ABOUT
Pippa Cleary is an award-winning British composer, songwriter and lyricist. She is the only female British composer to have had three musicals produced in the West End, including the acclaimed My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) which opens at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway this year. Previous West End credits include The Great British Bake Off Musical and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical (nominated for an Evening Standard Best New Musical Award and UK Theatre Award). For the 2023 Olivier Awards, Pippa wrote the first original opening number ‘The West End Stage’ which was performed by Hannah Waddingham at the Royal Albert Hall.
Alongside acclaimed American screenwriter Philip LaZebnik (Pocahontas, Prince of Egypt, Mulan), Pippa is currently writing songs for a new animated movie musical Journey to The Christmas Star with Storm films in Norway. Past credits include Prince Andrew The Musical (Channel 4, nominated in the Comedy Entertainment category at the 62nd annual Rose d'Or Awards), Prodigy (The Other Palace), In The Willows (UK Tour), Jet Set Go! (Jermyn Street Theatre), The Snow Gorilla (Rose Theatre Kingston), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (BBC), Snow White and Me (Brno Theatre, Czech Republic) and Next Fall (Southwark Playhouse).
Pippa’s work also includes music for adverts, including the award-winning ‘I Love Doing Dishes’ campaign for Finish and ‘The Feelings’ for ‘This is Jelly’. Pippa won the Times Carol Competition 2011 for her song ‘In the Snow’ which was performed by the Bach choir at Cadogan Hall. Pippa’s voice features on the popular award-winning children’s app ‘Hip Hop Hen’ which helps teach phonics through song. Pippa also won The Arts Foundation Fellowship for Composition in 2012 and is mentored by the renowned composer Claude-Michel Schönberg.
Whilst studying music at Bristol University, Pippa met her long-term writing partner, Jake Brunger. Together they have written many popular musicals, including The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾, The Great British Soap Opera, Prodigy and the recent West End production of The Great British Bake Off Musical. They have also written three children’s musicals together for the Singapore Repertory Theatre - Red Riding Hood, Treasure Island and Chicken Little.
As well as her songwriting, Pippa also founded and created her award-winning business Pippa’s Poppets, teaching music and drama for under 5s in preschool settings around London. Since starting out in 2008, Pippa’s love for writing original children’s songs has created a unique and bespoke experience for all her nursery and kindergarten clients. Pippa’s Poppets also runs birthday parties, Father Christmas visits, half term workshops and personalised birthday songs written by Pippa.
Pippa has been visually impaired since birth, but this has never held her back. She has an exceptional musical ear and she collaborates with many orchestrators, producers and musical directors, to pursue her creative endeavours.
Awards
2023 - Olivier Awards
Nominated for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play
For My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?)
2022 - What’s On Stage Awards
Winner - Best Off West End Production
For My Son’s A Queer, Turbine Theatre
2022- Neurodiverse Awards
Winner - Outstanding Visually Impaired Creative For My Son’s A Queer, Edinburgh Festival
2016 - UK Theatre Awards
Nominated for Best Show for Children and Young People
For The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾
2013 - The Times Christmas Carol Competition
Winner
For in the Snow
2012 - Arts Foundation Fellowship
Awarded for Composition in Musicals
2016 - UK Theatre Awards
Nominated for Best Show for Children and Young People
For The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾
2016 - Evening Standard Awards
Nominated for Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical
For The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾
2013 - Junior Guildhall
Wax Chandler Prize for Composition