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Sam Potter

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BIO

Sam is an award-winning writer and director. Her plays include: THE UNICORN (Pleasance Edinburgh); THE RIPPLE EFFECT (Mountview); METCALFE AND SONS (Lamda); SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE (North Wall and Edinburgh Festival); HANNA (Arcola and UK Tour); THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD, SAME (Soho); DANIEL (Kiln) and MUCKY KID (Theatre 503).

Sam’s debut play, MUCKY KID, earned her a Most Promising New Playwright nomination at the Offies and won her a Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme Bursary. In 2016 she was a recipient of the BBC Performing Arts Fund and was one of five writers invited to take part in the Kiln Theatre’s inaugural New Writers’ Programme, NW6. She was appointed Writer in Residence at Papatango in 2015 and Writer in Residence at the North Wall in 2017. She is an Associate Artist at the North Wall.

Her play CHARLIE CHARLIE was shortlisted for the Bruntwood Award in 2017 and was longlisted for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting in 2020. Her play WHILST LIFE EXISTS was longlisted for the Bruntwood Award in 2022.

As a director, she has worked at numerous theatres including: RSC, NT, Glyndebourne Opera, Hampstead and Trafalgar Studios.

For screen, Sam has previously been commissioned by Bryncoed Productions. She was shortlisted for the BBC Screenplay First Award and is currently developing a TV version of her stage play WHILST LIFE EXISTS.

Sam’s play THE UNICORN will appear at the Arcola, Vaults Festival and Tour the UK in 2023.

News


Review: THE UNICORN, Arcola Theatre

The Unicorn is a multifaceted, sombre look at trauma and addiction laced with deliberately unwitting humour and a penchant for benign shock. Sam Potter writes an intense, eloquent, and exciting play in both themes and delivery.
Photos: Inside Rehearsal For THE UNICORN at The Arcola Theatre

Get a first look inside the rehearsal room for THE UNICORN at the Arcola Theatre! The Arcola transfer of Sam Potter's award-nominated play The Unicorn opens 7th June. Check out rehearsal photos here!
Nina Productions Presents Sam Potter's THE UNICORN at The Arcola in June

Tom Brennan directs Alice Lamb in Sam Potter's provocative and unflinching play The Unicorn, about one woman's obsessive sexual behaviour, as she tries to find the balance between her insatiable sexual drive and what she thinks society expects of her.  But what need is she really trying to fill?
5 Star, Fringe Hit THE UNICORN Announces Arcola Theatre Run And UK Tour

Following a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, THE UNICORN returns for an extensive UK Tour, including runs at London's Arcola Theatre, North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford; Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch; The Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead; Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford; Harlow Playhouse; The Hat Factory, Luton; and VAULT Festival (Studio).
Evanna Lynch in UNDER THE BLACK ROCK and More Set For Arcola Theatre's 2023 Season

Arcola Theatre has announced their programming into 2023. Opening the season in Studio 1 is Under the Black Rock, starring Harry Potter's Evanna Lynch. Learn more about the full season here!
EDINBURGH 2022: THE UNICORN Q&A

BWW catches up with Sam Potter to chat about bringing The Unicorn to the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Frankie Boyle And Reginald D Hunter Announced As Headliners For Latitude Festival

A riotous summer weekend of laughter and cultural discovery is guaranteed as cinch presents Latitude announces a host of new comedy and arts names including Frankie Boyle and Reginald D Hunter who join Russell Howard as comedy headliners.
BWW Review: HANNA at Dolphin Theatre, Onehunga, Auckland

Director Jennifer Ward-Lealand's expertise and wisdom of the stage lives and breathes through the performance of Cassandra Woodhouse in Hanna. Woodhouse captivated the audience for the entire 90-minute performance. She is sensational. No one was in their seats - they were with her as she carried us on the emotional roller coaster the story that no one wants to be confronted with let alone a 25-year-old sweet, clever but naive young woman.
Theatre503 Launches The 503 Studio With Its Autumn Writers Programme

