Sarah Esdaile

Director

Biography

Sarah graduated in English and Drama from Goldsmiths College in 1991.  Whilst at London University and subsequently, she worked with many producers and theatres including Bill Kenwright, Robert Fox and Theatre Royal Brighton.  In 1996 she was one of twelve invited on the first Directors’ Course run by the National Theatre Studio.

She was previously Associate Director at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Sarah moved into directing television in 2019.

Credits

Television

Production Company Notes
CALL THE MIDWIFE 15
2025
BBC 1 / Neal Street Productions

1 episode

CASUALTY
2025
BBC

2 episodes

CALL THE MIDWIFE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
2024
BBC 1 / Neal Street Productions

2 x 60′ episodes

CALL THE MIDWIFE 13
2023
BBC 1 / Neal Street Productions

2 episodes

THE CHELSEA DETECTIVE 2
2023
Expectation / Acorn

2 x 90′ episodes
Cast includes Adrian Scarborough, Vanessa Emme, Claire Skinner, Siân Phillips and Neil Morrissey

CALL THE MIDWIFE 12
2022
BBC 1 / Neal Street Productions

1 episode

CALL THE MIDWIFE 11
2021
BBC 1 / Neal Street Productions

1 episode
Nominated for Best Returning Drama at National Television Awards

EASTENDERS
2019 – 2022
BBC Continuing Drama

24 episodes and strands in a 16-episode silo block

Theatre

Production Company Notes
YERMA by Federico Garcia Lorca
2024
RADA

Director

ABIGAIL’S PARTY
2019
ATG UK tour

by Mike Leigh; with Jodie Prenger

DESIGN FOR LIVING
2018
LAMDA

by Noel Coward

SCRATCH NIGHT & FERTILITY FIGHT CLUB TALK
2018
Bush Theatre

As part of Fertility Fest 2018

DANCING AT LUGHNASA
2018
BADA
LAMDA SHOWCASE
2018
Trafalgar Studios
THE SPOTLIGHT PRIZE
2017
The Under Globe

Director

ABIGAIL'S PARTY by Mike Leigh
2017
Theatre Royal Bath Productions

Tour with Amanda Abbington

WALKING ON EGG SHELLS by Amy Rosenthal
2016
as part of Fertility Fest

Curated by Jessica Hepburn at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Park Theatre – May/June 2016

FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS by Alan Ball
2016
LAMDA

Linbury Studio

TESTING THE ECHO by David Edgar
2016
Show curated by Emma Manton

Director of David Edgar piece with Juliet Stevenson & Zubin Varla for MOVING STORIES Charity event at the National Theatre 14th Feb 2016 fundraiser for the United Nations Refugee Agency

THE BFG adapted by David Wood from Roald Dahl
2015
Octagon Theatre. Bolton
TALKING HEADS by Alan Bennett
2015
TRB Productions

Theatre Royal Bath & tour with Stephanie Cole, Siobhan Redmond and Karl Theobald.

LOVE LOVE LOVE by Mike Bartlett
2015
LAMDA
SINGLE SPIES by Alan Bennett
2014
Rose Theatre, Kingston
PAXO
2014
Feather Productions Ltd & Anita Land

An Evening with Jeremy Paxman at the Cabaret Bar, Pleasance Courtyard
Edinburgh Fringe Festival

EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON by Mike Bartlett
2013
LAMDA
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF by Tennessee Williams
2012
West Yorkshire Playhouse
THE LADY IN THE VAN by Alan Bennett
2012
Hull Truck UK tour

Revival of 2011 UK touring production

SPRING AND PORT WINE by Bill Naughton
2012
LAMDA
SLEEPING BEAUTY by Rufus Norris
2011
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
ARCADIA by Tom Stoppard
2011
LAMDA
THE LADY IN THE VAN by Alan Bennett
2011
Hull Truck Theatre / UK tour

With Nichola McAuliffe.

THE DEEP BLUE SEA by Terence Rattigan
2011
West Yorkshire Playhouse

With Maxine Peake as Hester Collyer

CRASH by William Nicholson
2010
West Yorkshire Playhouse, The Courtyard

World Premiere

DEATH OF A SALESMAN by Arthur Miller
2010
West Yorkshire Playhouse

With Philip Jackson and Marion Bailey

CLING TO ME LIKE IVY by Samantha Ellis
2010
The Door, Birmingham Rep
HIS DARK MATERIALS by Philip Pullman
2009
Birmingham Repertory Theatre & tour
LIFE X 3 by Yasmina Reza
2009
Watermill Theatre, Newbury
THE HORSE MARINES by Richard Cameron
2008
Theatre Royal Plymouth
DROWNING ON DRY LAND by Alan Ayckbourn
2008
Salisbury Playhouse
THE GROUCH adaptation by Ranjit Bolt of Moliere's The Misanthrope
2008
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Quarry Theatre
KAFKA'S DICK by Alan Bennett
2008
Watford Palace Theatre
LOYAL WOMEN by Gary Mitchell
2007
Central School of Speech & Drama
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH by Roald Dahl, adapted by David Wood
2006
Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Winner of the M.E.N Award Best Family Show 2007

PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY by Heinrik Ibsen in a version by Samuel Adamson
2007
Central School of Speech & Drama
FESTEN adapted by David Eldridge
2006
Rose Bruford at BAC
ASYLUM MONOLOGUES by Sonja Linden
2006
iceandfire Theatre Co. at Amnesty International Headquarters
CROCODILE SEEKING REFUGE by Sonja Linden on tour
2006
iceandfire Theatre Co. Regional Tour
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
2005
Royal Shakespeare Company, New Work Festival
SILLY BABY by Gill Adams
2005
For Paul Nicholas

Rehearsed Reading

PICTURES OF CLAY by Sharif Samad Premier Production
2005
Royal Exchange, Manchester
LYSISTRATA by Aristophanes - a musical adaption by Ranjit Bolt
2005
Arcola Theatre
BUTTERFLY KISS
2005
Birmingham School of Speech & Drama
FOUR SEASONS by Linda Brogan
2005
Soho Theatre

Rehearsed Reading

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
2004
RADA
COYOTE ON A FENCE by Bruce Graham - British Premier
2004
Royal Exchange Manchester, The Duchess Theatre, West End

With Ben Cross, Alex Ferns and Jo Martin
Winner of the M.E.N. Award Best Fringe Production 2004

COMPACT FAILURE by Jennifer Farmer. Arcola Theatre and Tour - Premier Production
2004
Clean Break Theatre Company
A VIEW FROM A BRIDGE by Arthur Miller
2003
The Poor School
OEDIPUS REX
2003
Central School of Speech & Drama
RICHARD III
2002
Rose Bruford College
COLD VINTAGE by Chris Lee
2002
Theatre Royal Plymouth

Rehearsed Reading

BILL AND ESME by Adam Pernack - Premier Production
2002
Chelsea Theatre
TWELFTH NIGHT
2002
The Drum, Birmingham
ABSOLUTE HELL by Rodney Ackland
2001
Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham
SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL I AM by Paul Minx
2001
The Bush Theatre/ The Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh
THE LIGHTS by Howard Korder
2001
Rose Bruford College
HENRY VI - PARTS I, II AND III/ RICHARD III
2000
Royal Shakespeare Company London/ Stratford/ Regional Tour

Associate Director on Michael Boyd’s Olivier Award winning productions

THE MAIDEN'S PRAYER by Nicky Silver - British Premier
2000
The Bush Theatre
THE LAUGH by Thomas Crowe
1998
Riverside Studios - LNPF

Rehearsed Reading

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
1998
Shakespeare's Globe
TROILUS AND CRESSIDA
1998
Royal Shakespeare Company London/ Stratford/ Regional Tour

Assistant Director
Director Michael Boyd

A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY by Brian Friel, after Turgenev
1998
Royal Shakespeare Company London/ Stratford/ Regional Tour

Assistant Director
Director Michael Attenborough

THE WOOLGATHERER by William Mastrosimone
1998
Battersea Arts Centre
HENRY V
1997
Shakespeare's Globe - Opening Season

Assistant Director
Director Richard Olivier

A CHASTE MAID IN CHEAPSIDE by Middleton
1997
Shakespeare's Globe - Opening Season

Assistant Director
Director Malcolm McKay

THE BOYS NEXT DOOR by Tom Griffin *Time Out - Critics Choice
1997
The Grace Theatre/ The Latchmere
THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller
1997
Middlesex University
COMEDY OF WORDS by Schnitzler
1996
New End Theatre, Hampstead

Rehearsed Reading

DOWNTOWN PARADISE by Mark Jenkins - Premier Production
1996
Finborough Theatre Chapter Art Centre, Cardiff

Rehearsed Reading

FLIP by Andy Garrett
1995
Hen and Chickens Theatre
RESISTANCE by Michael Wall - Premier Production
1994
Old Red Lion Theatre
LOOT by Joe Orton
1993
Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead, Casson Room
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR by Andrew Lloyd Webber
1992
Paul Nicholas & David Ian Associates, West End and National Tour

Assistant Director
Director Hugh Wooldridge

THE TEMPEST
1992
Orchard Theatre Company

Assistant Director
Director Stephen Powell

Sarah Esdaile
Sarah Esdaile
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