Stephen Speed


Born in Lancashire, Stephen started his dance training at the Royal Ballet School.
In his first year there, Rudolph Nureyev chose him to be the Drummer Boy in his new production of The Nutcracker, for the Royal Ballet Company.
During the rest of his training, at White Lodge & the Upper School, Stephen would work with the Company, becoming Margot Fonteyn’s ‘page’ in numerous productions.
Whilst a student Stephen was chosen to have one of the new solo dances created on him, choreographed by Sir David Blair, for the Adeline Genee Gold Award.
After graduating into the Royal Ballet Company, he had the good fortune to work for and dance with such names as Sir Frederic Ashton, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Sir Peter Wright, Leonide Massine, Lynn Seymour, Wayne Sleep, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Rudolph Nureyev, Natalia Makarova.

Stephen moved into Musical Theatre where he appeared with Tommy Steele, Bonnie Langford, Linda Barron, Russ Abbott. In other areas, he has played alongside Sally Anne Howes, Neil Bartlett, Emma Thompson, Joel Grey, Cliff Richard, Keira Knightly & Dr. Who.
He performed for many seasons with the English National Opera, having solo roles in many productions, notably The Blue Dragonfly in Janacek’s ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’, which he also danced for the Royal Opera, in Simon Rattle’s debut for that company choreographed by Dr. Stuart Hopps & Jonathan Miller’s ‘Mikado’, for which production he is the Revival Choreographer.

Stephen has assisted choreographers in film, theatre & TV. And choreographed in his own right, in most media.

THEATRE

2 pantomimes – Theatre Royal, Norwich
Cabaret – Tynewear Theatre Co.
Hans Andersen – tour
West Side Story – Theatre Royal, York
Peter Pan – tour & London
Thin Ice Theatre Co. @ The Canal Café Theatre, London
The Big Picnic – Glasgow
Night After Night – tour U.K. & U.S. + London & BBC Radio recording
Little Me – West End
Hamlet – tour U.K. & Europe
The Indian Queen – Schwetzinger Festival
Pickwick – Opera House, Manchester

OPERA

6 seasons with the English National Opera including:
Original cast – Jonathan Miller’s Mikado
Blue Dragonfly – Cunning Little Vixen
Tosca
Aida
Christmas Eve
Pirates of Penzance

Blue Dragonfly – Simon Rattles’ premier/ production of
Cunning Little Vixen for The Royal Opera, Covent Garden

TELEVISION

Old Men at the Zoo
Dawn
Dr. Who
The Two Ronnies
Lipstick On Your Collar
Pride & Prejudice
Emma
Cunning Little Vixen
The Big Picnic
Television Commercials – U.K. & International

FILMS

Charlotte Gray
Carrington
Frankenstein
Pride & Prejudice
Sense & Sensibility
Hope & Glory

Stephen travels internationally to revive the choreography of the E.N.O. production of Jonathan Miller’s Mikado.
He is also an Examiner and Assessor of Dance & Musical Theatre schools for Trinity College, London.

Past productions

Tools

Photographs

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Photo credits