Sarah Punshon
Director
Film, TV & Theatre
Sarah is founder and Artistic Director of One Tenth Human, collaborating with artists, scientists and children to create innovative arts-science adventures (“really great children’s theatre” Maddy Costa, Exeunt). One Tenth Human’s projects include Arthur, a solo-and-a-half show performed by Daniel Bye and his 4 month old baby, which won a Scotsman Fringe First 2019, and We’re Stuck!, commissioned by Shoreditch Town Hall & Z-arts, starring Seiriol Davies as “Dr Ernest Volcano” and his robotic twin, “Volcano-bot”. Find out more at www.onetenthhuman.com
Sarah’s other writing and directing for young audiences includes Hattie Naylor’s unique take on The Three Musketeers (nominated for the UK Theatre Award for Best Production for Children and Young People 2018), as well as several critically acclaimed and hugely popular Christmas shows for The Dukes Lancaster (“this is children’s theatre of the highest quality” Northern Soul).
Sarah trained at Cambridge University, the Royal Scottish Conservatoire, on the Regional Theatres Young Directors Scheme (West Yorkshire Playhouse 2003-2005) and on the BBC Drama Directors Academy (2006). She was a Clore Leadership Fellow 2010/11, mentored by Sir Richard Eyre. She was Artistic Director of The Dukes Lancaster 2017-2019.
In Development
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
THE LIGHTBULB PRINCESS | One Tenth Human & tutti frutti | With Ziad Jabero |
Theatre
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
THE JUNGLE BOOK 2022 | Oldham Coliseum | Written by Jessica Swale based on the book by Rudyard Kipling |
THE JUNGLE BOOK 2022 | Dukes Lancaster & Williamson Park | By Andrew Pollard |
CURIOUS INVESTIGATORS 2022 | One Tenth Human | Commissioned by Big Imaginations |
CINDERELLA: THE AWESOME TRUTH 2021 | Polka Theatre / One Tenth Human | By Sarah Punshon and Felix Hagan, created with Toni-Dee Paul |
ARTHUR 2019 | Edinburgh Festival | Co-created with Daniel Bye |
CINDERELLA: A FAIRYTALE 2019 | The Dukes Lancaster | Devised by Sally Cookson, Adam Peck and Company |
PETER PAN 2018 | The Dukes Lancaster | By JM Barrie |
THE THREE MUSKETEERS 2018 | The Dukes Lancaster & Williamson Park | By Hattie Naylor |
EDUCATING RITA 2018 | The Dukes Lancaster & the New Vic Theatre | By Willy Russell |
ALADDIN 2017 | The Dukes Lancaster | By Mike Kenny with additional lyrics by Ivan Stott |
THE ASTONISHING VACUUM CLEANER ADVENTURE 2017 - 2018 | One Tenth Human Ltd / National Tour | By Sarah Punshon |
PARTNERS IN CRIME 2016 | Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch | Adapted with Johann Hari |
DIAL M FOR MURDER 2016 | Theatre By The Lake, Keswick | By Frederick Knott |
WE'RE STUCK! 2016 | China Plate Theatre, Shoreditch Town Hall and Z-arts | Written by Sarah Punshon |
TINY HEROES 2016 | Beaford Arts and The BikeShed Theatre, Exeter | Written by Daniel Bye with original music by Boff Whalley |
THE BOX OF PHOTGRAPHS 2016 | Polka Theatre, Wimbledon | A new play by Daniel Jamieson. |
THE SECRET ADVERSARY 2015 | Watermill Theatre / Eleanor Lloyd Productions | By Agatha Christie |
STORY HUNT 2014 | Arc, Stockton-on-Tees | Written by Daniel Bye |
GASLIGHT 2013 | New Vic Theatre (Newcastle under Lyme) | By Patrick Hamilton |
HOW TO OCCUPY AN OIL RIG 2013 | Daniel Bye / Northern Stage at St Stephen's | Part of Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013 |
THE GLASS MENAGERIE 2011 | Oldham Coliseum / New Vic Theatre (Newcastle under Lyme) | |
AND A NIGHTINGALE SANG 2010 | New Vic Theatre / Oldham Coliseum | Additional tour to Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough |
THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 2009 | Creation Theatre Company | |
THE LADY IN THE VAN 2009 | Salisbury Playhouse | |
A NUMBER 2009 | Library Theatre, Manchester | |
DON'T YOU LEAVE ME HERE 2008 | West Yorkshire Playhouse | |
THE CARETAKER 2008 | Theatre-by-the-Lake, Keswick | |
BE MY BABY 2008 | New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-upon-Lyme | |
OF MICE AND MEN 2007 | Theatre-by-the-Lake, Keswick | |
FROZEN 2006 | Theatre-by-the-Lake, Keswick | |
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY 2006 | Theatre-by-the-Lake, Keswick | |
JOACHIM & NANA 2006 | The Janus Project, West Yorkshire Playhouse | |
SEVEN FOR A SECRET 2006 | West Yorkshire Playhouse & Regional Tour | |
MY MOTHER SAID I NEVER SHOULD 2005 | West Yorkshire Playhouse |
Television
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
DOCTORS | BBC | 39 x 30' |
SHAMELESS - SERIES 8 - EP. 16 | Company Pictures / Channel 4 | 1 x 60' |
EASTENDERS | BBC | 7 x 30' |
EMMERDALE | ITV | 12 x 30' |
Other
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Wonderstruck 2014 | Manchester Museum / People United | By Boff Whalley and Daniel Bye |
Wrong! A carnival of human error 2013 | Wellcome Collection | As Curator |
Curator of Performing Arts 2013 | Natural History Museum | 2012-13 |
REVIEWS
THE SECRET ADVERSARY (Watermill Theatre and Eleanor Lloyd Productions)
"“Punshon gets the atmosphere spot-on... dizzyingly brilliant perspective changes... a clever, versatile cast give it a propulsive momentum” (The Stage)
"Nifty, old-school and fun" (Daily Mail)
HOW TO OCCUPY AN OIL RIG (ARC Stockton/ Northern Stage/ Tour)
"funny, real and touching" (The Times)
THE GLASS MENAGERIE (New Vic Theatre/ Oldham Coliseum)
"bordering on perfect" (Manchester Evening News)
DON'T YOU LEAVE ME HERE (West Yorkshire Playhouse)
"dazzling debut play... fine direction" (The Observer)