The University of West London

 
 
Stephen grew up in Totnes, Devon, where there was not much to do apart from reading, cycling and playing rugby. But he also climbed Henry Moore statues at nearby Dartington Hall and got invited to play-readings and back-stage work there.

Then his horizons widened, reading English Language and Literature at Oxford, followed by further study at Rice University in Houston on a Fulbright Scholarship.

He came back from the USA to a career in London: teaching at inner London schools, and then at Middlesex Polytechnic where he became Head of English. He completed his PhD part-time at University College London.

During this time, drama increasingly occupied his interest and in the mid-80s he moved to the Central School of Speech and Drama as Deputy Principal, to teach and to oversee its academic affairs.

In the 90s, after a year teaching in a New York high school at the invitation of a long-time American friend, he wanted to move on, and headed to Singapore to work at the National Institute of Education.

As leader of drama at NIE, he developed the drama education programmes and established practical theatre courses for the faculties of the university to which NIE belongs, the Nanyang Technological University.

He regularly directed in the theatre built for the department, and for outside companies. This embraced devised as well as published work, such as a Singaporean take on Boccaccio’s Decameron for a festival in Italy.

In due course, he became Head of Visual and Performing Arts. He also began work in the region as an examiner for London College of Music Examinations.

In 2007, the time came for a return to the UK, and in 2008, as part of a freelance portfolio, he became the Chief Examiner in Drama and Communication for LCME, where he hopes progressively to expand the range of awards - in practical communication and interactive skills as well as in drama-generated work - and to serve the needs of students in the UK and internationally, with an increasing commitment to the cultures local to the students.

Contact Stephen Hazell

Tel: 020 8231 2362

e-mail: stephen.hazell@uwl.ac.uk