Simon Stephens
AN ARK Starring Ian McKellen, Golda Rosheuvel and More Extends at The Shed (Feb 17, 2026)
Review: THE CHILDREN at West End Players Guild is Fascinating, Well Directed, and Exquisitely Acted (Feb 16, 2026)
Video: Ian McKellen Performs Shakespeare Monologue on THE LATE SHOW (Feb 5, 2026)
BIO
Simon Stephens is a prolific British playwright with an impressive list of credits both on and off Broadway. Born in Stockport, England in 1971, Stephens began his career as a teacher before turning to playwriting in the late 1990s.
Stephens' first major success came with his play "Herons," which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 2001. The play, which tells the story of a teenage boy who seeks revenge against a group of bullies, was praised for its raw, uncompromising depiction of youth violence. It won the 2002 Olivier Award for Best New Play and established Stephens as a major new voice in British theatre.
Since then, Stephens has continued to write plays that explore the darker side of human nature. His work often deals with themes of isolation, grief, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. Some of his most notable plays include "Pornography," which examines the impact of the 7/7 bombings on the people of London, and "Birdland," which explores the life of a rock star struggling with addiction and fame.
Stephens' work has been produced at some of the most prestigious theatres in the world, including the National Theatre, the Royal Court, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has also had several successful productions on Broadway, including "Heisenberg," which premiered in 2016.
In addition to his work in theatre, Stephens has also written for television and film. He wrote the screenplay for the 2008 film "A Respectable Trade," which was based on the novel by Philippa Gregory. He has also written for popular TV shows such as "Holby City" and "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," which was adapted from his own novel of the same name.
Stephens' most recent work includes the play "The Funfair," which premiered at the Manchester International Festival in 2017.
Photos
(l-r) Neil Pepe (Director, Artistic Director), Mark Eitzel (Music & Lyrics),
Jordan Lage (Daniel McCourt), Norbert Leo Butz (Jacob), Simon Stephens (Book), Gizel Jiménez (Misty), Mary Beth Peil (Sarah), Hope Boykin (Choreographer), Ben Rosenfield (John), Lena Pepe (Patti), Esteban Andres Cruz (Philip),
Kevyn Morrow (Marty) and George Abud (William) and Simone Allen (Conductor)
From: Photos: Inside Opening Night of CORNELIA STREET Off-Broadway
Productions
Writing
Awards and Nominations
Simon Stephens, Sea Wall/A Life
winner
Simon Stephens, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
winner
Simon Stephens, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Simon Stephens, Punk Rock
winner
Simon Stephens, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
winner
Simon StephensOn The Shore Of The Wide World
Simon StephensHerons
Videos
Video: Ian McKellen Shares Love of Live Theater and Previews New Projects on THE LATE SHOW
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-02-05 12:43:56
Video: Andrew Scott Runs From VANYA Curtain Call to Screening in Costume
by Michael Major - 2025-03-28 10:10:45
VIDEO: Edie Falco & Company Get Ready for the World Premiere of MTC's MORNING SUN
by Nicole Rosky - 2021-10-17 15:00:20
VIDEO: Cynthia Erivo Performs 'The Good' on THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT!
by Sarah Leiber - 2021-06-08 09:51:05
VIDEO: Cynthia Erivo Talks About Playing Aretha Franklin on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!
by Sarah Leiber - 2021-01-19 09:29:57
BWW Flashback: Celebrate Cynthia Erivo's Birthday With A Look Back At THE COLOR PURPLE's Opening Night!
by Linnae Medeiros - 2020-01-08 11:52:18
VIDEO: Watch Cynthia Erivo Perform a Tribute to Earth, Wind, and Fire at the 42ND ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS
by Sarah Leiber - 2019-12-16 20:25:46
VIDEO: Watch Cynthia Erivo Talk About Playing Harriet Tubman on LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN!
by Sarah Leiber - 2019-10-24 21:31:38
TV: Go Inside Opening Night of SEA WALL/ A LIFE with Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge!
by TV - Opening Night Special - 2019-08-09 13:42:16
VIDEO: Jake Gyllenhaal Talks Not Being Nervous for SEA WALL / A LIFE
by Kaitlin Milligan - 2019-07-23 08:37:14
VIDEO: Jake Gyllenhaal Says Love Conquers All in SEA WALL / A LIFE
by Kaitlin Milligan - 2019-07-19 14:27:36
VIDEO: Jake Gyllenhaal Sings Whitney Houston Parody on THE LATE LATE SHOW
by Kaitlin Milligan - 2019-06-19 09:11:10
TV: Jake Gyllenhaal & Tom Sturridge Explain What SEA WALL/ A LIFE Is All About!
by Nicole Rosky - 2019-06-06 09:25:20
VIDEO: SEA WALL/A LIFE's Jake Gyllenhaal Shows Off Musical Ability on ELLEN
by Kaitlin Milligan - 2019-05-08 11:33:55
VIDEO: Jake Gyllenhaal Stopped Performance of SEA WALL/A LIFE To Give Water to a Coughing Audience Member
by Stephi Wild - 2019-02-20 07:25:14
VIDEO: Jake Gyllenhaal Was Warned Not to do the Monologue in His Upcoming Off-Broadway Show
by Kaitlin Milligan - 2019-01-18 10:48:59
VIDEO: Michael Russotto and Rachel Zampelli Lead HEISENBERG at Signature Theatre
by Alan Henry - 2018-09-21 12:09:55
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 17, 2026
The Shed will present extension of An Ark, starring Ian McKellen and more, as the first play created for and in mixed reality continues to engage audiences in new ways.
by James Lindhorst - Feb 16, 2026
Lucy Kirkwood’s play The Children is fascinating and compelling. Her script prompts discussion about corporate responsibility, what accountability an organization’s employees should own, and how tragic circumstances force people to face personal transgressions and the fallout from their poor decisions.
