Stephanie Dale writes plays and audio dramas about contemporary social and political issues. She has also adapted several nineteenth century novels and writes large-scale community plays.
Spinning the Moon
Dorchester Community Plays Association, April 2023.
Set at the end of the 15th century, with a new king on the throne, the manorial system starts to collapse, people cannot afford to eat, and as winter comes, they head to woods. This play is Dorchester's seventh record-breaking play, written for a cast over 100 actors and musicians.
Past Work
Giants on the Hill
Centric Theatre, directed by Peter Cann.
Based on hours of interviews with communities in Leicestershire, Shropshire and Cornwall, this is a tale of two farming brothers and how they choose to manage their land. One believes the future is in wind power, this opinion divides a community.
The Lost Boy
Theatre in the Quarter, directed by Kate McGregor. Music by Matt Baker. The play is set in a working-class coastal town and explores how we treat stranger. ★★★★The Stage: "A beautifully crafted and pertinent new play featuring testimony from real asylum seekers." ★★★★ We are Chester: "Haunting and provoking."
Persuasion
Theatre 6, directed by Kate McGregor. National tour 2018/2019★★★★★ Broadway Baby: "Beautifully fresh."★★★★★ Wirral Globe News: "Warm and inviting."★★★★★ Writebase: "Beautiful. Evocative. Modern."★★★★ NorthWestend: "Austen would be charmed by this adaptation."★★★★ London Theatre1: "A very strong adaptation."★★★★ Henley Standard: "A carefully crafted paean to a timeless author."★★★★ Upper Circle: "Very impressive."★★★★ "Stephanie Dale’s adaptation is faithful, reverential in all the right ways and puts the comedy of manners, etiquette and romantic procedure front and centre.” Liverpool Underlined.
Theatre in the Quarter, directed by Peter Leslie Wild. Music by Matt Baker. "A captivating reimagining of this classic tale. The best of children's stories brought to life." Chester Culture. "The perfect festive treat for all the family... fast-paced and clever reimagining." Cheshire Live. ‘A multi-layered and inventive take on a familiar tale that manages to be both a clever reimagining and a faithful reproduction of Carroll’s fanciful worlds.‘ The Stage ★★★★ "A fantastic festive feast to make your Christmas extra special; absolutely not to be missed." WhatsonStage ★★★★
Centric Theatre, directed by Peter Cann. A solo show based on the diary of Valarian Albernov and his attempt to walk 200 miles across the frozen Kara sea.★★★★Broadway Baby: "An impressive debut from an exciting new company."★★★★★ The Good Review: "It's simply compelling, exhausting and chilling...superb."
Moonfleet
ALRA, and BOVTS, South West Tour. "This classic gripping yarn has everything from smuggling, shipwrecks and a haunted crypt to hidden treasure, vengeance and enduring love. Set on the Dorest coast, lonely orphan John Trenchard is captivated by the story of the ghostly Blackbeard and his lost treasure... This new literary adaptation enthrals with its fast-moving and breathtaking drama."
