Sally Cookson

Sally Cookson
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.¹ Her first professional show as a director was Cloudland, a production for early years staged with Travelling Light in 2003.²

Directing credits

David Copperfield: A Life (2026) - Theatre Royal Bath.
Wonder Boy (2024) – Bristol Old Vic³
Dracula: Mina's Reckoning (2023) – National Theatre of Scotland⁴
Birthmarked (2023) – Bristol Old Vic⁵
Emilia – Bristol Old Vic Theatre School⁶
Wonder Boy (2022) – Bristol Old Vic⁷
Peter Pan (2019) – Royal National Theatre/Bristol Old Vic⁸
A Monster Calls (2018) – The Old Vic⁹
Boing! (2018) – Travelling Light Theatre Company²
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2017) – West Yorkshire Playhouse¹⁰
La Strada (2017) – The Other Place¹¹
Peter Pan (2016) – Royal National Theatre¹²
Hetty Feather (2016) – Rose Theatre Kingston¹³
Jane Eyre (2015) – Royal National Theatre¹⁴¹⁵
Sleeping Beauty (2015) – Bristol Old Vic¹⁶
Jane Eyre (2014) – Bristol Old Vic¹⁵
The Boy Who Cried Wolf (2013) – Bristol Old Vic¹⁷
We're Going on a Bear Hunt (2013)¹⁸
Hetty Feather (2014) – Duke of York's Theatre/Vaudeville Theatre¹⁹
Peter Pan (2012) – Bristol Old Vic¹²
Cinderella: A Fairy Tale (2011) – Tobacco Factory Theatre²⁰
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	²¹
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		²²
2013	Laurence Olivier Award for Best Family Show	Cinderella: A Fairy Tale	Nominated		²³

References

Brown, Nia (2021-02-07). ""We're going into a new territory": interviewing theatre director Sally Cookson". Cherwell. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
"Sally Cookson on telling stories with Travelling Light". Travelling Light Theatre Company. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
"'Wonder Boy' review – Silly but emotive stammer play soars". Liam O'Dell. 2024-10-17. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
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.
Wood, Alex (2023-07-26). "Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Sally Cookson on Birthmarked – "The improvised feel is crucial"". Retrieved 2024-05-28.
Stone, Mary (2023-02-21). "Review: Emilia staged by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School at Circomedia". Bristol Live. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
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.
Kellaway, Kate (2019-08-04). "Peter Pan review – it's all over the place, Darling". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
Trueman, Matt (2018-07-18). "London Theater Review: 'A Monster Calls'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
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.
Clapp, Susannah (2017-06-04). "La Strada review – a finely realised fanfare for Fellini". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
Billington, Michael (2016-12-04). "Peter Pan review – spirited exuberance with a touch of sadness". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
"Hetty Feather returns to Rose Kingston". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
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.
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.
Love, Catherine (2015-12-03). "Sleeping Beauty review – gender-swap fairytale is far from Grimm". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
Gardner, Lyn (2013-07-24). "The Boy Who Cried Wolf – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
Bowie-Sell, Daisy (2013-07-10). "We're Going on a Bear Hunt". Time Out London. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
Maxwell, Dominic (2024-05-28). "Hetty Feather, Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
Gardner, Lyn (2011-12-16). "Cinderella: A Fairytale – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
Eyre, Charlotte (2019-04-08). "A Monster Calls stage show wins Olivier award". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
Shenton, Mark (2015-03-17). "Olivier Nominated Hetty Feather to Return to West End as Part of Tour". Playbill. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
"Olivier Winners 2013". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[:0-1] Brown, Nia (2021-02-07). ""We're going into a new territory": interviewing theatre director Sally Cookson". Cherwell. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[:3-2] "Sally Cookson on telling stories with Travelling Light". Travelling Light Theatre Company. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[3] "'Wonder Boy' review – Silly but emotive stammer play soars". Liam O'Dell. 2024-10-17. Retrieved 2024-12-29.

[4] 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.

[5] Wood, Alex (2023-07-26). "Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Sally Cookson on Birthmarked – "The improvised feel is crucial"". Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[6] Stone, Mary (2023-02-21). "Review: Emilia staged by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School at Circomedia". Bristol Live. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[7] 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.

[8] Kellaway, Kate (2019-08-04). "Peter Pan review – it's all over the place, Darling". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[9] Trueman, Matt (2018-07-18). "London Theater Review: 'A Monster Calls'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[10] 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.

[11] Clapp, Susannah (2017-06-04). "La Strada review – a finely realised fanfare for Fellini". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[:1-12] Billington, Michael (2016-12-04). "Peter Pan review – spirited exuberance with a touch of sadness". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[13] "Hetty Feather returns to Rose Kingston". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[14] 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.

[:2-15] 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.

[16] Love, Catherine (2015-12-03). "Sleeping Beauty review – gender-swap fairytale is far from Grimm". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[17] Gardner, Lyn (2013-07-24). "The Boy Who Cried Wolf – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[18] Bowie-Sell, Daisy (2013-07-10). "We're Going on a Bear Hunt". Time Out London. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[19] Maxwell, Dominic (2024-05-28). "Hetty Feather, Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[20] Gardner, Lyn (2011-12-16). "Cinderella: A Fairytale – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[21] Eyre, Charlotte (2019-04-08). "A Monster Calls stage show wins Olivier award". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[22] Shenton, Mark (2015-03-17). "Olivier Nominated Hetty Feather to Return to West End as Part of Tour". Playbill. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

[23] "Olivier Winners 2013". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

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