Sam Yates is an award-winning film and theatre director. He was named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow and a rising star in The Observer. Yates has been described as “a major talent” in The Guardian newspaper and “a director of unusual flair” in The Observer. 

Yates is known for his eclectic body of work with leading talent including Andrew Scott, Ruth Wilson, Hayley Atwell, Gemma Arterton, Ciarán Hinds, Christian Slater, Matthew Broderick, Elizabeth McGovern, Jane Horrocks, Jade Anouka and Jonah Hauer-King.

His productions have been nominated for Olivier Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Murder Ballad (2017), and Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for The Phlebotomist (2019).

Ruth Wilson in The El. Train (Hoxton Hall). Photography Marc Brenner. Designer Richard Kent. Lighting Neil Austin.

Jade Anouka in The Phlebotomist. Photography Mark Brenner. Design Rosanna Vize. Lighting Zoe Spurr. Video Louise Rhoades-Brown.

THEATRE

Christian Slater in Glengarry Glen Ross (West End). Photography Marc Brenner. Designer Chiara Stephenson. Lighting Richard Howell.

Nichola Hughes and Simon Coombes in The El Train. Photography Marc Brenner. Designer Richard Kent. Lighting Neil Austin.

Stage: The Two Character Play by Tennessee Williams (Hampstead Theatre); A Separate Peace by Tom Stoppard (Curtain Call & Platform Presents); Incantata (Irish Rep, New York Times Critics’ Pick, 2020, Gate Theatre, Dublin, 2019, Galway International Festival & Jen Coppinger, 2018); The Starry Messenger (Wyndham’s Theatre, West End); The Phlebotomist (Hampstead Theatre, Downstairs and transfer to Main Stage, nominated Olivier Award Outstanding Production); Glengarry Glen Ross (Playhouse Theatre, West End, and No.1 UK Tour); Desire Under The Elms (Sheffield Crucible); Murder Ballad (Arts, West End, nominated for three WhatsOnStage Awards and 2017 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress); Cymbeline (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Ian Charleson Award commendation, winner Clarence Derwent Award); East is East (Trafalgar Studios, & 2 UK Tours); The El. Train (Hoxton Hall); Outside Mullingar (Ustinov); Billy Liar (Royal Exchange; winner Best Actor and Best Newcomer at Manchester Theatre Awards); Cornelius (Finborough Theatre, 59E59 New York; nominated four Off West End Awards and Critics’ Pick New York Times); Mixed Marriage (Finborough Theatre); Purgatory by W.B. Yeats (Edinburgh Fringe); Macbeth: The Hour (Edinburgh Fringe).

The Phlebotomist at Hampstead Theatre. Photography Marc Brenner. Designer Rosanna Vize. Lighting Zoe Spurr. Video Louise Rhoades-Brown.

Stanley Townsend in Incantata. Photography Carol Rosegg. Design Rosanna Vize. Lighting Paul Keogan. Video Jack Phelan.

The Starry Messenger (Wyndham’s Theatre). Photography Marc Brenner. Designer Chiara Stephenson. Lighting Neil Austin.

FILM / TV

Credits: Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar (TV Movie, Endemol Shine & Channel 5); The Hope Rooms with Ciarán Hinds & Andrew Scott (31Productions & BKF, Winner Grand Prize Future Filmmaker Award, RIIFF 2016); Cymbeline with Hayley Atwell, All’s Well That Ends Well with Lindsay Duncan & Ruth Wilson, and Love’s Labour’s Lost with Gemma Arterton & David Dawson (The Complete Walk, Shakespeare’s Globe); and two music videos, Emeralds and Auld Wives (MTV’s A-List) for Ivor Novello Award-nominated band Bear’s Den (Communion Music).  

Hayley Atwell in Cymbeline (short film)

Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar (TV movie, Channel 5, Endemol Shine)

Gemma Arterton in Love’s Labours Lost (short film)

Ciaran Hinds and Andrew Scott in The Hope Rooms (short film)