Sam Potter is an award-winning British playwright and screenwriter originally from Norfolk but now based in London. She is known for her sharp, darkly funny, compassionate work which often explores ideas of class, identity and gender politics.

My work

© Geraint Lewis

THE UNICORN

Arcola Theatre and UK Tour
2022/2023Directed by Tom Brennan. Starring Alice Lamb.★★★★ “A no-holds-barred sex-positive show that will have you cackling while on the edge of your seat.” EVERYTHING THEATRE

HANNA

Arcola Theatre and UK Tour
Papatango, 2018Directed by George Turvey.
Starring Sophie Khan Levy.★★★★ “'Gripping… a memorable and moving look at nature and nurture and what family really means." THE TIMES

© Robert Workman

SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE

North Wall and Edinburgh Festival
2018Directed by Emily Smart. Starring Sebastian Croft.★★★★ “A compelling study of the preoccupations and pressures of teenage life.” OXFORD TIMES

MUCKY KID

Theatre 503
2014Directed by James Farrell.
Starring Sonya Cassidy, Serena Manteghi and Adam Loxley.★★★★ "Cleverly written, darkly comedic and engaging.” THE LADY★★★★ “A script that marks Potter as a playwright to watch.” TIME OUT

© Jane Hobson

About

Sam is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, director and dramaturg. She is currently Literary Associate at London's Kiln Theatre and Creative Associate at the North Wall in Oxford.Her plays include: THE UNICORN (Arcola and UK Tour); THE RIPPLE EFFECT (Mountview); HANNA (Arcola and UK Tour); SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE (North Wall and Edinburgh Festival); THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD, SAME (Soho); DANIEL (Kiln); MUCKY KID (Theatre 503).Her debut play MUCKY KID was a Finalist for the Most Promising New Playwright Award at the Offies in 2014. In 2015, she won a Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme Bursary and in 2016 she was awarded a BBC Performing Arts Fellowship. She was appointed Writer in Residence at Papatango in 2015/6 and Writer in Residence at the North Wall in 2017 where she was made a Creative Associate in 2018.Her most recent production THE UNICORN, toured to 12 UK venues in 2022/23 including; Arcola, Vault Festival, Edinburgh Festival and Oxford Playhouse. The show garnered numerous four and five star reviews and was nominated for an Artists’ Choice Award at Vault Festival in 2023 and was an Offie Finalist in 2024.As a director, she has previously created work for numerous theatres including; Hampstead, NT, Trafalgar Studios, High Tide and Oran Mor. As an assistant/associate director, primarily working at RSC, NT and Glyndebourne Opera, she has worked alongside some of the great names in late twentieth century theatre including: Nicholas Hytner, Howard Davies, Richard Jones, Max Stafford-Clark, Matthew Warchus and Jonathan Kent.She is published by Nick Hern Books.

Contact

For professional enquiries please email me.
To purchase Hanna from Nick Hern Books, click the cart below

