Peter Howell Inspires Generations With Music, Theater, And Storytelling
Photo: Peter Howell: Celebrating Decades Of Artistic Innovation And Creative Mastery
A Visionary Who Blends Music And Theater
Peter Howell’s innovative career spans music, experimental theater, and storytelling, blending technology with creativity to produce timeless art and inspire future generations. His works highlight imagination, passion, and collaboration.
Peter Howell’s remarkable career is a testament to an artist’s ability to cross boundaries and create lasting impacts across multiple disciplines. As a composer, storyteller, musician, and theatrical innovator, Howell has not only contributed to the arts but has also redefined what it means to create without limitations. From experimenting with revolutionary sound recording techniques during his youth to shaping theatrical magic with the Whizz Theatre Company, Howell’s story is one of boundless imagination and a deep commitment to original artistry.
Reflecting on his beginnings, Howell recalled his fascination with The Shadows, the instrumental band that unlocked his passion for music. Learning guitar with the help of Burt Weedon’s instructional book, he felt restricted by its simplicity and sought inspiration elsewhere. “I immediately got attracted to The Shadows because of the way they dealt with music itself. Their tracks were always very melodic, and I learned a lot of my music theory from teaching myself Shadows instrumentals,” Howell shared. This early education in melody and harmony became the foundation of his musical style, influencing both his compositions and the theater productions he would later create.
Howell’s journey from playing instrumentals to composing his own music was marked by the exciting challenge of exploring technology. “Around the time I began writing my own music, I got interested in technology—particularly the way a stereo reel-to-reel tape recorder could build a band track by track,” he explained. This discovery of layering sounds created endless opportunities for creativity, a process that still excites him to this day. “To have a musical idea and then produce its finished form—it’s something I’ve never gotten over.”
The authenticity of Howell’s early work is perhaps one of the reasons his music resonates decades later. Fans and collectors value the unfiltered creativity in his original compositions from his teenage years. The recent box set released by Cherry Red Records, featuring Howell’s collaborative works with John Ferdinando, has brought new recognition to these formative pieces. “It was quite an emotional moment to see our work compiled this way. The production of the box set was done with such affection, it felt both humbling and fulfilling,” Howell noted.
“The early music was genuinely creative moments, recorded for posterity.”–Peter Howell
The partnership between Howell and Ferdinando extended beyond music into the realm of theater. Together, they formed the Whizz Theatre Company, crafting stage productions that merged humor, music, and innovation. These amateur yet ambitious shows—complete with sketch comedy and inventive soundscapes—became community favorites. “The first show, ‘Whizz,’ was such a success that it inspired years of collaborative theater under the Whizz Theatre Company name. Producing these lighthearted performances made for some of the fondest memories of my career.”
Though music and theater have been major parts of Howell’s life, writing has been a constant thread running alongside his creative pursuits. From puppet plays as a child to adapting Dante’s Inferno for the BBC, and eventually working on a modern sci-fi novel in recent years, his passion for storytelling has evolved over time. The novel, exploring a world divided between art and science, has taken on a deeper relevance in our era of AI and technological advancement. “Many years later, I realized my novel unintentionally touches on very modern issues. It’s been rewarding to revisit a younger version of myself through writing,” Howell reflected.
As Peter Howell looks back on a career spanning decades, one theme emerges: creativity knows no boundaries. Whether composing music, experimenting with sound recording, writing stories, or staging theatrical productions, the essence of his work lies in the joy of creating and sharing that joy with others. He reminds us that the urge to create is universal and, when embraced wholeheartedly, leads to a legacy that endures.
For aspiring artists across all mediums, Peter Howell’s journey offers an invaluable lesson: fearlessly explore your passions, let curiosity guide you, and let your imagination be your most trusted collaborator.
(This article originally appeared in WOWwART Magazine.)