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 5, 2026
Stage and screen legend Ian McKellen sat down with Stephen Colbert during a recent episode of The Late Show for an extended interview covering his long career as a performer. Check it out now.
by Howard Sherman - Feb 3, 2026
As I have twice had occasion in real life to sit, essentially, knee to knee with Ian McKellen, my encounter with his digital doppelganger at The Shed was perhaps somewhat less singular than it was for most attendees of An Ark. I have encountered Sir Ian in three palpable dimensions and in those instances he was able to shake my hand and pass me a cup of tea, rather than simply smiling benevolently from across a shallow void.
by Robert Bannon - Jan 30, 2026
Todd Eckert joins The Roundtable for a BroadwayWorld Exclusive conversation about An Ark at The Shed, the bold mixed-reality theatrical experience redefining what live performance can be. Watch in this video!
by - Jan 26, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is January 26, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed over the weekend.
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 23, 2026
An Ark, the first play created for and in mixed reality, makes its world premiere at The Shed. Written by Olivier and Tony Award winner Simon Stephens, directed by UK Theatre Award winner Sarah Frankcom, and produced by mixed reality pioneer Todd Eckert, An Ark is a genre-defying production, transforming universal human experiences into a profoundly intimate theatrical performance. Check out what the critics are saying...
by Stephi Wild - Jan 22, 2026
Taking place on Saturday 7 March 2026 at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, the one-day event is a celebration of new writing, and an exploration of its future, with writers across the country.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 1, 2026
What's happening off-Broadway? BroadwayWorld is here to guide you through the top picks for theatre this month. Start the new year off right with shows featuring big stars, like An Ark with Ian McKellen and more.
by Howard Sherman - Dec 22, 2025
Amidst the welter of Best of and Most lists for 2025, American Theatre magazine took on a wider time horizon in its survey of the most influential theatre titles of the last 25 years, or quarter-century if you prefer. Like any such list, the results are fascinating and immediately provide a foundation for debate, disagreement and discussion, but this was no list cobbled together from the opinions of the magazine’s staff, as is often the case with such efforts, but a genuine survey.
by Shari Barrett - Dec 2, 2025
Award-winning director Cameron Watson invites us to watch the story of two lost souls looking for human connection who bloom and blossom after randomly meeting in a world that seems to consistently separate them from others into perpetual loneliness.
by Stephi Wild - Nov 24, 2025
All new photos have been released of Paul Eiding and Juls Hoover HEISENBERG, written by Simon Stephens and directed by Cameron Watson. Check out photos here!
by Stephi Wild - Nov 13, 2025
2027 dates have been revealed for the newly announced production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, inspired by the novel and the National Theatre's stage adaptation.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 7, 2025
Paul Eiding and Juls Hoover will star in Brave Space Productions' HEISENBERG, written by Simon Stephens. Through observing and sharing space and time, two people alter each other's trajectories and evolve away from the safety of stasis.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 29, 2025
An Ark, the first play created for and in mixed reality, will make its world premiere next year at The Shed, starring Ian McKellen and more. Learn more about the production here!
by Stephi Wild - Oct 14, 2025
Melting Pot and the Birmingham Rep will co-produce a brand-new staging of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, opening in Birmingham next September before embarking on a major UK tour
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 11, 2025
Heisenberg by Simon Stephens opens November 20 at Skylight Theatre in Los Feliz, directed by Cameron Watson and starring Paul Eiding and Juls Hoover.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 1, 2025
Hampstead Theatre has announced the nine playwrights who will join its acclaimed INSPIRE programme for 2025/6 now led by Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 25, 2025
Manhattan Theater Club has named Nicki Hunter as its next artistic director. Learn more about Hunter and about the changes being made to the organization here!
by Juan-Jose Gonzalez - Sep 5, 2025
La Cubana y Germans de sang encabezan la programación musical del grupo teatral catalán.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Simon Stephens has written 7 shows including The Shining (Author), Harper Regan (Playwright), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Adaptor), Heisenberg (Author), On the Shore of the Wide World (Playwright), Fatherland (Co-Author & Writer), Sea Wall (Author).
Best Play (Tony Awards) for Sea Wall/A Life, Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play (Drama League Awards) for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play (Drama League Awards) for Punk Rock, Best Play (Tony Awards) for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Best New Play (Olivier Awards) for On The Shore Of The Wide World and Most Promising Playwright (Olivier Awards) for Herons .
Simon Stephens has won several prestigious awards, including Outstanding Play at the Drama Desk Awards for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. He also received the Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play at the Drama League Awards for the same show. Additionally, he won Best Play at the Tony Awards for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Best New Play at the Olivier Awards for On The Shore Of The Wide World.
Videos