Sarah Grochala
Sarah Grochala is an Anglo-Polish playwright based in London. She is currently Senior Lecturer, Writing for Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where she leads the MA/MFA Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media.
Her play S-27 won the 2007 iceandfire/Amnesty International Protect the Human Playwriting Competition and was also shortlisted for the King’s Cross Award and the Leah Ryan Award for Emerging Women Writers. S-27 premiered at the Finborough Theatre, London in June 2009. Since its first production in 2009, S-27 has been revived nationally (Wardrobe Theatre Bristol, 2014) and internationally, including productions in Australia (Griffin Theatre, Sydney, 2010; Two Tall Theatre, Newcastle, 2016; Feet First Collective, Freemantle, 2019 and Adelaide 2020) and Canada (Intersection Theatre Toronto, 2012). S-27 is published by Oberon books and has been translated into Hebrew and French.
Sarah’s other plays include Waiting for Romeo (Romeo’yu Beklerken), which ran in rep at Tiyatro Yan Etki, Istanbul from 2014 to 2016, winning the 2015 Ekin Yazin Dostları Theatre Award for Best Play (Small Venue). In 2011, she won OffWestEnd.com’s Adopt a Playwright Award for her play Smolensk. Her most recent play Star Fish was shortlisted for the 2016 Nick Darke Award and BBC Script Room 10.
Between 2012 and 2016, Sarah was an Associate Artist with the theatre company Headlong, where she worked on creating theatrical experiences using digital media. Her work as a writer has been supported and developed by The National Theatre Studio, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Orange Tree, Criterion New Writing Programme, Arts Council England, The Peggy Ramsay Foundation, The Orchard Project (USA), The Studios Key West (USA) and OffWestEnd.com. She is currently a member of the Sphinx 30. Alongside her playwriting, she writes Dr Who and The Avengers audio dramas for Big Finish productions.
Sarah's first book, The Contemporary Political Play, was published by Methuen Drama in 2017 Prize and shortlisted for the TaPRA Early Career Research Prize. Her second book The Theatre of Rupert Goold was published by Methuen Drama in 2020. In 2018, she was recently awarded a British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award for a project exploring the lack of contemporary European plays in translation on British Stages. Her research work has also been nominated for the Philip Leverhulme Prize.
Her play S-27 won the 2007 iceandfire/Amnesty International Protect the Human Playwriting Competition and was also shortlisted for the King’s Cross Award and the Leah Ryan Award for Emerging Women Writers. S-27 premiered at the Finborough Theatre, London in June 2009. Since its first production in 2009, S-27 has been revived nationally (Wardrobe Theatre Bristol, 2014) and internationally, including productions in Australia (Griffin Theatre, Sydney, 2010; Two Tall Theatre, Newcastle, 2016; Feet First Collective, Freemantle, 2019 and Adelaide 2020) and Canada (Intersection Theatre Toronto, 2012). S-27 is published by Oberon books and has been translated into Hebrew and French.
Sarah’s other plays include Waiting for Romeo (Romeo’yu Beklerken), which ran in rep at Tiyatro Yan Etki, Istanbul from 2014 to 2016, winning the 2015 Ekin Yazin Dostları Theatre Award for Best Play (Small Venue). In 2011, she won OffWestEnd.com’s Adopt a Playwright Award for her play Smolensk. Her most recent play Star Fish was shortlisted for the 2016 Nick Darke Award and BBC Script Room 10.
Between 2012 and 2016, Sarah was an Associate Artist with the theatre company Headlong, where she worked on creating theatrical experiences using digital media. Her work as a writer has been supported and developed by The National Theatre Studio, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Orange Tree, Criterion New Writing Programme, Arts Council England, The Peggy Ramsay Foundation, The Orchard Project (USA), The Studios Key West (USA) and OffWestEnd.com. She is currently a member of the Sphinx 30. Alongside her playwriting, she writes Dr Who and The Avengers audio dramas for Big Finish productions.
Sarah's first book, The Contemporary Political Play, was published by Methuen Drama in 2017 Prize and shortlisted for the TaPRA Early Career Research Prize. Her second book The Theatre of Rupert Goold was published by Methuen Drama in 2020. In 2018, she was recently awarded a British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award for a project exploring the lack of contemporary European plays in translation on British Stages. Her research work has also been nominated for the Philip Leverhulme Prize.
