{{Short description|South African theatre director and writer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Steven Dexter | image = File:Steven Dexter Theatre Director.jpg | caption = Dexter in 2012 | birth_name = Steven Dexter | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1962|8|26}} | birth_place = South Africa | occupation = Theatre Director | years_active = 1983–present | alma_mater = London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, London }}
'''Steven Dexter''' (born August 26, 1962) is a theatre director and writer.
==Early life== Dexter was born in South Africa, then he moved to London in 1984 and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
== West End productions == In 2003 he directed both ''Peter Pan'' and ''The Pirates of Penzance'', playing in repertoire at the Savoy Theatre, London.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-08 |title="Peter Pan" & "Pirates of Penzance" in rep at Savoy from 15 Dec 03 with Anthony Head |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/peter-pan-pirates-of-penzance-in-rep-at-savoy-from-15-dec-03-with-anthony-head |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=London Theatre |language=en}}</ref>
His production of ''La Cava'' (book by Dana Broccoli, lyrics by John Claflin and Shaun McKenna, music by Laurence O'Keefe and Stephen Keeling) transferred from the Churchill Theatre, Bromley to the Victoria Palace Theatre, London, in 2000, transferring to the Piccadilly Theatre in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.curtainup.com/cava.html|title = A CurtainUp London Review, la Cava the Musical}}</ref>
In October 2012 his production of Loserville transferred to the Garrick Theatre, London, in a co-production between Kevin Wallace Productions, West Yorkshire Playhouse, TC Beech and Youth Music Theatre UK (now British Youth Music Theatre).
As a book writer, he co-wrote ''Maddie'', (with Shaun McKenna, music by Stephen Keeling), produced by Kenny Wax Productions,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kennywax.com/musicals.html |title=Kenny Wax: Musicals |publisher=KennyWax.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716171910/http://www.kennywax.com/musicals.html |archive-date=2010-07-16 }}</ref> which transferred to the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue in 1997 and he directed ''Romance / Romance'', which transferred to the Gielgud Theatre, London, in the same year.
== Other productions ==
He directed the world premiere and 2007 revival of the Olivier Award winning musical ''Honk!'' at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080706175351/http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/19028/honk- thestage.co.uk] </ref> In Derby he directed the world premiere of ''The Pros, The Cons and a Screw'' in 2009.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110611122836/http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/26112/the-pros-the-cons-and-a-screw thestage.co.uk] </ref> Also in 2009, he directed the world premiere of a new musical, ''Loserville: The Musical'' for Youth Music Theatre UK, written by James Bourne and Elliot Davis.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2009/08/21/40835-loserville-is-a-big-winner/ |title=Loserville is a big winner - News - Roundup - Articles - Bracknell News |access-date=2010-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826150056/http://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2009/08/21/40835-loserville-is-a-big-winner |archive-date=2009-08-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
He directed a reimagined, 6 hander production of Pippin at a pop up theatre called the Garden Theatre (2020) which transferred to the Charing Cross Theatre with a cast of 8 by request of Stephen Schwartz in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pippin at Charing Cross Theatre |url=https://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/theatre/pippin |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=Charing Cross Theatre}}</ref>
Dexter worked extensively for the Habima Theatre, the Israeli National Theatre, directing ''Honk!'' (2000), ''Mary-Lou'' (2002), ''The Full Monty'' (2003), ''Shirley Valentine'' (2005) and ''High School Musical'' (2008).<ref>{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/jerusalem-post/mi_8048/is_20080808/lovin-sabra-style/ai_n47390434/ | work=Jerusalem Post | title=Summer lovin', sabra style | first=David | last=Brinn | year=2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> In Singapore for the Singapore Repertory Company (SRT) he directed ''Forbidden City: Portrait of An Empress'' (2002) (a collaboration with Stephen Clark and Dick Lee)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.srt.com.sg/forbiddencity/ |title=SRT |access-date=2010-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606115032/http://www.srt.com.sg/forbiddencity/ |archive-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>,''Fried Rice Paradise'' (2010).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_486853.html |title=Taufik in new Fried Rice Paradise |website=www.straitstimes.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208214226/http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_486853.html |archive-date=2010-02-08}}</ref> and ''The LKY Musical''<ref>{{Cite web |last=bakchormeeboy |date=2022-09-16 |title=★★★★☆ Review: The LKY Musical (2022) by Aiwei and Singapore Repertory Theatre |url=https://bakchormeeboy.com/2022/09/16/%e2%98%85%e2%98%85%e2%98%85%e2%98%85%e2%98%86-review-the-lky-musical-2022-by-aiwei-and-singapore-repertory-theatre/ |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=Bakchormeeboy |language=en}}</ref> which had runs in 2015 and 2022 at the Marina Bay Sands Theatre. It also won 3 Straits Times Life Awards including Best Production.
== References == <references/>
== External links == *{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2007/dec/03/theatre|title=Honk! Review|work=The Guardian|date=3 December 2007|first=Lyn|last=Gardner}} *{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=209&name=Steven+Dexter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616043951/http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=209&name=Steven+Dexter|archive-date=16 June 2011|work=What's On Stage|title=Steven Dexter Profile}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dexter, Steven}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:South African dramatists and playwrights Category:South African theatre directors Category:Writers from Cape Town