CV and Bio

Steve is an award-winning writer, director, artistic director and CEO. 

He is committed to making theatre for people who don’t traditionally go and seeking out new audiences and artists with stories and insights we have never heard before.  

Steve is a freelance artist, consultant and CEO of PantoCo Ltd.  He has worked in the creative industries for over 20 years and was Artistic Director of Soho Theatre from 2010-18.  

In 1996 his first play 97 – A play about the victims of the Hillsborough Tragedy was the story of his experience as an 11 year-old attending the match that day.

Awards and Nominations

As Director/Writer:  Westend End Wilma Award Best New Comedy, WhatsOnStage Award Best Off-West End Production (nomination), London One Act Theatre Festival Winner, London One Act Theatre Festival Best New Play, Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer (nomination), Chortle Best Sketch Act, Edinburgh Best New Musical (nomination), and Stage 100 Most Influential People in Theatre.

As Artistic Director/Producer:   Olivier Award for Best New Opera, 2 Olivier Awards for Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre (plus 2 nominations), WhatsOnStage Award for Best Entertainment, 2 Total Theatre Awards (plus 5 nominations), 4 Fringe Firsts, 2 Herald Angels, Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer (plus 6 nominations), and 3  Edinburgh Comedy Main Awards.

As Director

For Soho Theatre (2010-18):  The One (2015 and 2018), Blueberry Toast, Roller Diner, Only the Brave (with Wales Millennium Centre), Bits of Me Are Falling Apart, First Love is the Revolution, Death of a Comedian (with Lyric Belfast and Abbey Dublin), I Kiss Your Heart, The Night Before Christmas, Address Unknown (in English and French), Pastoral, The Boy Who Fell Into A Book, Utopia, Fit and Proper People (with the RSC), Late Night Gimp Fight, Mongrel Island and Realism. 

For Oxford Playhouse (2015-21):  Jack and the Beanstalk, Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Cinderella, Aladdin.

For Lyric Hammersmith (2008-10):  Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington, Aladdin.

For Headlong Theatre (2007-08:  Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness, Faustus.

For Stephen Joseph Theatre (2004-06):  Miranda’s Magic Mirror, Barnacle Bill, Sleeping Beauty.

At Edinburgh Fringe Festival (1996-2018):  Late Night Gimp Fight, Denim, I’m Not Here Right Now, Rhino, Sleep, Caliban’s Island, The Club, The Entire History of Cabaret, Only the Brave and 97 – A play about the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy.

Also:  2009 Macbeth for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre,  Vincent River Off-Broadway, 2008 Madam Butterfly’s Child London One Act Theatre Festival Winner

As Writer/Co-Writer

Treasure Island, Aladdin, Cinderella, Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Jack and the Beanstalk, Utopia, The Club, Sleep, 97 – A play about the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy, Stranger Things (Secret Cinema).

As Adaptor

I Kiss Your Heart from Dylan Thomas, Address Unknown (in English and French) from Katherine Kressman’s novel, Bits of Me Are Falling Apart with Ade Edmonson, Speak After the Beep from Michael Frayn, Tempest 2000 from Shakespeare, Big Brother is Watching from George Orwell, Rhino from Eugene Ionesco, The Visit from Federich Durrenmatt, Pause from Harold Pinter, Caliban’s Island from Shakespeare. 

As Lyricist

The Night Before Christmas Musical with Anthony Neilson, Only the Brave, plus numerous pantomime and comedy songs.

As Associate/Assistant Director

For Royal Shakespeare Company (Associate Director 2006-07):   Anthony and Cleopatra, Julius Ceasar, The Tempest, Macbeth, Macbett, God in Ruins, The Penelopiad (some touring internationally and going into the West-End)

Also Rupert Goold’s Macbeth onto Broadway 2009. 

For Qdos Pantomimes:  Birmingham Hippodrome, Nottingham Playhouse and Edinburgh Kings Theatre.

Also for:  Royal Court, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Eclipse Theatre, and Sherman Theatre Cardiff.

As Youth/Community Theatre Director 

For Theatre Royal Plymouth (2001-05):  Speak After the Beep, Pause, Team Spirit (also performed at National Theatre), More Than Just a Game, Sk8.

For Sherman Theatre Cardiff (1999-01):  Tempest 2000, Jungle Book, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, Big Brother is Watching You, 

Also: Ghetto for Watford Palace Theatre and Metropolis for Theatre Royal Bath’s Storm on the Lawn.

As Practitioner

Steve was an Honorary Professor of Shakespeare at Michigan University in 2008. 

He has worked as a practitioner with the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, in the West End, on Broadway, at the Royal Court, Lyric Hammersmith, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Theatre Royal Bath, Watford Palace Theatre, Sherman Theatre Cardiff and at 22 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. 

Click here for Production History

Employment and Education CV