London (Greater London)
Selected Reviews
‘Director Abigail Graham and performer Jennifer Jackson make the most of Sarah Grochala's The Red Shoes, an astonishingly direct yet poetic piece of writing, a perfect miniature that explores desire and madness in London's Westfield shopping centre.’ Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
‘S-27 is almost unrelentingly bleak but the taut script and powerful performances are mesmerising. It's a play that lingers in the mind long after the curtain has fallen.’ Gina Flaxman, Time Out Sydney
‘Sarah Grochala's play, inspired by stories of those who survived the Khmer Rouge, is a blistering account of the things that we will do to save our own skins, and the way the human heart betrays us. It says a great deal about the systems and structures of new writing in UK theatres that Grochala's nugget of a play has been lying around for two years unproduced. At its best it reminds us of Pinter and Bond’ Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
Awards
2018 Shortlisted TAPRA Early Career Research Prize (The Contemporary Political Play)
2018 British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award
2016 Shortlisted for the Nick Darke Award (Star Fish)
2016 Shortlisted for BBC Writers Room Script Room 10 (Star Fish)
2016 Longlisted for the Theatre 503 Playwriting Award – Top 30 (Star Fish)
2015 Longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize – Top 40 (Star Fish)
2015 Shortlisted for the Old Vic Twelve
2015 Best Play (Small Venue), Ekin Yazin Dostları Theatre Awards (Waiting for Romeo)
2011 Winner of the Off West End.com Adopt a Playwright Award (Smolensk)
2010 Time Out Sydney Critics’ Choice (S-27)
2010 Finalist Leah Ryan Prize for Emerging Women Writers (S-27)
2009 Time Out London Critics’ Choice (S-27)
2007 Winner of the Amnesty Protect the Human Playwriting Competition (S-27)
2007 Shortlisted for the King’s Cross Award (S-27)
Attachments and Residencies
2020-21 Sphinx 30
2020 Orchard Project Liveness Lab (USA)
2018 Criterion New Writing Programme
2016/17 Member of the Orange Tree Writers’ Collective
2015 Artist in Residence, The Studios Key West (USA)
2015 Resident Artist, The Orchard Project (USA)
2013/14 Writer’s Attachment, National Theatre Studio (a series of minor incidents)
Publications - Plays
S-27 (London: Oberon, 2009)
Publications – Books
The Theatre of Rupert Goold (London: Methuen Drama, 2020)
The Contemporary Political Play (London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2017)
Productions – Full Length Plays
2020 S-27 Adelaide Festival dir. Teresa Izzard
2019 S-27 Freemantle Festival dir. Teresa Izzard
2016 S-27 The Royal Exchange, Newcastle, Australia dir. Nick Wood
2015 Waiting for Romeo Tiyatro Mavra, Adana, Turkey dir. Ali Haydar Bozkurt
2014-16 Waiting for Romeo Tiyatro Yan Etki, Istanbul dir. Serkan Üstüner
2012 S-27 Annex Theatre, Toronto dir. Yolanda Ferrato
2010 S-27 Griffin Theatre, Sydney dir. Caroline Craig
2009 S-27 Finborough, London dir. Steve Keyworth
2009 Waiting for Romeo Pleasance Islington, London dir. Nina Brazier
2006 Waiting for Romeo Hill Street, Edinburgh dir. Nina Brazier
2006 Waiting for Romeo RADA, London dir. Nina Brazier
2005 Open Ground Theatro Technis, London dir. John Lee
Productions - Short Plays
2020 How Not to Get Raped and Murdered White Bear, London dir. Mingyu Lu
2017 Not Us Orange Tree, London dir. Ola Ince
2015 Alexandria n. Ark Short Stories, London dir. Sarah Grochala
2014 Little Mermaid Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff dir. Julia Wyndham
2014 The Shadow Soho Theatre, London dir. Abigail Graham
2013 Red Shoes Ulster Hall, Belfast dir. Aislínn Clarke
2012 Red Shoes Belfast Festival dir. Aislínn Clarke
2012 Emperor’s New Clothes Cockpit Theatre, London dir. Dominic Kelly
2012 Red Shoes Arches, Glasgow dir. Abigail Graham
2012 Red Shoes Theatre 503, London dir. Abigail Graham
2012 Red Shoes Chapter Arts, Cardiff dir. Abigail Graham
2011 The Beautiful Ones Latitude Festival dir. Derek Bond
2010 Standing Out of the Light Tristan Bates, London dir. Abigail Graham
2010 Altogether Now Theatre 503, London dir. Jack McNamara
2010 Standing Out of the Light Old Joint Stock, Birmingham dir. Abigail Graham
