Stephen Warbeck

Born in Southampton in 1953, Stephen Warbeck began studying piano and composing at the

age of four. His parents were keen amateur musicians who encouraged Stephen to pursue

his musical talents. By his mid-teens, Stephen developed an affinity for rock 'n' roll as well as

for theatre. He studied Drama and French at Bristol University, and began his career at the

Theatre Royal, Stratford East, as a musician and actor.

Some of Stephen's most notable stage productions include the National Theatre's An

Inspector Calls, and Welcome to Thebes, John Madden's production of Proof , Sam Mendes'

production of To The Green Fields Beyond, both at the Donmar, and The White Devil for the

Royal Shakespeare Company. He has written for several shows at the Almeida, including

Measure for Measure, The Triumph Of Love, Parlour Song and When The Rain Stops Falling.

Stephen recently collaborated with Ian Rickson on Jerusalem at the Royal Court and The

Children's Hour at the Comedy Theatre.

After eight years of working as a composer and performer for the stage, Stephen began

writing music for film and television. Since the early 1980's, Stephen has built up a

considerable filmography. As well as writing music for more than forty television projects, (for

which he has received five BAFTA nominations, including one for the highly successful series

Prime Suspect), he has scored many feature films including Un Balcon Sur Le Mer (2010),

The Other Man (2008), Proof (2004), Two Brothers (2004), Charlotte Grey (2001), Mrs. Brown

(1997), Mystery Men (1999), Quills (2000), Billy Elliot (2000), Captain Corelli's Mandolin

(2001), Birthday Girl (2002), and Shakespeare In Love (1998), for which he won an Academy

Award. Forthcoming films include There Be Dragons, Meant to Be and Killing Bono.

In addition to composing for film, stage and television, Stephen has written music for

numerous radio plays, and is a founder member of the anarchic pub band The hKippers, for

whom he composes and performs. He has his own ensemble and another small band called

The Metropolitan Water Board. Stephen has written several concert pieces, Peter Pan is his

first ballet score.

****NB – the band is called the hKippers. It is a silent 'h'!