© Sam Potter 2026

CV

WRITINGTheatre
LIKE A GHOST
Goethe-Institut, 2024
Director Max KirkTHE UNICORN
Arcola, Vault Festival, UK Tour, 2022/2023
Director Tom Brennan
Starring Alice Lamb
OFFIE Finalist, Best Solo Performance, 2024
Artists' Choice Award nominee, 2023MID
Mountview Graduate Show, 2023
Director Stephen JamesonBITTERSWEET/NORMAL
The Place Bedford, 2023
StageWrite FestivalTHE RIPPLE EFFECT
Mountview Graduate Show, 2022
Director Max KirkCHARLIE CHARLIE
Alchymy Festival, 2019
Director Issy SnapeHANNA
Arcola and UK Tour (Papatango) 2018
Director George Turvey
Starring Sophie Khan LevyMR GUM (Musical)
Mountview, 2018
Book and direction Sam Potter
Music and lyrics Benjamin TillSOMEONE, SOMEWHERE
North Wall and Edinburgh Festival, 2018
Director Emily Smart
Starring Sebastian CroftMETCALFE AND SONS
Lamda, 2018
Director Kate BudgenTHE SAME OLD, SAME OLD, SAME
Soho Theatre, 2016
Director Abigail GrahamDANIEL
Kiln Theatre (New Writing Festival), 2016
Director Jen BasktMUCKY KID
Theatre 503, 2013
Director James Farrell
Starring Sonya Cassidy, Serena Manteghi, Adam Loxley.
OFFIE Finalist - Most Promising New Playwright, 2014TV/Film
THE UNICORN
Western Edge Pictures
(Feature film)FIREBIRD
Bryncoed Productions
(Original series treatment)HANNA
Warp Films
(Original series treatment)Writing Achievements
2023 Finalist
Artists’ Choice Award - Vault Festival
(THE UNICORN)2023 Winner
StageWrite Festival
(BITTERSWEET/NORMAL)2022 Longlisted
Bruntwood Award
(WHILST LIFE EXISTS)2021 Shortlisted
Traverse Breakthrough Writers Award
(BITTERSWEET/NORMAL)2020 Longlisted
Women’s Prize for Playwriting
(CHARLIE CHARLIE)2017 Top 40
Bruntwood Award
(CHARLIE CHARLIE)2015 Winner
BBC Performing Arts Fellow2015 Winner
Channel 4 Playwrights Scheme2015 Shortlisted
BBC Screenplay First Award2014 Finalist
Most Promising New Playwright - Offies
(MUCKY KID)DRAMATURGYLITERARY ASSOCIATE
Kiln Theatre
(Current)CREATIVE ASSOCIATE
North Wall
2017-presentCREATIVE ASSOCIATE
Headlong
2013-2015LITERARY MANAGER
Out of Joint
2011-2013Script Development
Sam has worked as a script reader, dramaturg, workshop facilitator and consultant for numerous theatres and companies including: NT, RSC, Hampstead, Glyndebourne, Theatre 503, Soho, Papatango, Globe, Liverpool Everyman, Leicester Curve and West Yorkshire Playhouse.DIRECTINGDirecting Credits
INSTRUCTIONS FOR A NOISE LIKE HOPE by Tobias Menzies
North Wall - Audio Drama, 2021I HATE LILIES by Emma Rogerson
North Wall - Audio Drama, 2021TU I TERAZ (HERE AND NOW) by Nicola Werenowska
Hampstead and UK Tour, 2012BREATHING CORPSES by Laura Wade
Theatre Delicatessen, 2010TOM STOPPARD RETROSPECTIVE
High Tide Festival, 2009COSI FAN TUTTE by Amadeus Mozart
Palace of Arts, Budapest, 2008
Las Palmas Festival, 2008
Glyndebourne Festival, 2007
BBC Proms-Albert Hall, 2006
Glyndebourne on Tour, 2006SH*T-MIX by Leo Richardson
Trafalgar Studios, 2008SNOWBOUND by Ciaran McConville
Trafalgar Studios, 2008IN SPITTING DISTANCE by Taher Najib
NT Platform, 2007HEROES by Leo Butler
NT Education Tour, 2007PEA-PICKERS by Nicola Werenowska
Eastern Angles, 2007ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM by Anon
White Bear, 2006THE HEAD OF RED O’BRIEN by Mark O'Halloran
Oran Mor, 2004A SEXUAL CONGRESS by Odon von Horvath
NT Platform, 2003Assistant/Associate Credits
EMPEROR AND GALILEAN
NT, 2011
(Dir. Jonathan Kent)COSI FAN TUTTE
Glydebourne Festival, 2006
(Dir. Nicholas Hytner)PAUL
NT, 2005
(Dir. Howard Davies)HENRY IV: Parts I & II
NT, 2004
(Dir. Nicholas Hytner)BURIED CHILD
NT, 2004
(Dir. Matthew Warchus)CYRANO DE BERGERAC
NT, 2004
(Dir. Howard Davies)TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS
NT, 2003
(Dir. Richard Jones)PERICLES
RSC and Cardboard Citizens, 2003
(Dir. Adrian Jackson)THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
RSC, 2002/3
(Dir. Rachel Kavanaugh)CORIOLANUS
RSC, 2002/3
(Dir. David Farr)THE PRISONER’S DILEMMA
RSC, 2001
(Dir. Mike Attenborough)