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Sam Ellis – Bath Spa University

Personal statement

Sam is a Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University where he teaches on the undergraduate BA (Hons) Acting programme.

He began his performing career on the streets of Paris before training as an actor at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and going on to study at Ecole Philippe Gaulier. Over the past 26 years he has played many roles for stage, television and film.

Sam is also a graduate of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, receiving an MA in Directing.

He has been the Artistic Director of two London-based corporate companies specialising in the use of theatre and film to deliver training in the area of Equality and Diversity for both the public and private sectors. Clients he has written and directed theatre for include The Crown Prosecution Service, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Learning and Skills Council, National Police Training, Ministry Of Defence, Royal Bank Of Canada and Jaguar. He has directed films for The Lord Chancellor’s Department, The Prison Service and Avon and Somerset Police.

As well as guest lecturing and directing for a number of schools, colleges, and universities, Sam was a core staff member at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he contributed to the design and delivery of the Three Year BA (Hons) in Professional Acting, the Two Year Postgraduate FdA in Professional Acting, the International MA in Professional Acting and the MA in Drama Directing for which he was the Deputy Course Director.

Academic qualifications

  • MA Drama Directing - University of the West of England/Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Professional qualifications

  • Diploma in Dramatic Art - Royal Conservatoire Of Scotland.

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • British Actors’ Equity Union
  • ACTRA Performers’ Guild/UBC.

Areas of expertise

  • Acting processes
  • Text analysis
  • Meisner technique
  • Acting for camera.

Invited talks/guest lectures

  • University of York, July 2012: "Playing The Small Screen, A Television Performance Symposium" - panel member: "Training For The Small Screen".

Academic outputs

Performance:

  • Television THE LOST HONOUR OF CHRISTOPHER JEFFRIES, Carnival, Dir Roger Michell (BAFTA winner)
  • Television I SAW THE BEAST, Calling The Shots/Random Acts/Channel 4, Dir Theo Watkins
  • Television, GRANDPA IN MY POCKET (5 series), Adastra/BBC, Dir Richard Bradley/Martin Franks (BAFTA nominated)
  • Television, THE QUEEN, Blast Films, Dir Peter Nicholson
  • Television, EASTENDERS, BBC television, Dir John Greening
  • Television, FEEL THE FORCE, BBC Television,  Dir Tristram Shapeero
  • Television, HOLBY CITY, BBC Television, Dir Simon Massey
  • Television, TAGGART 54-WATERTIGHT, SMG, Dir Brian Kelly
  • Television, SCORN, CBC, Dir Sturla Gunnarsson
  • Television HARBOUR LIGHTS, BBC Television, Dir Keith Boak
  • Television  MYSTERIES, BBC Television, Dir Vivianne Albertine
  • Television BAD BOYS, BBC Television Scotland, Dir Ron Bain
  • Television  FOR AMUSEMENT ONLY, BBC Television, Dir Dominic MacDonald
  • Television, THE BALDY MAN, Working Title Films, Dir Colin Gilbert
  • Television, F.O.T., BBC Television, Dir John Reddin
  • Television, TAKIN' OVER THE ASYLUM, BBC Television Scotland, Dir David Blair (BAFTA winner)
  • Television, STRATHBLAIR, BBC Television Scotland, Dir Brian Parker
  • Feature Film, THE MACHINE, Red & Black Films, Dir Caradog James
  • Feature Film, FLYING BLIND, Ignition Films,  Dir Kasia Klimkiewicz
  • Feature Film, A BUNCH OF AMATEURS, Trademark Films,Dir  Andy Cadiff
  • Film, ONE CAREFUL OWNER, Back To The Wood Prods, Dir Sean Van Hales
  • Feature Film, CHASING LIBERTY, Trade Mark Films/Alcon Entertainment, Dir Andy Cadiff
  • Feature Film, THE CALCIUM KID,Dir Alex De Rakoff
  • Feature Film, Private Hastings, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, DreamWorks, Dir Steven Spielberg (BAFTA/GOLDEN GLOBE/OSCAR winner)
  • Stage, ELOQUENT PROTEST, Duke of York's Theatre, Dir Caroline Clegg
  • Stage, THE ALGEBRA OF FREEDOM, 7:84, Dir Jo Ronan
  • Stage, Valmont  LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, Cambridge Mumford Theatre, Dir Simon Bell
  • Stage, Oberon A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Hornchurch Queen's Theatre, Dir Simon Firth
  • Stage, Baal, BAAL, Greenwich Prince Theatre, Dir Simon Bell
  • Stage, Petruchio, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, Dir David Crilly
  • Stage, Dr. Bormenthal, THE HEART OF A DOG, Edinbugh Festival, Dir  Freda O'Bryne
  • Stage, Screwtape, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, National Tour,  Dir Robin Crawford
  • Stage, Foreman, TWELVE ANGRY MEN, Theatre Positive, Iain Reekie.

Directed:

  • Staggering (The 24Hr Plays, Bath Theatre Royal, Ustinov Theatre)
  • The Comedy Of Errors (BOVTS Tour)
  • Love Song (Pleasance Theatre, Islington)
  • Attitude (Bristol Old Vic Theatre Royal,Theatre:24)
  • The Suicide (BOVTS)
  • The Promise (BOVTS)
  • Design For Living (BOVTS)
  • The Memory Of Water (BOVTS)
  • In Memoriam (Edinburgh Fringe)
  • Knives In Hens (Vancouver Arts Festival).
  • Film: Cuckoo Clocks & Triangular Chocolate, Incident 101 (BOVTV Productions),
  • Something To Say (Music Video, The Goodness)
  • Who’s Andy? (Internet advertising campaign, The Company Prods).

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