Sam Swann (Class of 2010)

Sam was born in Manchester. He attended Grammar School in Handsworth, Birmingham where he obtained 11 GCSEs. He then moved to Stratford-upon-Avon College where he achieved four A levels in Theatre Studies, Maths, Film and English Literature.

Sam’s desire to perform stemmed from his early experimentation with different accents, a talent which Sam put to good use in his drama lessons and school plays: The Boy Who Fell into a Book, by Alan Ayckbourn and The Wyrd Sisters ( from Terry Pratchett’s novel). After a recommendation from his school drama teacher to audition for the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol Sam beat many young actors to the part of Scrooge. The following Summer Sam took part in the Alexandra Theatre’s youth project, a full-scale musical production of Guys and Dolls in which he played Nicely Nicely Johnson.

Whilst at Stratford-upon-Avon College Sam was mesmerised by the productions he saw at the RSC. In fact, it was here that his desire to train at LAMDA was born. Sam was inspired by the wealth of experience and versatility of the LAMDA alumni he saw performing there.

Before coming to LAMDA, Sam directed and produced a production of Macbeth at the Midlands Arts Centre and performed Cider with Rosie and Daughters of Albion with Birmingham’s Stage2 youth theatre company.

In his first year at LAMDA Sam played Mick in Plenty by David Hare, Tristan in The Sisterhood by Molière, Jasperino in The Changeling by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley, and Orestes in Eumenides by Aeschylus.

Sam has just been castin the lead role of a new RSC play, Dunsinane by David Greig at the Hampstead Theatre.   The play is a sequel to Macbeth, directed by Roxana Silbert (Associate Director for the RSC).  Sam will be taking on the lead role of 'Boy Soldier', a working class boy from Kent on his first military campaign.

LAMDA Genesis Scholars homepage.