Ben Lewis

Writer for theatre, TV, film and radio.

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Biography

Ben is an award-winning writer for theatre, TV, film and radio.

He was part of Channel 4’s screenwriting programme for emerging screenwriters developing a new drama project called The Sticks which is in development with Neal Street. He is also currently writing comedies for Channel 4 and the BBC.

Ben is joint artistic director of award-winning theatre company Inspector Sands, co-creating work which has toured extensively in the UK, to venues including the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre, the Traverse and the Lyric Hammersmith, and internationally to countries including the USA, Korea, China, Armenia and Russia. 

He created the music theatre show My Name Is Sue (Total Theatre Award) with Dafydd James, as well as its sequel Sue: The Second Coming (Soho Theatre/Bristol Old Vic). The pair have also written and toured a new musical The Village Social (National Theatre of Wales) which is currently being redeveloped.

Ben is also a theatre director.


CV

Theatre

Writer

The Lounge
Producer Inspector Sands
Director Lu Kemp
 

A dangerously unstable farce about growing old. 

Sumerhall in Edinburgh Festival 2016
 
Don Quixote
Producer Oran Mor for A Play, A Pie and A Pint
Director Lu Kemp
 
 
Shangri La
 
New play about a family.
Soho Theatre
 
Rock Pool
Producer Inspector Sands
 

UK touring production for children commissioned by Farnham Maltings. Co-written and co-created with Lucinka Eisler and Guilia Innocenti. 

 
Mass Observation
Producer Inspector Sands
Director Lu Kemp
Starring
  • Lucinka Eisler
  • Stephen Harper
  • Giulia Innocenti
  • Amanda Lawrence
    •  
    Co-written and co-created with Lucinka Eisler and Giulia Innocenti. New show about legacy, the war, stiff upper lips, the dawn of the information age and the inevitability of death
    Almeida
     
    If That's All There Is
    Winner: Edinburgh International Fringe Festival Award 2009
    Producer Inspector Sands
    Starring
  • Lucinka Eisler
  • Giulia Innocenti
  • Ben Lewis
    •  
    Co-written and co-created with Lucinka Eisler and Giulia Innocenti. A couple are teetering on the brink of marriage. As the happiest day of their lives approaches, the panic begins to rise.
    Traverse Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith, National, US & China Tour
     
    Hysteria
    Winner: Total Theatre Award 2006
    Producer Inspector Sands
    Starring
  • Lucinka Eisler
  • Giulia Innocenti
  • Ben Lewis
    •  
    Co-written and co-created with Lucinka Eisler and Giulia Innocenti. A man and a woman are on the most awkward dinner date of their lives. Caught in the middle is their mortified waiter.
    South Bank Centre, BAC, Aurora Nova, National & International Tour
     

    Writer & Director

    Top Secret
    Producer Inspector Sands
     
    An undercover detective audio-trial for 4-6 year olds.
     
    The Ushers
     
    Comedy about two ushers co-created and co-written with People Can Run
    Edinburgh Festival
     
    My Name is Sue
    Winner of the Total Theatre Award for Music and Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival, 2009
    Starring
  •  
    Co-created and written with Dafydd James
    Edinburgh Festival, Soho Theatre, National Tour
     
    The Village Social
    Starring
  • Carys Eleri
  • Rebecca Harries
  • Darren Lawrence
  • Sue Roderick
    •  
    New musical co-created and written with Dafydd James
    National Theatre of Wales
     
    Sue: The Second Coming
    Starring
  •  
    Sue's back
    Soho Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Chapter Arts Centre
     
    A High Street Odyssey
    Producer Inspector Sands
    Starring
  • Lucinka Eisler
  • Guilia Innocenti
  •  

    Co-written and co-created with Lucinka Eisler and Guilia Innocenti this is a promenade audio-guide to the Great British High Street.

    National Theatre 'Watch this Space', Without Walls, Greenwich+Docklands Festival and Watford Palace Theatre
     

    TV

    Writer & Creator

    The Sticks
     

    New supernatural drama project. 

    Neal St.
    In Development
     
    Outlaws
     

    Comedy about highwaymen for Hartswood Films. 

    Hartswood for BBC 3
     
    Felons
     
    Hat Trick
     
    Get Together
     
    New comedy co-written with Rob Evans
    BBC
     

    Writer

    Skivvies
     
    Fly Films for Channel 4
     
    Psychobitches - Series 2
    6 x 30'
    Starring
  • Rebecca Front
  • Frances Barber
  • Sharon Horgan
  • Katy Brand
    •  
    Tiger Aspect for Sky
     

    Radio

    Writer

    Romance Is Dead
    1 x 45'
    2017
    Director Kirsty Williams
     
    Production Company BBC Radio 4
     
    The Meet Cute
    2014
    Director Lu Kemp
    Starring
  • MacKenzie Crook
  • Rosie Cavaliero
    •  

    Broadcaster BBC Radio 4
     
    Blue Sky Thinking
    1 x 45'
    2009
    Director Kirsty Williams
    Starring
  • Samuel Roukin
  • Nicola Stapleton
    •  
    Psychological thriller

    Broadcaster BBC Radio 4
     
    Tiny
    1 x 45'
    2010
    Director Kirsty Williams
    Starring
  • Joshua Jenkins
  • Julia McKenzie
  • Mark Heap
    •  
    A lonely teenager becomes a pirate radio sensation

    Broadcaster BBC Radio 4
     
    Dates
    4 x 15'
    2011
     
    Comedy series co-written with Catherine Shepherd

    Broadcaster BBC Radio 4
    In development
     

    Film

    Creator & Writer

    Happy Birthday
     
    Co-written with Sophie Fletcher and Kieran Fay. Three cleaners go to great lengths to treat their supervisor on her birthday.
    People Can Run
     
    If That's All There Is
    Producer Inspector Sands
    Director Louise Hooper
     
    Film version of the award-winning play
    In post-production