Stephen's professional journey began in the legal realm, but his passion for the arts soon led him to pivot and take on the role of an assistant stage manager at London's esteemed Royal Court Theatre. This experience proved to be a valuable stepping stone, as it ultimately opened the door to working as an assistant director on films helmed by renowned directors Karel Reisz and Lindsay Anderson.
In 1967, Stephen made his directorial debut with a short film, and four years later, he brought his feature-length vision to life with the release of Gumshoe in 1971. Following this milestone, Stephen dedicated the next 12 years to honing his craft in the television industry before making a triumphant return to the world of film with the critically acclaimed My Beautiful Laundrette.