Short Biography
Soon after graduating from The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, Steve performed in the 2007 'Perrier' award-winning comedy show, "So I Suppose This is Offensive Now" alongside Brendon Burns at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The show has since toured to many locations including Glasgow Comedy Festival, the Montreal 'Just for Laughs' Festival and to London's West-End at the prestigious Garrick and Duchess Theatres (filmed for DVD and TV's Comedy Central).
In 2008, he played a significant role in the primetime ITV drama, "Stockwell", which follows the police on the day of the tragic shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. In 2009, he played the lead role of Skinner in The Peter Hall Company's production of Michael Frayn's farce, "Balmoral", replacing Rik Mayall who had to withdraw from the production due to illness. In 2010, Frayn asked Steve to perform the world premiere of his adaptation of Chekhov's short story, "Plots", as part of Hampstead Theatre's "Jubilee for Anton Chekhov". Other presenters/performers included: Dame Eileen Atkins, Rosamund Bartlett, William Boyd, Richard Eyre, Ralph Fiennes, William Fiennes, Michael Frayn, David Hare, David Horovitch, Miriam Margolyes, Michael Pennington, Rosamund Pike, Lynne Truss and Penelope Wilton.
Steve appeared in series 2 and 3 of the sketch show Comedy Cuts (ITV) and regularly performs on the London comedy circuit as one half of double act, McNeil and Pamphilon. They have filmed a number of their sketches for Warner Bros' ComedyBox and Wordia (see videos page), and currently have a sitcom in development, "End To End", with Monkey Productions, which won the 2009 Sitcom Trials Grand Final at Leicester Square Theatre. They recently performed together in the short film, "The Office Orphan", which has been shortlisted from over 1000 entries for the Short Film Award at the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival, and will be taking their debut full-length show, "Addicted To Danger!", to the Pleasance Dome at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August.
Other shows Steve has been involved in include the UK premiere of Christopher Durang's "Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Xmas Binge", the critically-acclaimed Fringe Musical, "Failed States", "Big White Fog" at the Almeida, and the development of a new play with John Godber at Hull Truck.
Full Biography
Introduction
Steve trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, and was recognised as The Stage's "Critic's Choice" for his performance in their graduation showcase. In London, he has performed at venues including the New Wimbledon, the Pleasance, the Etcetera, the Albany, the Almeida, the Arts, the Soho, the Leicester Square Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, the Criterion, the Duchess and the Garrick in London's West End. Further afield, he has devised a new play with Hull Truck, worked at West Yorkshire Playhouse's International Storytelling Festival and been a regular panel member in improvised comedy show, "Whose Turn Is It Anyway?". He has been directed by Michael Attenborough, Alan Strachan, Michael Pennington and John Godber, and can be seen in the Motion Pictures "The Life of David Gale" and "The Other Boleyn Girl" (if your DVD player has a particularly good freeze-frame facility!).
Early Career
He began his career with Chickenshed, training as an Actor/Practitioner, and eventually managed their Milton Keynes outreach project, after roles as Composer (co-writing their first full-length musical), Associate Artistic Director and Producer (for a production of "The Tempest" with an 80-strong cast). During his time with Chickenshed he performed at the prestigious music venue, "The Stables", and collaborated as Co-Director with David Glass and his ensemble on their "Sense of Place" project at Milton Keynes Theatre. Around this time he also wrote an adaptation of Shakespeare's "As You Like It", which was performed on BBC Radio, and played a small part in an episode of National Geographic's "Seconds From Disaster", in addition to a number of independent films.
First Successes
He performed at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Fesitval in the acclaimed new musical, "Failed States" (5 stars: British Theatre Guide and Financial Times, 4 stars: The Scotsman and The Guardian). Having played guitar as an actor-musician in "Failed States", he also taught himself piano for his performance in the UK Premiere of Christopher Durang's "Mrs Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge". Described as "a talented and accomplished performer, definitely one to watch" by Tim Arthur (Comedy Editor of Time Out magazine), he performed alongside Tom Basden, Dan Antopolski and Ian Puleston-Davies in seven episodes of the second series of ITV's Sketch Show, "Comedy Cuts". Steve was then asked back for the third series, where he was directed by Cal McCrystal, performing alongside Scott Capurro.
