Ben Hartley

Ben has been playing drum kit and percussion since 1992. He graduated with honours from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2006 and has since worked as a freelance drummer and percussionist in bands, musicals, operas and orchestras throughout London, the UK and Europe. Ben played drum kit in the backing band for both seasons of Daphne Sounds Expensive, a comedy sketch show for Radio 4, recorded in the BBC Radio Theatre and Maida Vale Studios. He has performed with Rhythms of the City, a samba collective who gig in London and across the UK, and Box9 Drumline who have been seen performing at the Rugby World Cup final in Twickenham stadium. He is a member of the progressive rock band I am the Manic Whale, who have released four studio albums and one live album. They recently completed a UK tour to promote the newest album, Bumper Book of Mystery Stories. He was the drummer for the function band Something Borrowed who played for parties, weddings and corporate functions around the UK. Theatre work has included performing in Dracula the Musical at the Soho Theatre, five pantomimes with Evolution Productions at multiple venues across England, as well as pantos in the Thameside Theatre-Thurrock, Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre and the Theatre Royal-Bury St Edmunds, plus dance projects at Sadler’s Wells with Hofesh Shechter. He has also been involved with various shows and musicals in theatres in London, Berkshire and Hertfordshire. If you have a keen eye you can see Ben as a marching drummer in the first Captain America film. He was also involved in the London 2012 Olympics, recording percussion for one of the Mascot short films and playing drums for the Opening ceremony. Ben has toured India with Anglo Indian Music Productions, Europe with Sir Colin Davis and the UK with Opera Della Luna.