SARAH MEADOWS

 WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
"Sarah brings great clarity of purpose, intensity and emotional truth to whatever she directs and is brilliant at inspiring actors" (John Burgess, co-founder of The Studio, National Theatre 1982-94) 
Sarah is an award‐winning director and has worked across the UK, Europe and the USA.  Sarah began her career in Manchester and worked as Assistant to the Executive Producer and Artistic Director John McGrath (National Theatre Wales, Manchester International Festival) at Contact Theatre. Sarah directed many productions across the North West and worked at theatre’s such as The Library, The Lowry and Bolton Octagon before relocating to London. Sarah co-ran the company Scriptworks for 3 years, operating from Contact, which developed new writing. Within this Sarah chaired weekly script development sessions as well as directing many staged readings and commissioning work across the North West. Sarah set up The Script Sessions and Longsight Theatre Company in London to continue this work and has worked with over 100 playwrights since it began in 2012. Sarah has worked and trained with directors such as John McGrath, Mike Alfreds, John Burgess and Stephen Unwin.

​Recent credits include: THE FEAR OF FEAR by Stephanie Ridings, Warwick Arts Theatre/UK tour; ALKALINE by Stephanie Martin, The Park Theatre; Assistant Director, THE REAL THING by Tom Stoppard, directed by Stephen Unwin, large scale UK tour (including Cambridge Arts Theatre, The Rose Kingston, Bath Theatre Royal); SUMMER IN LONDON, by Rikki Beadle Blair, Theatre Royal Stratford East; THE TEXAS TAXMAN (musical comedy), Luke Courtier, The Arcola, VAULT Festival & RADA festival; PIG, Tim Luscombe, The Vaults, Waterloo; WHERE DO LITTLE BIRDS GO? by Camilla Whitehill, Old Red Lion, UK tour, VAULT Festival & Edinburgh Festival, Underbelly;  ILE LA WA by Tolu Agbelusi & Apples & Snakes, UK Tour; SCREWED by Kathryn O’Reilly, Theatre 503; NADYA by Chris Jury, The Park Theatre; THE VERY PERRY SHOW (comedy) by Kate Perry, San Francisco International Arts Festival); MR INCREDIBLE by Camilla Whitehill, VAULT Festival & Edinburgh Festival; YOU by Mark Wilson, VAULT Festival; RATS, Culture Festival, Stockholm. In development; EGGSHELL by Rebecca Crookshank (produced by InterTalent Rights Group) and 8th DAY by Stephen Laughton. Sarah is co-Artistic Director of Longsight Theatre Company.
Sarah's next engagement will be working as Assistant Director with Stephen Unwin on THE REAL THING for Theatre Royal Bath Productions.
Sarah's most recent work includes a reading of Alkaline by Stephanie Martin at Park Theatre on the 15th of September.
Other recent credits include Sarah's work with Ricky Beadle Blair on SUMMER IN LONDON at Stratford East, which ran from 8th - 29th July 2017.

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The first play in mainstream British theatre led by an all trans cast, written and directed by award-winning filmmaker and LGBTQ activist Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE.
Four friends court the same woman on a budget of nothing while the sun shines. A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Generation Rent in a city that still hides a bit of magic, if you know where to look.
As the sun sets and the drinks flow things get complicated, and we discover nothing is as it first appears.
A love letter to London and a story of friendship, love and finding yourself. Don’t miss this funny, sexy and life-affirming night out!
Click on play title for further information.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Sarah recently directed and won the award for best comedy at the Vaults Festival 2017 for The Texas Tax Man - A brand new comedy from Luke Courtier about violence and fiscal responsibility in the Wild West. With one or two songs. 

