Stephen’s “Theatrical History”

All started in my favourite school building, the theatre in Ampleforth College. At age 14 I pestered Algy Haughton so much he let me join the back stage crew a year early than allowed saying; “Sweep the Stage”

It’s a venerable theatre with wooden counterbalanced trapdoor, raked seating, wood panelling, we could fly bits of set, ran sound out of a perch I made and lights from archaic dimmers that could kill you and regularly tried to.

On that subject we also ran 3 arc projector for professional movies with live ‘reel changes.’

Our stage shows ranged from Hamlet, with Rupert Everet and Julian Wadam, to the Dream with an asses head I made, Penny for a Song, with a Flying Ballopn basket and a yearly “Lourdes Concert” review which we toured to girls schools ;-).

At St Andrew University, I was Production Convenor for the Mermaids Society, ran technical production for the St Andrews Festival, put lights and sound on for Richard Stilgo and a Saxophonist who thought we could hear the rhythm in our heads! Experimental theatre of all types including immersive installations.

1987/8 and onwards I made the children cancer videos, later producing videos on cancer care, resuscitation of children and neonates, and safeguarding.

2000 onwards I have worked with Durham High School, the Gala Theater Stage School and Durham School, mostly as technical adviser, stagehand and sometimes designer.

This year I’ve acted as Assistant Director for Durham Schools production of Oliver and we’ve taken a play “Cepacia” for the first time to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August

Stephen’s potted conventional medical CV:

Born in Sunderland, eldest of 4 boys, Dad was a printer; “Edward Thompson Group”, Mam was a Pharmacy Manager, Co-op.

Primary schools in Sunderland; St Bennet’s and St Aidens.

Then went to St Martins and Ampleforth in North Yorkshire.

First University; St Andrews, I graduated in 1980 with a BSc in Medical Science.

This was a linked course to the clinical course in Manchester where I graduated with MB ChB in 1983.

Migrated into Paediatrics quite quickly and trained in Manchester, Sunderland, Newcastle, Stockton, Glasgow, Vancouver, Portsmouth, Southampton and Melbourne.

Fellowship in PICU 1990 British Columbia Children Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.

14 years as a Consultant Paediatrician, Clinical Director and subsequently Designated Doctor for Child Protection in South Tyneside.

Then nearly 8 years as Consultant Paediatrican, Asoociate Medical Director and Designated Doctor for Child Protection in County Durham and Darlington.

North of England Leadership  Acadamy Fellowship 2013

Retired from the NHS at end of May 2018