Stephen Critchlow
| Stephen Critchlow | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, UK |
Stephen Critchlow is an English actor, notable for his work in the theatre and appearances on radio series such as Truly, Madly, Bletchley, The Way We Live Right Now and Spats, along with radio episodes of Torchwood (Lost Souls) and Doctor Who (The Nowhere Place). He has also appeared in Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! as Kenneth Horne and is currently appearing in the West End version of The 39 Steps.
Early life
Critchlow was born in the late 1960s in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, a mining and brewing town. He was Trained as an actor at Mountview Drama School in London and completed his studies in 1990.
Theatre
Known in the theatre world as "Critch" or "The Critch", he has worked in theatre all over Britain. Beginning in repertory, he went on to perform in A Christmas Carol, When We Are Married and The Relapse (Birmingham Rep) and Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night (Theatre Royal, Northampton). His West End work includes Hamlet, with Paul Darrow, directed by Sir Peter Hall CBE (Gielgud Theatre); Pygmalion, directed by Ray Cooney (Albery Theatre). Also played in Cyrano De Bergerac at Royal National Theatre directed by Howard Davis.
Starred as Kenneth Horne in Round the Horne Revisited at the Leicester Square Theatre, and subsequently performed in the play around the UK on tour. He lists this as his favourite theatre job.
Returned to the theatre in the West End to appear as one of four actors in The 39 Steps, a stage production of the film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on the novel by John Buchan and adapted by Patrick Barlow at the Criterion Theatre on Piccadilly Circus. The play involves the four actors playing all the 150 characters in the Hitchcock film which involves lightning quick costume and character changes.
Television
Has performed in many British television programmes and commercials. These include: Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Prince and the Pauper, Cider With Rosie, Heartbeat as Leonard Parks and Adrian Pym, Monarch of the Glen, Trial & Retribution 1, 2 and 3, The Vice, The Bill, Blue Murder, The Armando Iannucci Show, The Thieving Headmistress, The Antique Rogues Show, Skins and The Cut.
He reprised his role as Kenneth Horne in Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! - a BBC film drama about the life and death of the legendary British comedy icon Kenneth Williams. He played Carry On director Gerald Thomas in the 2011 biopic Hattie.
He was also involved in a Korean cartoon series that was broadcast on CBBC in 2009 called Rocket Boy and Toro. He was the voice of Rocket Boy's arch nemesis, Dr. Square.
Radio
A prolific radio actor, he has acted in over 200 BBC Radio Drama productions during three spells with the BBC Radio Drama Company. He has worked in all areas of the medium - Book at Bedtime, readings, light entertainment, schools radio, Woman's Hour, classic serials, radio plays, science fiction and Shakespeare. He has played everything from Siamese fishermen to Macushi Indians. Notable performances were in radio episodes of Torchwood (Lost Souls) and Doctor Who (The Nowhere Place), Truly, Madly, Bletchley, The Way We Live Right Now, My Turn to Make the Tea and Spats. He played the part of Stephen in the long running BBC Radio Drama The Archers.
Film
Appeared in Fogbound, The Calcium Kid, Churchill; The Hollywood Years and A Way Through The Woods.