Starting out at the National Student Drama Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe, Ben worked for various South West based hire companies before a slightly terrifying stint in outdoor arts with The World Famous – making large format fire, fireworks and experiential theatre. In 2013 he joined the Albany in South East London where he was Head of Production and then Technical Director, including a stint as co-producer for Lewisham, London Borough of Culture in 2022. In 2024 he joined Lamp & Pencil as Head of Projects & Engagement working on a wide variety of West End, National and International Theatre projects, before moving to Steeldeck Rentals in 2026. He has been creating opportunities for diverse early career technicians throughout his working life and Ben seeks to expand the platforms created like the Virtual Ideas Platform, Apprenticeship pathfinder groups and the Production Managers Forum to enable the ABTT to engage with all.
Trustee: Ben Stephen & Chair Communications and Publications Committee
Trustee: Ben Stephen & Chair Communications and Publications Committee
Ben has been a professional theatre technician for over 25 years and an active member of the ABTT Safety Committee for 10 years. Ben is the General Manager at Steeldeck Rentals having previously worked as a Technical Director, Production Manager, Technician and even occasionally a producer!
Ben Stephen, ABTT TrusteeI strongly feel that formal qualifications or traditional backgrounds are not required to be successful in our Industry, and that success relies on opportunity, passion, dedication and aptitude. Our industry can be so much more accessible to all and our natural generosity of experience backstage can be shared more widely and democratically.