2010 Skin Arcola, London dir. Zena Birch
2010 Standing Out of the Light Theatre 503, London dir. Abigail Graham
2010 Remains RADA, London dir. Nina Brazier
2010 Accountable Theatre 503, London dir. Jacqui Honess-Martin
2010 The Return Birmingham University dir. Naomi Cooke
2009 Remains Theatre 503, London dir. Antonio Ferrara
2008 Viable Alternatives Green Man Festival dir. Vicky Graham
2008 Gift King’s Head, London dir. Robert Wolstenholme
2004 Open Ground Hampstead Theatre, London dir. Andrew Loudon
Rehearsed Readings
2019 Intelligence Criterion Theatre dir. Guy Jones
2017 Intelligence NT Studio/Orange Tree dir. Guy Jones
2013 Home Free Finborough Theatre dir. Stasi Schaeffer
2012 Smolensk Theatre Royal Haymarket dir. Abigail Graham
2011 Sihanoukville (Star Fish) Finborough, London dir. Eleanor Rhode
2010 Waiting for Romeo Teatr Ludowy, Krakow dir. Anna Kerth
2010 Martyrs of Warsaw Finborough, London dir. Steve Keyworth
2010 Remains Theater Chemnitz, Chemnitz dir. Svetlana Dimcovic
2010 Waiting for Romeo Klub Żak, Gdańsk dir. Anna Kerth
2008 Halfway Out Tristan Bates, London dir. Anouke Brook
2007 S-27 Soho Theatre, London dir. Sara Masters
2006 Waiting for Romeo RADA, London dir. Nina Brazier
Radio/Audio Drama
2024 The Face in the Storm Big Finish dir. TBC
2021 Outback Big Finish dir. Helen Goldwyn
2021 Off Grid Big Finish dir. Ken Bentley
2021 Mother’s Day Big Finish dir. Samuel Clemens
2021 The Hollow Crown Big Finish dir. Ken Bentley
2020 Do No Harm Big Finish dir. Ken Bentley
2019 Narcissus Big Finish dir. Helen Goldwyn
2009 Covent Garden Theatre Voice/Theatre 503 dir. Tim Roseman
Streaming
2020-21 S-27 #FinboroughForFree dir. Stephen Keyworth
2020 Little Mermaid Papercut Goes Zoom dir. Melissa Dunne
Digital
2020 Digital Natives (R&D) Potential Difference Writer
2016 What’s She Like Headlong/Coney Writer/Curator
2014 The Nether Realm Headlong/Royal Court Dramaturg/Curator
2014 PRISM Headlong/Cultural Institute at King’s Curator
2013 1984 Digital Double Headlong/Cultural Institute at King’s Collaborator
‘Director Abigail Graham and performer Jennifer Jackson make the most of Sarah Grochala's The Red Shoes, an astonishingly direct yet poetic piece of writing, a perfect miniature that explores desire and madness in London's Westfield shopping centre.’ Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
‘S-27 is almost unrelentingly bleak but the taut script and powerful performances are mesmerising. It's a play that lingers in the mind long after the curtain has fallen.’ Gina Flaxman, Time Out Sydney
‘Sarah Grochala's play, inspired by stories of those who survived the Khmer Rouge, is a blistering account of the things that we will do to save our own skins, and the way the human heart betrays us. It says a great deal about the systems and structures of new writing in UK theatres that Grochala's nugget of a play has been lying around for two years unproduced. At its best it reminds us of Pinter and Bond’ Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
Awards
2018 Shortlisted TAPRA Early Career Research Prize (The Contemporary Political Play)
2018 British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award
2016 Shortlisted for the Nick Darke Award (Star Fish)
2016 Shortlisted for BBC Writers Room Script Room 10 (Star Fish)
2016 Longlisted for the Theatre 503 Playwriting Award – Top 30 (Star Fish)
2015 Longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize – Top 40 (Star Fish)
2015 Shortlisted for the Old Vic Twelve
2015 Best Play (Small Venue), Ekin Yazin Dostları Theatre Awards (Waiting for Romeo)
2011 Winner of the Off West End.com Adopt a Playwright Award (Smolensk)
2010 Time Out Sydney Critics’ Choice (S-27)
2010 Finalist Leah Ryan Prize for Emerging Women Writers (S-27)
2009 Time Out London Critics’ Choice (S-27)
2007 Winner of the Amnesty Protect the Human Playwriting Competition (S-27)
2007 Shortlisted for the King’s Cross Award (S-27)
Attachments and Residencies
2020-21 Sphinx 30
2020 Orchard Project Liveness Lab (USA)
2018 Criterion New Writing Programme
2016/17 Member of the Orange Tree Writers’ Collective
2015 Artist in Residence, The Studios Key West (USA)
