Meet Our Founders

Meet Our Founders

  • Sam Bates

    CO-FOUNDER

    Sam is a working class writer, actor, and theatre-maker from Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Since 2014, he has performed extensively across community theatre, Buxton Fringe Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and beyond. In 2023, he graduated from the Manchester School of Theatre with a BA (Hons) in Acting.

    Projects whilst training: Jeckyll and Hyde (Robert Louis-Stevenson, adapted by Evan Placey); Oppenheimer (by Tom Morton-Smith); Mary Stuart (Friedrich Schiller, adapted by David Harrower); Husbands and Sons (DH Lawrence, adapted by Ben Power).

  • Beth Pollard

    CO-FOUNDER

    Beth is a working class actor-musician, facilitator and writer who trained in Applied Theatre at LIPA, and graduated with a Masters in International Development Law and Human Rights at the University of Warwick.

    Projects whilst training: Red and Black (Slung Low), Paris Project (Good Chance Theatre), 20 Stories High and Collective Encounters.

    Professional credits: Since graduating Beth has worked on theatre projects across primary schools, secondary schools, non-mainstream educational facilities, pupil referral units, community choirs and youth theatres and on collaborations with Fabula Arts and the Challenge.

    Acting credits include: The March (Hear Her Roar, Newcastle and The Space, Edinburgh).

    Beth specialises in working with EAL and working class communities, and currently runs the youth theatre for Working Progress Collective.

Extended Team Behind ‘Sessions’

  • Adam Halcro

    Actor

    George Boucher

  • Naytanael Israel

    Actor

    David Turner

  • Stacey Cullen

    Producer / Dramaturg