Director of Drama Appointed

Uppingham School is pleased to announce that Sarah Barker-Doherty will be the School’s new Director of Theatre, joining in September 2023.

Sarah is passionate about the power of the Arts to inspire young people and will join Uppingham from her current position as Vice Principle (Enrichment) and Director of Performing Arts at the North London Collegiate School in Singapore.

Sarah’s passion for theatre started as a child actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company. While at university she developed a love of directing and went on to work as a professional director all over the world. She has worked with a range of casts and productions including Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and Joseph and in countries California, Alaska, Christchurch (New Zealand), Krakow (Poland), Spain, and Austria. As the Education and Associate Director of Alaska Theatre of Youth, she developed a state-wide theatre in education programme, while also directing professional productions in Anchorage.

She continued her career, working as Theatre and Education Director for The Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, where she collaborated with a range of visiting companies including The National Theatre. Sarah also worked as Education Associate at the Birmingham Rep, Waterman’s Arts Centre, and Riverside Studios.

In 2006, realising that her true vocation lay in teaching, Sarah joined King’s High School for Girls, Warwick, as Head of Drama. More recently Sarah worked at the prestigious Aiglon College in the Swiss Alps, combining her love of theatre with the outdoors.

In 2017, Sarah joined the central education team for Dulwich College International as Director of Visual and Performing Arts, overseeing the Arts offering in 13 Dulwich schools across China, Korea, Myanmar, and Singapore. She managed partnerships with the Royal Shakespeare Company Education, Royal Northern College of Music, Berklee College and Auckland University Dance. Sarah programmed a professional global artist programme across Asia, as well as running music, dance, and theatre festivals across all 13 schools.

Sarah Baker-Doherty said, “I am very excited to be joining Uppingham and continuing to build upon the outstanding drama and theatre programme that exists in the school. Uppingham’s commitment to the arts and the excellent theatrical resources, including the Theatre and Studio, provide so much opportunity for pupils in all aspects of production. I look forward to working with the pupils and ensuring that theatre and drama continue to enrich their Uppingham journey.”

Dr Kyi Muller, Assistant Head: Co-curricular, said: “Theatre and drama at Uppingham provides life-enriching experiences for our pupils, and is at the centre of the cultural and social life of the School. The breadth of Sarah Baker-Doherty’s experience - as a performer, director and educator - will inspire all who participate in theatre at Uppingham.”

“We look forward to welcoming Sarah to Uppingham, and to see how her passion and enthusiasm for all aspects of theatre, takes our programme for the dramatic arts to a new level.”