Sally Cookson

British theatre director
Sally Cookson
OccupationTheatre director

Sally Cookson is a British theatre director, known for her devised adaptations of literary works, in particular, A Monster Calls (2018) and Jane Eyre (2014).

Early life and education

Cookson attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).[1]

Career

Cookson began her career as an actor.[1] Her first professional show as a director was Cloudland, a production for early years staged with Travelling Light in 2003.[2]

Directing credits

  • Dracula: Mina's Reckoning (2023) – National Theatre of Scotland[3]
  • Birthmarked (2023) – Bristol Old Vic[4]
  • Emilia – Bristol Old Vic Theatre School[5]
  • Wonder Boy (2022) – Bristol Old Vic[6]
  • Peter Pan (2019) – Royal National Theatre/Bristol Old Vic[7]
  • A Monster Calls (2018) – The Old Vic[8]
  • Boing! (2018) – Travelling Light Theatre Company[2]
  • The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2017) – West Yorkshire Playhouse[9]
  • La Strada (2017) – The Other Place[10]
  • Peter Pan (2016) – Royal National Theatre[11]
  • Hetty Feather (2016) – Rose Theatre Kingston[12]
  • Jane Eyre (2015) – Royal National Theatre[13][14]
  • Sleeping Beauty (2015) – Bristol Old Vic[15]
  • Jane Eyre (2014) – Bristol Old Vic[14]
  • The Boy Who Cried Wolf (2013) – Bristol Old Vic[16]
  • We're Going on a Bear Hunt (2013)[17]
  • Hetty Feather (2014) – Duke of York's Theatre/Vaudeville Theatre[18]
  • Peter Pan (2012) – Bristol Old Vic[11]
  • Cinderella: A Fairy Tale (2011) – Tobacco Factory Theatre[19]
  • Cloudland (2003) – Travelling Light Theatre Company

Awards and nominations

Year Award Work Result Notes Ref.
2019 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Family Show A Monster Calls Won devised by the company [20]
2017 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Family Show Peter Pan Nominated devised by the company
2015 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Family Show Hetty Feather Nominated [21]
2013 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Family Show Cinderella: A Fairy Tale Nominated [22]

References

  1. ^ a b Brown, Nia (2021-02-07). ""We're going into a new territory": interviewing theatre director Sally Cookson". Cherwell. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  2. ^ a b "Sally Cookson on telling stories with Travelling Light". Travelling Light Theatre Company. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  3. ^ Brooks, Libby (2023-09-07). "New blood: Scotland to stage all-woman and non-binary Dracula play". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  4. ^ Wood, Alex (2023-07-26). "Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Sally Cookson on Birthmarked – "The improvised feel is crucial"". Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  5. ^ Stone, Mary (2023-02-21). "Review: Emilia staged by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School at Circomedia". Bristol Live. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  6. ^ Wiegand, Chris (2022-03-11). "Wonder Boy review – a school play with soul-stirring super powers". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  7. ^ Kellaway, Kate (2019-08-04). "Peter Pan review – it's all over the place, Darling". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  8. ^ Trueman, Matt (2018-07-18). "London Theater Review: 'A Monster Calls'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  9. ^ Love, Catherine (2017-12-07). "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe review – Sally Cookson conjures magic of make-believe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  10. ^ Clapp, Susannah (2017-06-04). "La Strada review – a finely realised fanfare for Fellini". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  11. ^ a b Billington, Michael (2016-12-04). "Peter Pan review – spirited exuberance with a touch of sadness". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  12. ^ "Hetty Feather returns to Rose Kingston". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  13. ^ Wiegand, Chris (2020-04-07). "'Wow, I'd love to be someone like that!' Sally Cookson on our passion for Jane Eyre". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  14. ^ a b Gardner, Lyn; Mackrell, Judith (2017-04-07). "Jane Eyre and Betroffenheit: this week's best UK theatre and dance". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  15. ^ Love, Catherine (2015-12-03). "Sleeping Beauty review – gender-swap fairytale is far from Grimm". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  16. ^ Gardner, Lyn (2013-07-24). "The Boy Who Cried Wolf – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  17. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (2013-07-10). "We're Going on a Bear Hunt". Time Out London. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  18. ^ Maxwell, Dominic (2024-05-28). "Hetty Feather, Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  19. ^ Gardner, Lyn (2011-12-16). "Cinderella: A Fairytale – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  20. ^ Eyre, Charlotte (2019-04-08). "A Monster Calls stage show wins Olivier award". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  21. ^ Shenton, Mark (2015-03-17). "Olivier Nominated Hetty Feather to Return to West End as Part of Tour". Playbill. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  22. ^ "Olivier Winners 2013". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2024-05-28.