Stephen has worked extensively as a director of new writing, working closely with writers from the initial idea, or coming in at a later draft and helping the writer put their vision on stage. As Artistic Director of 5065 Lift he commissioned and staged 22 plays over three years in site specific venues on Brighton beach, in the Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, in every nook and cranny of the Soho Theatre, and for a one night arts festival that took over all 32 pods of the London Eye.
He’s East Anglian chair of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain and curates and directs their twice yearly writer showcase in the studio at Norwich Theatre Royal.
Imperfect Storms: New Work From East Anglian Writers, Norwich Theatre Royal (2023-Present)
Bi-annual writers scratch showcases, part of Norwich Theatres’ development programme
Allegation 21 by Fiona Padfield, Norwich Theatre Royal / New Wolsey Theatre (2025)
Rehearsed reading scratch performances of work in progress
Foxfinder by Dawn King, Sewell Barn Theatre, Norwich (2025)
Lovedale by Fiona Padfield, Mercury Theatre, Colchester / Key Theatre, Peterborough (2024)
Arts Council funded R&D and public script-in-hand performances
Stand By Your Nan written & performed by Rachel Sambrooks, podcast series and live show (2022)
Arts Council funded development of one woman theatre/comedy show, which toured the Midlands, and a spin off podcast series with guests including Sarah Keyworth.
LIFEBOAT THEATRE:
Martyrs of Warsaw by Sarah Grochala, Finborough Theatre, London
Rehearsed reading of work in progress for new work festival
Upstairs by Joy Wilkinson, Finborough Theatre, London
Rehearsed reading of work in progress for new work festival
S-27 by Sarah Grochala, Finborough Theatre, London
Full production of Amnesty Award winning play (see reviews page)
Fanny & Faggot by Jack Thorne, Finborough Theatre & Trafalgar Studios, London / Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh / English Speaking Theatre of Bruges
Premiered at Finborough Theatre, transferred to Trafalgar Studios, Pleasance Edinburgh and Belgium (see reviews)
FLIGHT 5065 ON THE LONDON EYE (ARTISTIC DIRECTOR):
Dinner With Bono by Mark Norfolk (adapted from short story ‘City Link’ by Jackee Budesta Batanda)
Commissioned, developed and directed 30 minute play performed for one-night arts festival
The Traducers by Justin Butcher
Commissioned, developed and directed 30 minute musical performed for one-night arts festival
5065 LIFT (ARTISTIC DIRECTOR):
Fanny & Faggot by Jack Thorne, 5065 Lift @ The Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe
Commissioned, developed and directed 30 minute play
The Powder Jars by George Gotts, 5065 Lift @ The Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe
Commissioned, developed and directed 30 minute play
Aliens Are Scary by Stephen Keyworth, 5065 Lift @ The Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe
Wrote and directed 30 minute comedy using puppets
Honolulu by Stephen Keyworth, 5065 Lift @ The Pleasance, Edinburgh / South-West rural tour
Wrote and directed two linked 30 minute plays.
The Service Elevator by Stephen Keyworth, 5065 Lift @ The Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe / Brighton Fringe / Soho Theatre New Writing Festival
George Orwell’s 1984 School Disco by Stephen Keyworth, 5065 Lift @ The Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe / Brighton Fringe / Soho Theatre New Writing Festival
The Amazing Adventures of Schrodinger’s Cat by Stephen Keyworth, 5065 Lift @ The Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe / Brighton Fringe / Soho Theatre New Writing Festival
5065 PRODUCING CREDITS:
Zimbabwe Boy by Stephen Keyworth (adapted from short story by Rory Kilalea), Flight 5065
Banana! A Slippery Opera, Flight 5065
Cries of Crickets by Segun Le French, Flight 5065
Working with PEN we commissioned a play from an asylum seeking writer about his experience fleeing his country.
The Day Of All Days by Alecky Blythe / Recorded Delivery, Flight 5065
We sent Alecky to Kenya to spend time with coffee farmers and create a piece of verbatim theatre
Sightseeing by Sophie Woolley & Dipo Agboluaje, Flight 5065
Ayo And Ade’s Big London Safari, Flight 5065
The Obstacle Race by Wole Soyinka (World Premiere), Flight 5065
Patricia Quinn Saved My Life by Alison Carr, 5065 Lift
Grouchy Tiger, Hidden Badger by Sarah Adams, 5065 Lift
Charlatan by Darren Murphy, 5065 Lift
The Aquatic Ape by Joy Wilkinson, 5065 Lift
Morpheus Descending by Julie Balloo, 5065 Lift
SLEEPING GIANT THEATRE:
Dog Well Done by Stephen Keyworth, Finborough Theatre / C Venue, Edinburgh Fringe
Commissioned by Steam Industry, and winner of the Amnesty International Theatre Award
Clean Sheets and Bloody Games by Stephen Keyworth, Gilded Balloon Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe
Eyes and Teeth by Stephen Keyworth, C Venue, Edinburgh / North-West regional tour
Picking Bones by Stephen Keyworth, Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh / Platform 4 Festival, Exeter / Green Room, Manchester / North-West regional tour
Pravda by Howard Brenton & David Hare, The Green Room, Manchester
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, The Green Room, Manchester