Theatre503 today announces an online Autumn Writers Programme to launch the new 503Studio, including masterclasses from Anna Jordan, Jasmine Lee-Jones, Simon Stephens and other leading playwrights.
The Women's Prize for Playwriting Announces Longlist

The Women's Prize for Playwriting has announced their longlist of writers. 1,169 submissions to the Prize were received.
The North Wall Announce Full Programme For Alchymy Festival 2019

The North Wall today announce the full programme for Alchymy Festival 2019, running from 12-14 April at The North Wall Arts Centre. The programme includes performances, industry events, work-in-progress showings, and workshops, as well as performances from winners of the inaugural Alchymy Company Award and Alchymy Writing Residencies. The festival was programmed by The North Wall co-directors John Hoggarth and Ria Parry, and producer Ellie Keel, and is supported by Arts Council England.
The North Wall Announces New Creative Associates

The North Wall Arts Centre today (1st October 2018) announces the appointment of its new Creative Associates. The ten companies and artists have been appointed by Co-Directors Ria Parry and John Hoggarth to inform the Oxford venue's artistic vision and to shape future collaborations. The Associates will be supported through R&D, residencies and co-productions.
BWW Review: HANNA, Arcola Theatre

It's the worst case of bad luck: at a hospital two newborns are accidentally swapped, resulting in them each being given to parents who aren't biologically theirs. Hanna has raised Ellie for three years, loving her unconditionally. Being a mum is the only thing she is brilliant at, but when a DNA test reveals the startling news that Ellie isn't hers, she is forced to confront what being a parent actually means. Papatango premiere this new play at the Arcola Theatre.
Guest Blog: Sam Potter on HANNA at Arcola Theatre

There are two stories about how plays come about: the true story and the story that makes sense. I'll tell you the one that makes sense first.
Papatango Announces Tour Dates for World Premiere of HANNA

Papatango today announce the full tour dates for the world premi re of Sam Potter's Hanna which she wrote as part of her residency with the company the play is also published by Nick Hern Books. Directed by the company's Artistic Director George Turvey and starring Sophie Khan Levy, Hanna opens at the Arcola Theatre on 5 January 2018, with previews from 3 January, and runs until 20 January ahead of a 10-venue national tour to Cheltenham, Oxford, Canterbury, Bedford, Luton, Exeter, Mold, Liverpool, Greenwich and Cardiff.
Papatango Announces Tour Dates for the World Premiere of Sam Potter's HANNA

Papatango announces the full tour dates for the world premi re of Sam Potter's Hanna which she wrote as part of her residency with the company the play is also published by Nick Hern Books. Directed by the company's Artistic Director George Turvey and starring Sophie Khan Levy, Hanna opens at the Arcola Theatre on 5 January 2018, with previews from 3 January, and runs until 20 January ahead of a 10-venue national tour to Cheltenham, Oxford, Canterbury, Bedford, Luton, Exeter, Mold, Liverpool, Greenwich and Cardiff.
Arcola Theatre Kicks Off 11th Annual GRIMEBORN Opera Festival

The Arcola Theatre recently announced its new Summer/Autumn Season.
THEBES LAND, INSIGNIFICANCE, ANGEL and More Slated for Arcola Theatre's Summer/Autumn Season

The Arcola Theatre has announced its new Summer/Autumn Season.
Papatango Announces 10th Anniversary Programme

Papatango today announces a series of awards and projects to mark its 10th anniversary, including the winner of the 2017 Papatango New Writing Prize, the 2017 Papatango Resident Playwright, its first UK tour, the launch of a participation and engagement sub-company delivering free playwriting opportunities nationwide, and a book empowering writers to break into professional playwriting.
Tricycle Theatre Launches Nw6 New Writing Festival

The Tricycle Theatre today announces its first New Writing Festival, showcasing bold new writing at its home in Kilburn, NW6.

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