In just a few weeks Gareth Gates will be pulling on a multi-coloured dreamcoat and hitting the West End stage, but in the meantime there’s another treat in store for his fans.

The Bradford singer is featured on a new album celebrating the work of one of the world’s most successful living musical theatre songwriting teams, widely regarded as second only to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed songs for such shows as Mary Poppins, celebrated 25 years of songwriting in their show A Spoonful Of Stiles And Drewe earlier this year.

Gareth appeared as a special guest and his performances are included on a new album of live highlights from the show. The numbers include exclusive preview tracks from a new show called Soho Cinders, several of which feature Gareth.

Proceeds from the album, called A Spoonful Of Stiles And Drewe, will go to a charity supporting the future of British musical theatre writers.

“I’ve always been into the theatre and going to musicals, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get involved with this,” says Gareth. “As I’ve long admired George Stiles and Anthony Drewe for everything they’ve achieved in the industry, I was thrilled to perform at their gala. I’m delighted that the highlights are available on CD with the profits going to a really worthy cause.”

The songwriting partnership of George Stiles (music) and Anthony Drewe (lyrics) started when the pair met at Exeter University a quarter of a century ago. They have written five musicals together.

Their first musical was Tutankhamun, followed by Just So produced by Cameron Mackintosh.

In 2004, they composed new songs, additional music and lyrics and vocal arrangements for the revival of Mary Poppins. Their other productions include Honk! which won the Olivier Award for Best Musical in 2000 and Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure, which began life as a BBC concert in 2001 starring John Thaw as Captain Hook. They have also written two revues and contributed songs to a variety of theatre, TV, and radio shows, including Dame Edna Everage’s Look At Me When I’m Talking To You.

Their latest project is Soho Cinders, set in modern day London. Described as a 21st century fable, the show is an internet love-story blending satire with a story about celebrity politics.

Last month, the T&A reported that Gareth is to make his West End debut in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, taking over from Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead.

Gareth, a former Bradford Cathedral choirboy who was runner-up in the first-ever Pop Idol in 2001, will appear in the show from February 9.