Sally Cookson Explained

Sally Cookson
Occupation:	Theatre 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. 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
• 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
• 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
• 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		devised by the company	^[20]
2017	Laurence Olivier Award for Best Family Show	Peter Pan		devised by the company
2015	Laurence Olivier Award for Best Family Show	Hetty Feather			^[21]
2013	Laurence Olivier Award for Best Family Show	Cinderella: A Fairy Tale			^[22]

Notes and References

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