The Odyssey of Seven and a Half Years is the an extraordinary, yet very relatable story – an exploration of what it means to be human, seen through one man’s personal crisis and redemption.  It’s a story that explores concepts of family, caring, and friendships under strain. It explores the boundaries of  responsibility – to others and to ourselves, and how we come to terms with our own difficult histories. 

The protagonist is a highly successful creative at the peak of his career. Suddenly in the midst of all his success, he suffers a mental collapse. After a brief and painful experience in a psychiatric unit, he goes back to his house, locks the door... and begins what turns – day by day, week by week – into a seven  and a half year “hiatus”,  in which he cuts himself adrift from friends, children, wives and work – a self imprisoned modern Monte Cristo 

When – after all these years -  an estranged friend turns up at his door, and,  knowing they will not be invited in, nevertheless crouches down to sing “ Happy Birthday” through his letterbox, this simple act of human contact, like daylight acting on a shrivelled seed, germinates the first stirrings of a recovery. As the protagonist prepares to try and engage with the world he hid away from, working up the courage for the simplest actions – buying hot food, walking beyond the corner shop -   He looks back over the events, and personal history that led to his hiatus in the first place....  He explores his broken relationships, his estrangement from friend and his son, his relationship with his father and mother, and finally, begins to understand what led to his mental implosion. 

The piece ends on a life-affirming epiphany, as  the protagonists realises he has let go of the “anchor” of his past, and can move forward to new love and new life.

Be the first to play the second piece in Mark Glentworth's " Gilbert Trilogy"   for solo Vibraphone, with the release of "Gilbert's Got A New Blues" (Scroll down to buy the Music in PDF file download) The final piece "Gilbert's Farewell" will be released  very soon.

At the age of 16 I was one of the youngest students to study percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music. After graduating I started working in London as a Freelance percussionist in all styles of music. My composition work has covered a very wide spectrum of music ranging from commercial song writing through to orchestral composition and opera. I have worked with Steven Berkoff, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Peter Maxwell Davis’s Fires Of London, The BBC Symphony Orchestra and The  London Sinfonietta. 

Professional Experience 

Currently working on  writing a Musical and song book called:

"Seven And A Half Years "

One of my first compositions was a Vibraphone solo called

‘Blues for Gilbert’. 

This has gone on to become a percussion standard, (One of the most performed tuned percussion piece of all time), and has been recorded on many CD’s. 

Composer and Performer for Steven Berkoff 

I have been working with Steven Berkoff since 1983. Over the years we have collaborated on many productions. I create my scores organically during the rehearsal period. I have a setup comprising  percussion instruments, keyboards and a computer running live elements as well. apart from our numerous stage productions we have also worked on TV and Radio productions too

Our collaborations include productions of: West, Greek, Metamorphosis, Sink The Belgrano, The Trial, Coriolanus, Macbeth (Radio version), One Man Show, Tell-tale Heart, Berkoff’s Messiah.  One of our most notable productions was the Stage version of the classic film,

‘On the Water Front’

which received glowing reviews: 

On The Water Front, Theatre Royal, Haymarket – Nicholas de Jongh, Evening Standard 

The excitement of the plot, strengthened by Mark Glentworth’s memorable music. 

Michael Coveney; The Independent 

“There are classic slow-motion sequences that look like ballet, with fantastic musical back-up from composer Mark Glentworth.” 

Claudia Pritchard; Independent on Sunday 

“Mark Glentworth’s thrilling live score”