Lilith, for UltraViolet Productions is a multi-year endeavour and when ANTE Collective approached the Company about composing and recording the music for the show, we wanted to make sure the final product lives up to the effort and dedication that has already been spent on the script. Given the brief for this piece of work, we looked at the experience available within ANTE, in classical music performance, composition, and recording, and William Lai’s skillset made for a good match.

Working closely with the producers/directors, throwing ideas, snippets back and forth for a few months, we found a consistent sound. Lai mainly took inspiration from contemporary and romantic era classical music. Being an admirer of composers such as Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler, Krzysztof Penderecki, Jonny Greenwood, he used them as linchpins for source material during his research and his journey to craft the soundscape for the performance.

The devised nature of Lilith also helped a lot. The ability to watch the actors developing their characters during rehearsals was invaluable, giving a sense of dynamism and that extra dimension to the script that can be lost when composing in isolation. Looking to compliment the themes in the script, Lai used conventional string instruments as the main voice, while leaning on some of the more unique sounds available. He wanted to usher the audience into a scene of unknown and uncertainty with the use of col legno, harmonics, the body of the violin. These unconventional performance techniques very soon became a feature as opposed to accompaniment in his composition process.

As well as composing and recording the original music, ANTE will also be providing sound design and operators for the Wimbledon run.

We are very excited to build this relationship with UltraViolet Productions, as our first of what we hope to be a long standing collaborative creative partner.


The show will run from Thursday 19th September 2024, through to Saturday 28th September 2024, @ New Wimbledon Theatre.

Tickets for the show can be purchased here.

Review Statements:

“The sound design works to completely draw the audience into this wild tale” – The Reviews Hub

“Enhanced by William Lai’s atmospheric score and extremely effective lighting and AV“;

“A beguiling blend of drama and dance“;

“A highly recommended production of a provocative and absorbing play” – London Theatre 1