The IF.Comedy (aka "Perrier Award") Winning Show
In 2007 and 2008, Steve performed in various incarnations of the 2007 IF.Comedy (formerly The 'Perrier' Award) winning show, "So I Suppose This Is Offensive Now?", produced by Off The Kerb, alongside stand-up comedian Brendon Burns. After receiving the award from Christian Slater and the previous year's winner, Phil Nichol, the show was performed in a number of locations, including stints at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (culminating in a celebratory performance at the 700-seater Pleasance Grand), London (West End Run), Glasgow Comedy Festival and at 2008's Montreal "Just For Laughs" Comedy Festival as part of the prestigious "Flying Solo" series. The show was filmed in Summer 2008 for DVD and a TV Special for Comedy Central by Open Mike Productions and the team capped off their successful year by presenting the 2008 IF.Comedy awards to that year's winners, David O' Doherty and Sarah Millican, alongside host, Clive James.
"Steve has comic timing and instincts that cannot be taught. I say this with no hyperbole: I could not have won the award without him." - Brendon Burns
Stockwell (ITV)
Having spent a large part of the last twelve months working in comedy, he was pleased to return to "serious acting", playing the significant role of "Pat" in the primetime ITV drama, "Stockwell", which follows the police on the day of the tragic shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.
"One of the best television programmes I have seen in a long time...It's a marvellous piece of work. I can't commend it highly enough." - Gillian Reynolds MBE, Sunday Brunch, BBC Radio 2
The Peter Hall Company/Rik Mayall/Michael Frayn
Most recently, Steve played the lead role of Skinner in The Peter Hall Company's production of Michael Frayn's farce, "Balmoral" (4 stars: whatsonstage.com), replacing Rik Mayall who had to withdraw from the production due to illness.
"Steve took over one of the leading parts in my play Balmoral at about two days notice, when Rik Mayall had to withdraw, was instantly on top of it, and gave a terrific performance which I found completely convincing. And I know that the director and everyone in the company found him a great pleasure to work with." - Michael Frayn, Multiple Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright
Frayn recently asked Steve to perform the world premiere of his adaptation of Chekhov's short story, "Plots", as part of Hampstead Theatre's "Jubilee for Anton Chekhov". Other presenters/performers included: Dame Eileen Atkins, Rosamund Bartlett, William Boyd, Richard Eyre, Ralph Fiennes, William Fiennes, Michael Frayn, David Hare, David Horovitch, Miriam Margolyes, Michael Pennington, Rosamund Pike, Lynne Truss and Penelope Wilton.
"Plots, the fantasies of a doctor...is vividly performed by Steve McNeil. Frayn, who translated the pieces, presides over the evening. It offers the perfect curtain-raiser to a stellar week by reminding us that, even in farcical trifles, Chekhov intimated his genius." - Michael Billington, The Guardian
McNeil and Pamphilon, Comedy Writing/Performing
Steve regularly performs self-penned sketch comedy with co-writer Sam Pamphilon on the London circuit, and has filmed a number of their sketches for MySpace Comedy (formerly Warner Bros' ComedyBox) and Wordia.com. Steve and Sam are also currently developing a number of sitcom ideas, including "Totally Garnish!", and "End To End" with Monkey Productions, which won the 2009 Sitcom Trials Grand Final at Leicester Square Theatre. They recently performed together in the short film, "The Office Orphan", which has been shortlisted from over 1000 entries for the Short Film Award at the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival, and will be taking their debut full-length show, "Addicted To Danger!", to the Pleasance Dome at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August.
Other Notable Work
You can see Steve in the pre-recorded elements of Isabel Fay's 2008 Show, "Don't Let A Gift Horse In The House". He recently completed his first professional presenting role on the new "Empower" DVD for Energie Fitness Clubs. Alongside all of the above, Steve has been involved in a number of rehearsed readings (highlights including productions for the "Pleasance" and "White Bear" Theatres, and an ITV (now BBC) Sit-com Pilot, "White Van Man").