UHNM assistant theatre practitioner appointed next Stoke-on-Trent Poet Laureate
Steven Beattie has been formally ratified by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and will serve a two-year term from may 2026.
The 41-year-old from Bradley has written creatively since school but his poetry gained new depth during covid when he turned to writing to support his mental wellbeing.
Steven, who has worked at UHNM for 16 years, said: “I spent a lot of time in hospital when I was younger and I never forgot how I was treated. That experience stayed with me and it’s a big reason why I wanted to work in the NHS. Patient care has always been at the heart of what I do and working in theatres at the Royal Stoke University Hospital is at times demanding but incredibly rewarding. I’m proud to be part of a team that makes such a difference to people at what can be the most difficult time in their lives.”
Steven, who is currently topping up his degree to become a fully registered operating department practitioner (ODP), has been involved in arts and culture across Stoke-on-Trent for more than 25 years, performing in over 100 stage roles, writing plays, and previously serving as Chair of the Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Players.
While working on the frontline during covid, he experienced anxiety and following advice from his GP turned to writing as a way of managing his mental wellbeing.
Steven said: “During covid, I didn’t even realise at first that what I was experiencing was anxiety. Writing became a way of getting thoughts out of my head and onto paper, and that in itself was a huge relief.
Sometimes it was something daft just to lighten the mood after a tough shift, and other times it was more serious and reflective. Looking back, I can see that I was slowly building a collection that captured not just how I was feeling, but how a lot of people were feeling at that time.”
That period of writing led to the publication of his debut poetry collection, ‘Butterflies in My Braincase’.
Steven describes himself as an “outlaw poet”, choosing not to be bound by rigid rules or traditional structures.
He said: “I don’t follow the idea that poetry has to rhyme or fit a certain mould. I write what I want to write, in the way it comes out. A lot of my inspiration comes from people, the colleagues I work with, the patients we care for, and the sheer variety of characters you meet in the NHS. We have such a multicultural workforce and you see the full range of human emotion in a hospital. There’s so much inspiration there if you stop and look.”
Despite working clinically, studying for his degree and family commitments, Steven finds time to write whenever he can.
Steven said: “I write whenever something strikes me. That might be at the weekend, late at night, in bed, or while I’m waiting for the kids to finish their clubs. If a line comes into my head and I don’t write it down straight away, it’s gone, so it goes straight in my phone or on a scrap of paper. Writing isn’t a chore for me it’s my time, and I make space for it because it helps keep me grounded.”
During his time as Poet Laureate, Steven will perform poetry across the city and may be commissioned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council to write work for civic occasions. He will also play a key role during 2026, the National Year of Literature and Literacy, with a focus on engaging young people with poetry.
He said: “I’m really passionate about getting poetry back into high schools. At GCSE age it can feel like a puzzle you have to solve, but it shouldn’t be like that. Poetry is about expression and survival, not ticking boxes. If young people can see that they’re allowed to put their own thoughts and feelings on paper and make something meaningful from them, it could really help them.”
To mark his appointment, Steven was presented by the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent with a bespoke ceramic plate commissioned by Moorland Pottery.
Gareth Hurley, theatres matron, said: “Steven’s appointment as Stoke-on-Trent Poet Laureate is a fantastic achievement and one we are incredibly proud of. It reflects the breadth of talent within our workforce and highlights the positive role creativity can play in wellbeing. Steven is a great ambassador for the Trust and for Stoke-on-Trent.”