The life of composer Stephen Edwards has all the elements of a super storyline for a musical.

It might not provide the right plot for the kind of lavish productions he now works on, but still it is a compelling story of someone who has followed a passion for music to dramatically escalating heights.

The 38-year-old, whose dad still lives in Brentwood, sounds somewhat surprised when he pulls himself from his current focus - the £1.5million West End musical Tess of the D'Urbervilles - to look back into his past.

He finds it slightly amusing to recall how he went from being a self confessed compulsive truant in Billericay to top theatrical composer. Tess, based on Thomas Hardy's classic novel, has hit the Savoy Theatre stage just over 20 years after Stephen put on his first opera The Man at Billericay School.

That production was created by Stephen during sixth form after he had developed an enthusiasm for music instead of skiving off school.

He said: "I was a dreadful student, I am sure it was nothing to do with the teachers and all to do with being one of those annoying kids.

"Then I got heavily involved in rock music and music has been my interest ever since.

"Luckily the school had a teacher called Stan Hewitt who was a bit of a renegade, but was able to fire the imagination of an awful lot of students and get them involved in productions.

"He was instrumental in encouraging myself and many others and by the time I was 18 I was putting on a two hour opera so was at the school all the time staging it."

Stephen lived in Wickford, Stock and Billericay before going to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He now has long experience in composing for the stage including work for the National Theatre with Sir Peter Hall.

It is a long way from when he performed at local pubs as part of a rock band called Thoroughly Bad Hat, and Tess, with its exhilarating mix of opera, dance and music, does not suggest much attachment to three chord pub rock.

Stephen said: "The music is often very dramatically charged and in some sections the most intense I have written.

"This is the largest musical I have worked on by myself and it has been a challenge for me. I have been working on it for two years and I am exhausted."

"Now though I am really looking forward to the launch of the CD, so the music can reach a larger audience. And there may be a New York production to work on."

Stephen's hard work has gained praise from critics for its uplifting lyrical style and its emotional power. He now hopes it will attract the audiences every West End musical craves.

He said: "Whether you know the book or not, hopefully the musical will take you on an emotional journey which captures your attention. I feel the story has a universal appeal and we have been able to stage it beautifully."

Stephen, who lives and works in Islington, now hopes he will be able to take a break after the hectic pressure of preparing Tess. He is also expecting to drop in on his dad, who lives in Hutton Mount, for Christmas.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles is at the Savoy Theatre in London. The soundtrack is released by Sony Classical this week.

Novel approach: Stephen Edwards in front of a poster for his new West End musical.

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