‘Textbook timing, impressive musicality. Go see Luke Courtier’ The Sunday Times 
Sarah's production of SCREWED by Kathryn O'Neill played at Theatre503 in June and July 2016. She has just received an Offie nomination for Best Director.
Sarah's production of MR INCREDIBLE played successfully during February 2016 as part of the Vault Festival where it won the Origins Award for Outstanding New Work 2016. It also played the 2016 Edinburgh Festival.
Sarah's production wins three awards
​at the Brighton Festival 2015:
Fringe Review Award for Outstanding Theatre
Brighton Fringe Award for Theatre
Argus Angel for Artistic Excellence
Sarah directed a reading of Chris Jury's latest play NADYA at the Park Theatre in 2015 featuring a stellar cast including Stephen Tompkinson, Michelle Terry, Phyllis Logan, David Robb, Jamie Foreman and Shaun Prendergast.
Sarah recently directed a poetry project called Home Is ... with acclaimed poets Tolu Agbelusi, Tshaka Campbell, Russenï Fisher, Jemilia Wisdom and Belinda Zhawi. There will be performances at Contact Theatre in Manchester and Rich Mix in London
Sarah's award-winning production played at the OLD RED LION THEATRE on 1st November. See below for further details about the show.
Sarah directed 'The Very Perry Show' - San Francisco International Arts Festival - Just click on the images below to enlarge them
I can't imagine a director being better with new writing than Sarah is. Her insight and vision is inspiring, and she always knows exactly what to say. When she believes in something, she will work and work until it comes to fruition. I owe her my career. (Camilla Whitehill, Writer)
Sarah originally hails from the northwest and spent her early career in Manchester. She  began as an assistant to the Executive Producer under Artistic Director John McGrath  (National Theatre Wales, Manchester International Festival) at Contact Theatre. Sarah ran  the company Scriptworks for 3 years, operating from Contact, which worked with new  writers. Within this Sarah co‐ran weekly script development sessions as well as directing  many staged readings and commissioning work across the North West. Sarah set up The  Script Sessions in London to continue this work and has worked with over 100 playwrights  since it began in 2012. Sarah has worked and trained with directors such as John McGrath,  Mike Alfreds, John Burgess and Stephen Unwin.

​Sarah has directed across the UK, Europe and the U.S. Recent credits include: THE FEAR OF FEAR by Stephanie Ridings, Warwick Arts Theatre; ALKALINE by Stephanie Martin, The Park Theatre; Assistant Director, THE REAL THING by Tom Stoppard, directed by Stephen Unwin,  UK tour (including Cambridge Arts Theatre, The Rose Kingston, Bath Theatre Royal), Autumn 2017; SUMMER IN LONDON, by Rikki Beadle Blair, Theatre Royal Stratford East; ON THE CREST OF A WAVE, Camilla Whitehill & Longsight Theatre, VAULT Festival 2017;  THE TEXAS TAXMAN (musical comedy), Luke Courtier, The Arcola, VAULT Festival 2017, RADA festival 2017; PIG, Tim Luscombe, The Vaults, Waterloo; WHERE DO LITTLE BIRDS GO? by Camilla Whitehill, Old Red Lion, UK tour, VAULT Festival, & Edinburgh Festival, Underbelly;  ILE LA WA by Tolu Agbelusi & Apples & Snakes, UK Tour 2016; SCREWED by Kathryn O’Reilly, Theatre 503, 2016; THE VERY PERRY SHOW (comedy) by Kate Perry, San Francisco International Arts Festival, Summer 2016; MR INCREDIBLE by Camilla Whitehill, VAULT Festival & Edinburgh Festival 2016; YOU by Mark Wilson, Brighton Festival 2015 & VAULT Festival 2017 (UK tour 2018).

Sarah is a truly imaginative director with the ability to animate text with pronounced physicality and flow (Baba Israel, Artistic Director/CEO, Contact Theatre. 2009-2012)
Awards
  • Nominated for Best Director by Off West End Awards in 2016 for Screwed by Kathryn O'Reilly (in collaboration with Out Of Joint)
  • Winner of the Origins Award for Outstanding New Work 2016 at VAULT Festival for Mr Incredible by Camilla Whitehill
  • You by Mark Wilson won the Argus Angel Award, Brighton Fringe Award for Theatre, and The Fringe Review Outstanding Theatre Award at VAULT Festival 2016.
  • Winner of The People’s Choice Award, VAULT Festival 2015 for Where Do Little Birds Go? By Camilla Whitehill
  • Winner of London First Award for Cultural Excellence, Director for Planktonic Players, Winter Shuffle Festival
  • Nominated for a Manchester Tourism Award, chosen for the UK Top 10 Theatre Picks of 2011 by What's On Stage. Invited to speak at the international “Addiction and Performance” conference and subsequently published a chapter in the book ‘Addiction and Performance’ Cambridge Scholars Publishing about her directing process.
  • Winner of the Best Production Award, Not Part Of Festival, nominated for Best of Fringe award at in 2012 Manchester Theatre Awards, Blackbird by Lucia Cox.
A mature and intelligent talent with the gift for getting the best from writers at all stages of their development…Without imposing her will, or being dogmatic, she maintains pace and authority by the sheer force of her ability (David Spencer, Writer, Dramaturg & Director)
For a full c.v. of Sarah's Directing work - click here 
For a full c.v. of Sarah's Teaching and Management cv - click here
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