Stephen Tompkinson - Critical Acclaim

Critical Acclaim

Spamalot Reviews

• Melonie Clarke, The Lady Magazine: "The latest run at The Playhouse in London sees Stephen Tompkinson (a great stage actor we don't get to enjoy often enough) play the part of King Arthur, and what a great king he makes. Tompkinson isn't just a nice face, he can also sing very well and delivered the comedy lines brilliantly. His facial expressions were enough to have me laughing without him even opening his mouth — a joy to watch."
• What's on Stage: Spamalot: "Tompkinson...has always been a fine stage actor we don't see too often, and his Arthur is notable for its comic deftness and deceptive modesty."
• Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph: "TV regular Stephen Tompkinson acquits himself well as Arthur, at once resolute and deadpan."
• Lindsay Watling, London Evening Standard: Singer Javine Hylton said: "Stephen was great . He was busting some hip hop moves at one point."
• Carys Jones, Entertainment Focus: "Stephen Tompkinson as King Arthur is fantastic and he truly delivers in this role....He has that rare ability to make it look as though he is improvising...and he is utterly believable and fun."
• John Wood, Blog Author: "Stephen Tomkinson was superb.... gave King Arthur a lot more depth and emotion than he is usually played."

Kim Francis, Bracknell Forest Standard: "It's fair to say that the success has enjoyed in his television career is unrivalled."

Andy Richardson, Shropshire Star: "Finally, there’s the most elusive category of all: TV that is both commercially successful and critically acclaimed. Such works have artistic integrity and somehow work their way into the popular consciousness....The British actor Stephen Tompkinson has made a career by creating works that fall into category. He’s one of our finest actors, on his way to becoming a national treasure, and has made numerous films and TV programmes that are quality, while also have great commercial appeal....Year after year, he returns to our small screens to star in high-quality British drama....The word "integrity" runs through him like the letters in a stick of Blackpool rock. His old mate, the late Pete Postlethwaite...was entirely the same. In many ways, Tompkinson is the carrier of Postlethwaite’s flame. He’s just as likely to take time off from some big-budget TV series to appear in a gritty play....Tompkinson has been exceptional in Wild At Heart, a programme that has stood the test of time because it is both popular and credible. It manages to tell a right, rollicking story but avoids excessive cliché or saccharine sentimentality."

Ian Cain, The Public Reviews: "In Faith and Cold Reading, abundantly proves that his compelling television presence transfers equally well to the stage....It is, without the shadow of a doubt, Tompkinson who owns the stage throughout. His performance is menacing, sinister, funny and vulnerable by turn and he is an actor who demands your total attention and never lets go of it."

Tim Firth, dramatist and screenwriter, speaking of his experience working with Stephen in his lead role as Frank Tollit in Sign of the Times: "It is a massive role and Stephen is a fantastic actor. The great thing about him is he hears the music of comedy. He has an interest in comedy and I never have to explain a line to him."

Jane Haase, Liverpool Echo: "None of prepared us for his latest starring role as the evil, murderous, revenge-seeking, throat-slashing, tongue-cutting, eye-gouging lawyer Vindice, who, in less time than it takes to butcher a rabbit, slashes his way through three generations of a nobleman's family — and twice as many throats — in The Revenger’s Tragedy....That it works so well is due in no small part to Tompkinson who revels in the freedom and is a revelation, as he switches seamlessly from revenge-consumed lover to overblown dandy to murderous avenger — a smiling assassin of the first water. Even in its lightest moments Tompkinson's evil intent is never far from the surface — he is excellent and great fun too."

Katy Lewis, BBC Entertainment: Beds Herts and Bucks: "Stephen Tompkinson is superb . As a man dressed in woman's clothing he doesn't attempt to behave like a girl at all, and as he hilariously galumphs around the stage it appears that his character is very uncomfortable in his get up! Add to that loads of energy and perfectly timed lines and facial expressions and it is a wonderful performance."

Brian Clover, Curtain Up: In Rattle of a Simple Man, Stephen Tompkinson "moves with ease from rattle-waving drunken bravado to hung-over remorse to tender vulnerability, hinting at the tragedy of an unfulfilled life."

BBC Press Pack for In Denial of Murder: "Stephen Tompkinson remains one of Britain's most versatile performers, an actor who can be relied upon to play characters from all walks of life and make them memorable for audiences of television, film and radio."

The Northern Echo: "Waiting for the Whistle: Staying Up was cast to the hilt...but belonged to the versatile Tompkinson...giving a heartfelt performance as the emotionally disturbed football fan."

Janine Bickerstaff, Click Lancashire: "Stephen delivers an array of witty one liners with expert timing and plays the warm and worldly-wise Frank to a tee, making him the old-school supervisor everyone has humoured at some time in their working lives. Audiences will leave the theatre having laughed and cried, but shockingly having thought about Frank and how he could be anyone of us. Tompkinson and Shaw are brilliant together....Sign of the Times a real comedy with substance that leaves you thinking but feeling good."

Laura Davis, Liverpool Echo: " is the sort of role Tompkinson plays well — incorporating a balance of optimism tinged with sadness."

Chris Collett, THE STAGE Reviews: "Tompkinson's Freddie is terrifying, radiating waves of menace off the stage. At times, he appears the embodiment of evil — the devil in a Savile Row three piece."

Linda Jameson, Exeunt Magazine: " Norton and Tompkinson have a strong on-stage rapport ...both in terms of pacing and dialogue. They both play strong, articulate individuals who are able to discuss the play's central issue of faith without it ever sounding contrived. Tompkinson's performance in particular is engaging and complex; he's charismatic, menacing and yet also extremely superstitious (with an amusing tendency to mix his metaphors). It's a powerful piece of acting that holds the production together; he revels in the play's genuinely funny word play and the result is a rather imposing, unpredictable character."

Brian Pendreigh, The Herald (Scotland): "In a world of hype and pretentiousness, prima donnas and prats, Tompkinson comes across as one of the lads. Retaining the voice of a Lancashire lad, he...exhibits a fine sense of self-deprecating humour and honesty."

James Rampton, The Independent: "Has...success turned into yet another self-important actor who is more interested in perks than in his performances? Not as far as I could gather. Given to wry grins, Tompkinson has a stealthy wit that creeps up on you and unexpectedly taps you on the shoulder. The same spark of humour lights up his roles."

Actor Nick Berry: "We met at awards ceremony and the warmth of Stephen's personality struck me. The minute I met him I knew he was genuine....He's a sharp, witty guy. Annoying really.... there's no such thing as friendly when you play Steve."

Teacher Anthony Holland, Ryles Park School, Bollington: "I bumped into and mentioned we had been talking about him only the other day at school....He actually asked if he could come in and talk to the pupils. He was extremely friendly and down to earth and gave the students an experience they will remember from their time at the school. It was fantastic for such a well-known television star to offer to come here and give up his free time." And Head of Drama at Ryles Park School, Grant Fairlie said: "The fact that he stayed and talked to our Year 7 and Year 10 Drama GCSE group for over an hour, and even joined in activities, was brilliant."

Francine Cohen, The People: "If you meet Stephen you feel like you've known him for years. There is something very familiar about the six footer, who is the son of a Yorkshire bank manager....He comes over as calm, well mannered and sensible....Despite his considerable success, there is no sign of smugness or complacency about the successful star. He said, 'I just remember what my parents taught me: Keep a level head.'"