2015 Resident Artist, The Orchard Project (USA)
2013/14 Writer’s Attachment, National Theatre Studio (a series of minor incidents)
Publications - Plays
S-27 (London: Oberon, 2009)
Publications – Books
The Theatre of Rupert Goold (London: Methuen Drama, 2020)
The Contemporary Political Play (London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2017)
Productions – Full Length Plays
2020 S-27 Adelaide Festival dir. Teresa Izzard
2019 S-27 Freemantle Festival dir. Teresa Izzard
2016 S-27 The Royal Exchange, Newcastle, Australia dir. Nick Wood
2015 Waiting for Romeo Tiyatro Mavra, Adana, Turkey dir. Ali Haydar Bozkurt
2014-16 Waiting for Romeo Tiyatro Yan Etki, Istanbul dir. Serkan Üstüner
2012 S-27 Annex Theatre, Toronto dir. Yolanda Ferrato
2010 S-27 Griffin Theatre, Sydney dir. Caroline Craig
2009 S-27 Finborough, London dir. Steve Keyworth
2009 Waiting for Romeo Pleasance Islington, London dir. Nina Brazier
2006 Waiting for Romeo Hill Street, Edinburgh dir. Nina Brazier
2006 Waiting for Romeo RADA, London dir. Nina Brazier
2005 Open Ground Theatro Technis, London dir. John Lee
Productions - Short Plays
2020 How Not to Get Raped and Murdered White Bear, London dir. Mingyu Lu
2017 Not Us Orange Tree, London dir. Ola Ince
2015 Alexandria n. Ark Short Stories, London dir. Sarah Grochala
2014 Little Mermaid Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff dir. Julia Wyndham
2014 The Shadow Soho Theatre, London dir. Abigail Graham
2013 Red Shoes Ulster Hall, Belfast dir. Aislínn Clarke
2012 Red Shoes Belfast Festival dir. Aislínn Clarke
2012 Emperor’s New Clothes Cockpit Theatre, London dir. Dominic Kelly
2012 Red Shoes Arches, Glasgow dir. Abigail Graham
2012 Red Shoes Theatre 503, London dir. Abigail Graham
2012 Red Shoes Chapter Arts, Cardiff dir. Abigail Graham
2011 The Beautiful Ones Latitude Festival dir. Derek Bond
2010 Standing Out of the Light Tristan Bates, London dir. Abigail Graham
2010 Altogether Now Theatre 503, London dir. Jack McNamara
2010 Standing Out of the Light Old Joint Stock, Birmingham dir. Abigail Graham
2010 Skin Arcola, London dir. Zena Birch
2010 Standing Out of the Light Theatre 503, London dir. Abigail Graham
2010 Remains RADA, London dir. Nina Brazier
2010 Accountable Theatre 503, London dir. Jacqui Honess-Martin
2010 The Return Birmingham University dir. Naomi Cooke
2009 Remains Theatre 503, London dir. Antonio Ferrara
2008 Viable Alternatives Green Man Festival dir. Vicky Graham
2008 Gift King’s Head, London dir. Robert Wolstenholme
2004 Open Ground Hampstead Theatre, London dir. Andrew Loudon
Rehearsed Readings
2019 Intelligence Criterion Theatre dir. Guy Jones
2017 Intelligence NT Studio/Orange Tree dir. Guy Jones
2013 Home Free Finborough Theatre dir. Stasi Schaeffer
2012 Smolensk Theatre Royal Haymarket dir. Abigail Graham
2011 Sihanoukville (Star Fish) Finborough, London dir. Eleanor Rhode
2010 Waiting for Romeo Teatr Ludowy, Krakow dir. Anna Kerth
2010 Martyrs of Warsaw Finborough, London dir. Steve Keyworth
2010 Remains Theater Chemnitz, Chemnitz dir. Svetlana Dimcovic
2010 Waiting for Romeo Klub Żak, Gdańsk dir. Anna Kerth
2008 Halfway Out Tristan Bates, London dir. Anouke Brook
2007 S-27 Soho Theatre, London dir. Sara Masters
2006 Waiting for Romeo RADA, London dir. Nina Brazier
Radio/Audio Drama
2024 The Face in the Storm Big Finish dir. TBC
2021 Outback Big Finish dir. Helen Goldwyn
2021 Off Grid Big Finish dir. Ken Bentley
2021 Mother’s Day Big Finish dir. Samuel Clemens
2021 The Hollow Crown Big Finish dir. Ken Bentley
2020 Do No Harm Big Finish dir. Ken Bentley
2019 Narcissus Big Finish dir. Helen Goldwyn
2009 Covent Garden Theatre Voice/Theatre 503 dir. Tim Roseman
Streaming
2020-21 S-27 #FinboroughForFree dir. Stephen Keyworth
2020 Little Mermaid Papercut Goes Zoom dir. Melissa Dunne
Digital
2020 Digital Natives (R&D) Potential Difference Writer
2016 What’s She Like Headlong/Coney Writer/Curator
2014 The Nether Realm Headlong/Royal Court Dramaturg/Curator
2014 PRISM Headlong/Cultural Institute at King’s Curator
2013 1984 Digital Double Headlong/Cultural Institute at King’s Collaborator
Radio, Theatre, Videogames
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