Ben grew up in Bristol and after a stint with the National Youth Theatre.
He graduated from the Guildford School of Acting in 1997 with a first class honours degree and the Principal’s Prize for Musical Theatre.
He made his professional debut playing ‘Alan-A-Dale’ in ROBIN HOOD AND THE BABES IN THE WOOD at the Watford Palace Theatre. Ben then went on to play ‘Roger The Cabin Boy’ alongside Barry Humphries in NEW EDNA, THE SPECTACLE, which after a short tour played at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End.
His other West Credits include ‘Eugene’ in GREASE at the Cambridge; ‘Victor Saville’ in OVER MY SHOULDER – THE JESSIE MATTHEW STORY at the Wyndhams (as well as Jermyn Street, Sonning and on tour!), and an ‘Inventor’ in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG! at the Palladium.
On tour Ben played ‘Lumiere’ in DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, 'Noel Coward' in NOEL AND GERTIE, ‘Dan’ (and the alternate Joseph) in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, ‘Teddy Shapiro’ in SOPHIE TUCKERS ONE NIGHT STAND, 'Glenn Miller' in BUGLE BOY and appeared in the Tom Lehrer revue TOMFOOLERY and the musical revue of The Sherman Brothers A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN.
Other London work includes ‘Noel Coward’ in NOEL AND GERTIE (The Cockpit) ‘Grover Emerson’ in G AND I – GOING INTO BATTLE WITH GERTRUDE LAWRENCE with Anita Harris and Brenda Longman at the New End Theatre Hampstead, ‘Cora’s Boy’ in ANYONE CAN WHISTLE (Savoy Theatre, Cardiff International Festival and BBC Radio 2), ‘Louis Lamanteur’ in GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (Lost Musicals), ‘Wilberforce’ in FOLLOW THAT GIRL (Theatre Museum), ‘PC Boot’ in SALAD DAYS (Greenwich), Ethel Mermen's pianist in MERMAN'S APPRENTICE, 'Nespulos' in GAYS THE WORD (Jermyn St), 'Big Tim Sullivan' in RAGS (Lyric) and a tap-dancing ‘Al Capone’ Ray Cooney’s musical TIME’S UP!
Ben has also worked in many regional theatres. His roles include 'Cornelius Hackl’ in HELLO DOLLY, ‘Raymond’ in A CHORUS OF DISAPROVAL, ‘Shop Assistant’ and ‘Art Restorer’ in SINGLE SPIES and ‘Cecil Graham’ in LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN (Pitlochry), 'Cosme' in GLORIOUS, COLE, TOMFOOLERY and ‘Charley’ in CHARLEY’S AUNT (Frinton) ‘Kenneth’ in FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS and Victor Saville in OVER MY SHOULDER (Sonning), ‘Royce’ in MURDER MYSTERY MUSICAL (Edinburgh Fringe), ‘The Duck’ in ALICE IN WONDERLAND (West Yorkshire Playhouse), ‘Geoffrey’ in STEPPING OUT, ‘Morris’ in FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME, Gracie Fields pianist 'Harry Parr Davies' in OUR GRACIE (Oldham Coliseum), ‘Chantelle’ in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (English Theater, Frankfurt) and ANNIE (Perth).
Ben's visits to ‘panto-land’ include ‘Ugly Sister’ in CINDERELLA for QDOS alongside The Krankies and Stefan Dennis at the Wolverhampton Grand, Jimmy Osmond in Hastings, Lesley Joseph in High Wycombe, Billy Pearce, Lynda Bellingham and Brendan Sheerin in Bradford, Bradley Walsh in Dartford, Julian Clary in Wolverhampton, John Partridge and Sid Sloane in Northampton, Linda Robson, Louie Spence and Bobby Davro in High Wycombe, and Brian Conley and Gok Wan in both Milton Keynes and Bristol and again with Brian in Plymouth; as well as roles in PUSS IN BOOTS (Oxford Playhouse) and CINDERELLA for the London Bubble at The Cochran. In 2018 Ben, along with his ‘Sister’ Neal Wright, won Best Ugly Sister at The Great British Pantomime Awards.
Ben is a regular Music Hall performer and has appeared regularly with the Players Theatre, City Varieties, Hiss and Boo, The British Music Hall Society and The Paper Moon Theatre Company in London and around the country.
As musical director Ben’s credits include Caroline Sheens album RAISE THE CURTAIN and Stephen De Martin’s album THE BOY NEXT DOOR (SimG Records), A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN (UK tour), Ivor Novello’s GAYS THE WORD (Finborough, Jermyn Street and TER Records), OLIVER (Frinton), DOROTHY SQUIRES; MRS ROGER MOORE (White Bear and Edinburgh), BABY and BYE BYE BIRDIE (Guildford School of Acting) DAVID BENSON'S CHRISTMAS PARTY (Salisbury Playhouse), OVER MY SHOULDER (West End, Sonning and Tour and TER Records), SALAD DAYS (Greenwich), HISS AND BOO (Tour), ZIPPERTYDOODAH! (Wimbledon Studio), THE GAME OF LOVE and CAN’T STOP THE MUSIC (QE2), IT’S OUR MUSICAL WORLD (Concordia), FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE (Roundhouse) and MOTHER GOOSE (Chorleywood). He was the vocal arranger of the opening to the 2019 OLIVIER AWARDS at The Royal Albert Hall and shown on ITV1 and for the 2018 and 2019 UK THEATRE AWARDS.
Ben made his directing debut in 2016 at Frinton Summer Theatre with I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE and this was followed by ME AND MY GIRL in 2019. He also directed Jessica Martin’s one woman show UNDER THE LIGHTS and was assistant director on the Hope Mill Theatre and UK Tour Of Jerry Herman’s MAME.
On Radio Ben has been as regular ‘Showbiz’ reporter for BBC Radio Bristol, sung on BBC Radio 2’s FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC NIGHT, appeared in THE SEARCH FOR RURITANIA on BBC Radio 4 and as part of a Sondheim Celebration, also for BBC Radio 4.
Ben regularly leads sing-a-longs at WEST END LIVE for anything up to 20,000 people!
His one man cabaret show AND THERE WAS MUSIC debuted at The Pheasantry in London before completing a sold-out run at The Crazy Coqs, at various venues across the UK and also in the Far East. In 2015 Ben released his first solo album on the SimG Records label entitled AND THERE WAS MUSIC (also available on iTunes!). His second show THE LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE ran at The Crazy Coqs in January 2017. In 2018 he returned to The Pheasantry with a new show TAKING STOCK. He recently made his New York cabaret debut at Feinstein's @54 Below with further plans to return to The States. He has also worked for many cruise lines including Cunard. Most recently his show COWARD AND CRACKERS toured the UK and in 2019 he was invited by The Noël Coward Society to perform a new show honouring The Master’s birthday.
Ben is a proud member of Equity, The Concert Artistes Association (CAA), The British Music Hall Society, TACT, The Theatrical Guild and the Actors Benevolent Fund (ABF). He is also an ambassador for ACTING FOR OTHERS. Ben is also Patron of Bristol School of Performing Arts ‘Dare To Dream’