Stephen has worked as a director with professionals, amateurs and students on various productions played in venues ranging from conventional theatre spaces to site specific settings. He also produced & co-cast every demi-paradise production at Lancaster Castle between 2000 – 2016 and has advised or helped cast projects with colleagues elsewhere.
Directed A Man for all Seasons by Robert Bolt (2009) The Crucible by Arthur Miller (2007), and The Rivals by R.B.Sheridan (2001) for Brewery Theatre Company at Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal. Also designed the sets for these productions. Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker (2004) with Performing Arts students at Cumbria Institute of the Arts. (Now University of Cumbria).
Ghostly Tales (2009-16) at Lancaster Castle for demi-paradise. Produced and directed eight sepoarate readings of classic and contemporary ghost stories read by company of four actors in candle lit rooms for a promenade audience of up to 120.
Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly (2000-2016) Produced all shows (including corporate versions for Thwaites Brewery at Hoghton Tower) Also compiled and directed one (2003).
Richard III – On Trial for Murder by Michael Bennett. (2007) Interactive courtroom dramatised trial of the famous king for murder of his nephews ‘The Princes in the Tower’, held in the Shire Hall courtroom of Lancaster Castle. Re-mounted the production as a rehearsed reading with a group of Cat.C. (medium security) inmates of HMP Lancaster Castle in association with the prison’s Writer-in-Residence, Ann-Marie Michel (2009)
‘Richard III – On Trial for Murder’
Commissioned writer Sue McCormick & produced Blood Red Roses, the dark history of Lancaster Castle, a words and music presentation for five actor/readers and two musicians, for demi-paradise in 2002, directed by Ian Blower. Also appeared in it.
‘Blood Red Roses’ Company 2002
Measure for Measure (2001) & Richard II (2000). Two full scale professional site specific indoor promenade productions with live music in Lancaster Castle’s Crown Court, Shire Hall, old prison cells and Hadrian’s Tower for an audience of 60.
In rehearsal for ‘Measure for Measure’
Cumbria College of Art & Design/English Heritage/ Cumbria County Council (1997) Site specific theatre in education production at Carlisle Castle. Co-devised and directed a term-long student interdisciplinary project, culminating in the recreation of historical life in three sites within the castle for a local primary schools ‘living history’ project.
Casting Consultancy. Apart from his own productions Stephen has cast, or assisted in casting, actors for other theatre companies. One such project was the medieval Carlisle Mystery Plays, re-written for a contemporary audience by Robert Leach, staged promenade style inside Carlisle Cathedral in August 2004, and again in 2007, on behalf of Writing on Water.
STEPHEN TOMLIN 
