australian Lockdown Comedy Festival (2020) – Randy Feltface – soundtrack music

⦁ Chopper – Various recordings and songs for comedian Heath Franklin

⦁ Soundtrack recording/music director - Various stage shows for Sammy j and Randy – together and solo, including the Barry award winning ‘Bin Night’

⦁ 2009 – Music Director, The Australian Puppet Festival, Melbourne.

RADIO JINGLE WRITING/PRODUCTION

⦁ xfam – Various ABC Radio – Sammy J Breakfast – Current

⦁ Jingles and long-form song-writing

LIBRETTO GHOST-WRITING FOR MUSIC THEATRE PRODUCTIONS

⦁ Sing (2016)– Libretto/Story re-write

⦁ French Toast (2019) – Libretto re-write

⦁ LvanB (Current) – Dramaturge & composer

MUSIC THEATRE TEACHER

⦁ (2018) The Space, Prahran. Writer in residence, creating a new musical with students

⦁ Various one-off workshops, masterclasses, etc on how to write a musical 

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CREATOR; BOOK;  SCRIPT; LYRICS

 Having been some sort of a writer for 70 years, Ian has produced works of fiction and non-fiction across a variety of mediums, including books, lyrics, poetry, revues, theatre, and infomercials. Writing is, apparently, in his veins. 

He comes from a long line of published storytellers—his grandfather Bernard Capes, great-aunt Harriet Capes, uncle Renalt, and great-uncle John all left their mark in print—so perhaps it was inevitable.

But the real spark came from something much simpler: a colleague once told him a story about a group of kids riding home on the back of a huge horse… which calmly decided to walk straight through a dam. That image stuck. It grew. And eventually it became Scratcher, Ian’s first book.

Sixteen more followed.

Since then, his writing has ranged widely—from early childhood fantasy through to a dark, multi-generational crime novel involving multiple murderers. His stories travel across Australia, England, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States, moving between the past, an imagined present, and possible futures. And despite his best efforts to keep things serious, humour has a persistent way of finding its way in.

Alongside his writing, Ian has built a varied and practical career. He has worked across primary, secondary and tertiary education, project development and management, media concepts and production, and both business and creative writing. He holds degrees from three Australian universities—though he would probably tell you that most of what matters has been learned outside lecture rooms.

Community has also been a constant thread. Over the years, Ian has taken on leadership roles in Scouting, environmental and sporting organisations, and a walking group, as well as contributing to long-term support initiatives for rural communities in the developing world. This work was recognised with a Commonwealth Community Australia Day Award.

Right now, though, his focus is firmly on one thing: doing everything he can to bring this musical theatre project to the stage.

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OWNER; BOOK; PRODUCER

Stage

1989 The Dracula Spectacular Show - lead Mother; 1990 Smithy lead (Drama Teacher); 1991 Oklahoma 1991 Gertie; 1992 The Pajama Game; 1995 Me and My Girl ensemble.

2008 – 2019

Lissie Lou Design - Business Owner  

Greeting Card Design. Managed card design business from start-up to successfully landing large stores such as Target, Card & Caboodle and Ishka and distributing to retailers around Australia and New Zealand. 

Individually designed artwork

Created specifically around the client’s life experiences and interests, which created enormous joy to gift recipients, overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness and individualisation of the designs.

Volunteering

Event Management. Organised multiple events for various communities, involving

organising volunteers, logistics, sourcing prizes, catering, security etc.

Group Bookings Coordinator. Coordinating large group bookings for theatre.

Musical theatre enthusiast.

2019 The Alex Theatre – St.Kilda. Production Assistant. Programs being filmed: mGig, AlexRocks, The Alex Café, Art-V2020 2021 

Australian Film Base: Film Directors Certificate

Film Credits:

Locations Manager: No Charge (Graduate film, Australian Film Base); Locations Scout:  The Little Pin-Up (Independent short film); Art Department, props sourcing, set dressing: Slant (Feature Film); Locations Scout/Manager: The Soft Skinned (Short film, Master Course, Victorian College of the Arts); Locations Scout/ Manager, Production Design, Assistant Producer: The Keys (Independent short film); Props: All We Have Is Time (Short film, Master Course, Victorian College of the Arts); Wardrobe Master: What Took Grace (Feature Film); Unit organiser, Props, Production Design: Alexithymia (Short film, Master Course, Victorian College of the Arts); Props: New Moon In Leo (Short film, Masters Course, Victorian College of the Arts). 

LEGAL STRATEGIST

 Charles,  a director of both public and private companies ,  graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1973, and gained his Master of Laws from Monash University in 1980. 

He is a successful businessman, team leader, professional speaker and executive coach.  After practising law successfully for 20 years, Charles left the law in June 1993 to pursue his passion for increasing passion! He has found that bringing out the unique and extraordinary capacities of individuals, by accessing and harnessing their passion, is the fundamental key to business success in these changing and challenging times. 

He is a transformational, inspirational high-energy speaker and facilitator, who inspires through his passion for life, and helps organisations build world-class teams based on integrity, trust, and commitment.