About
Embrace daily moments
Especially when I am mixing, I enjoy being caught up, enveloped and 'moved' emotionally by music and performance.
I have been fortunate to have audio-engineered 78 professional seasons of theatre, as well as recorded, sound designed, operated, music directed and assisted thousands of live events. I learn from every opportunity, from other engineers, from personal research, and through trial and error. Passing on what I have learnt to others has become an unexpected source of satisfaction, sharing live-sound techniques, listening skills, and hearing management with university students, audio engineers and musicians
- Stephen Compton
I have been fortunate to have audio-engineered 78 professional seasons of theatre, as well as recorded, sound designed, operated, music directed and assisted thousands of live events. I learn from every opportunity, from other engineers, from personal research, and through trial and error. Passing on what I have learnt to others has become an unexpected source of satisfaction, sharing live-sound techniques, listening skills, and hearing management with university students, audio engineers and musicians
- Stephen Compton
A bit about me:
Married to Celeste for 35 years with two adult children. Home: Christchurch, NZ
Check out our daughter, Ellie Compton’s very successful Art business: LINK to elliecompton.com
Check out our son, Isaac Compton’s amazing career as an Emergency Department Hospital Nurse: LINK to YouTube interview
Qualifications: PhD - Audiology, Masters in Professional Practice, BA (Hons) Recording Arts, Diploma Sound Engineering, Trade Certificate Carpentry
A few of the causes we support: Lift Int (LINK), Fred Hollows (LINK), World Vision (LINK), CAP (LINK), NZ Blood Service (LINK)
Employment History
- 2022-present: Acoustic Consultant - Marshall Day Acoustics - LINK
- 2003-2022: University of Canterbury Music Technician / Course Co-ordinator / Lecturer (>1000 AV recordings + live audio engineering and digital design)
- BounceNZ / Redd Acoustics - Live-Audio Engineer
- 1990-2000: Foreman / Builder
- <1990: Youth Worker/Event Co-ordinator
Freelance Activity
A sampling of freelance activities over the last few years:
- 78 music theatre productions + various short theatre ensembles and cabarets
- FoH tech/audio engineer (Selwyn Sounds, 2017-19)
- 10CC guitar tech (Selwyn Sounds, 2020).
- AV Production for NZSSSO (8 years) + CYO and various other local choirs
- Volunteer sound operator educator
Buddy Holly - Showbiz Chch - SC Operator
Cats - Showbiz Chch - SC Operator
Avenue Q - Showbiz Chch - SC Operator
Operation/Sound Design:
Some of the productions I have been part of:
NASDA (National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art) Chch
2 x 42nd Street (Operation/Sound Design)
Bat Boy (Operation/Sound Design)
Beauty and the Beast (Operation/Sound Design)
Cabaret (Operation/Sound Design)
Cats (Operation/Sound Design)
Curtains (Operation/Sound Design)
2 x Fiddler on the Roof (Operation/Sound Design)
Footloose (Operation/Sound Design)
Freaky Friday (Operation/Sound Design)
Guys and Dolls (Operation/Sound Design)
Hair (Operation/Sound Design)
It's Only LIfe (Operation/Sound Design)
The Happy Prince (Operation/Sound Design)
Into The Woods (Operation/Sound Design)
The Music Man (Operation/Sound Design)
My Favourite Year (Operation/Sound Design)
Oklahoma (Operation/Sound Design)
Once on This Island x 2 (Operation/Sound Design)
Pippin (Operation/Sound Design)
Ragtime (Operation/Sound Design)
Sideshow (Operation/Sound Design)
Spring Awakening (Operation/Sound Design)
Sweet Charity (Operation/Sound Design)
The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee (Sound Design)
The Wedding Singer (Operation/Sound Design)
The World Goes Round (Operation/Sound Design)
Urinetown (Operation/Sound Design)
Working (Operation/Sound Design)
Court Theatre Christchurch
Anything Goes (Operation)Cabaret (Operation)Chicago (Operation)End of the Rainbow (Operation/Sound Design)Grease (Operation)Great Art War (Sound Design)I Love You You're Perfect Now Change (Operation)La Cage Aux Folles (Operation)Oliver (Operation)One Man Two Guvnors (Operation/Sound Design)The Producers (Operation)Side By Side By Sondheim (Operation)Songs For Nobodies (Operation)The Sound Of Music (Operation)
Showbiz Christchurch
Avenue Q (Operation)
Buddy Holly Story (Operation)
Cats (Operation)
Fiddler on the Roof - Seniors Version (Operation/Sound Design)
Full Monty (Operation)
Grease (Operation)
Hot Shoe Shuffle (Operation)
Les Misérables (Operation)
Miss Saigon (Operation)
Sweeney Todd (Operation)
That Bloody Woman (Operation for tech and opening night)
Other NZ Venues
42nd Street (Operation - New Plymouth)Annie (Operation - Napier Operatic)Annie (Operation - Wellington)Anything Goes (Operation/Sound Design - St Andrews College, Chch)Blood Brothers (Operation - Napier Operatic)Doris Day by Ali Harper (Operation/Sound Design)DreamGirls (Operation/Sound Design - St Margaret's College, Chch)Elf, the Musical (Operation/Sound Design)Guys and Dolls (Sound Design - St Andrews College, Chch)Last Five Years (Operation/Sound Design)Les Misérables (Operation - Napier Operatic)Les Misérables (Operation - Palmerstion North)Life's Too Short (Luke DiSomma, Jazz School - Christchurch)Little Green Men (Sound Design - St Andrews College, Chch)My Fair Lady (Operation - Wellington)Mid-Summer Night's Dream (Sound Design - StAC, Chch)Peter Pan (Operation - Christchurch)The Lucky Duck (Sound Design - StAC, Chch)The Wedding Singer (Op/Sound Design - StAC, Chch)Urinetown (Op/Sound Design - St Andrews College, Chch)
End of the Rainbow - Court Theatre SC Operator
Freaky Friday - NASDA SC Operator/Sound Design
