Sean Foley (born 21 November 1964) is a British director, writer, comedian and actor. Following early success as part of the comedy double act The Right Size and their long-running stage show ''

The Play What I Wrote ''The Play What I Wrote'' is a comedy play written by Hamish McColl, Sean Foley and Eddie Braben, starring Foley and McColl (the double act The Right Size, playing characters named "Sean" and "Hamish"), with Toby Jones, directed by Kenneth Br ...

'', Foley has more recently become a director, including of several West End comedy productions.

Early career and ''The Right Size''

Foley and

Hamish McColl Hamish McColl (born 28 January 1962) is a British comedian, writer and actor. He trained at the École Philippe Gaulier, Paris and the University of Cambridge. With Sean Foley, he formed the double act ''The Right Size'' in 1988, creating com ...

formed ''The Right Size'' in 1988.Noor Hayati
"Three's The Right Size"
''New Straits Times'', 1 July 1989. Retrieved 2012-10-20. They devised and performed in the shows, with regular creative team collaborators such as director Jozef Houben,
. Retrieved 2012-10-20. designer Alice Power,
, ''the agency''. Retrieved 2012-10-19. and songwriter Chris Larner.
Retrieved 2012-10-19. Their style combined elements of clowning, physical comedy,

mime Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) is an Internet standard that extends the format of email messages to support text in character sets other than ASCII, as well as attachments of audio, video, images, and application programs. Message ...

, slapstick,Nick Curtis
"THE FRINGE / Not as funny as all that: Nick Curtis on the caperings of Penny Dreadful and the calm Song for a Bluefoot Man"
''The Independent'', 6 October 1993. Retrieved 2012-10-20.

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

and

variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

.Brian Logan
"How stupid can they get?"
''The Guardian'', 12 July 1999. Retrieved 2012-10-20.Fiachra Gibbons
"The play what is breaking West End theatre records"
''The Guardian'', 22 December 2001 . Retrieved 2012-10-17. ''The Right Size'''s major successes were ''Do You Come Here Often?'', about two strangers stuck in a bathroom for 25 years, and ''

'', a tribute to

Morecambe and Wise Eric Morecambe (John Eric Bartholomew, 14 May 1926 – 28 May 1984) and Ernie Wise (Ernest Wiseman, 27 November 1925 – 21 March 1999), known as Morecambe and Wise (and sometimes as Eric and Ernie), were an English comic double act, working ...

. ''The Right Size'' were active until 2006.

Acting

Foley has played some major parts in traditional scripted roles, including Freud in '' Hysteria'' by Terry Johnson at

Birmingham Rep Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre ...

in 2007,Terry Grimley
"Terry Grimley meets Sean Foley, co-creator of The Play What I Wrote, now playing Sigmund Freud at Birmingham Rep."
''The Birmingham Post'', 25 April 2007. Retrieved 2012-10-19. and the single role in the film of Samuel Beckett's ''

Act Without Words I ''Act Without Words I'' is a short play by Samuel Beckett. It is a mime, Beckett's first (followed by '' Act Without Words II''). Like many of Beckett's works, the play was originally written in French (''Acte sans paroles I''), being translate ...

'' directed by

Karel Reisz Karel Reisz (21 July 1926 – 25 November 2002) was a Czech-born British filmmaker, one of the pioneers of the new realist strain in British cinema during the 1950s and 1960s. Two of the best-known films he directed are '' Saturday Night and S ...

. He appeared alongside

Mark Rylance Sir David Mark Rylance Waters (born 18 January 1960) is a British actor, playwright and theatre director. He is known for his roles on stage and screen having received numerous awards including an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Laurence ...

in ''I Am Shakespeare'' at the

Minerva Theatre, Chichester The Minerva Theatre is a studio theatre seating, at full capacity, 310. It is run as part of the adjacent Chichester Festival Theatre, located in Chichester, England, and was opened in 1989.Oxford Youth Theatre before his time at the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

, where he studied history.

Writing and directing

Foley made his stage directorial debut in 2007 with ''

Pinter's People ''Pinter's People'' is a compilation of revue sketches or short prose works by Harold Pinter, which was performed for four weeks from 30 January 2007, at the Haymarket Theatre, in London, starring Bill Bailey, Geraldine McNulty, Sally Phillips, ...

''. He then directed several stage shows by stand-up comedians including

Joan Rivers Joan Alexandra Molinsky (June 8, 1933 – September 4, 2014), known professionally as Joan Rivers, was an American comedian, actress, producer, writer and television host. She was noted for her blunt, often controversial comedic persona—heavi ...

Nina Conti Nina Margarita Conti (born 25 August 1973) is a British actress, comedian, and ventriloquist. Early life Conti was born and raised in Hampstead, London, the daughter of actors Tom Conti and Kara Wilson. She attended King Alfred School, Londo ...

and

Armstrong and Miller Armstrong and Miller are an English comedy double act consisting of the actor-comedians Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller. They have performed in two eponymous television sketch shows, the satirical ''Timeghost'' podcast, and many individual ...

. He achieved significant West End success in 2012, when he directed productions of '' The Ladykillers'' (for which he was nominated for the 2012

Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director The Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, an ...

) and Joe Orton's '' What the Butler Saw''. He also, with Patrick Barlow, co-directed and co-wrote a four-actor stage adaptation of '' Ben Hur'' at the

Watermill Theatre The Watermill Theatre is a repertory theatre in Bagnor, Berkshire. It opened in 1967 in Bagnor Mill, a converted watermill on the River Lambourn. As a producing house, the theatre has produced works that have subsequently moved on to the West E ...

, a regional English theatre. In 2013, Foley made his Royal Shakespeare Company debut, directing

Thomas Middleton Thomas Middleton (baptised 18 April 1580 – July 1627; also spelt ''Midleton'') was an English Jacobean playwright and poet. He, with John Fletcher and Ben Jonson, was among the most successful and prolific of playwrights at work in the Jac ...

's ''

A Mad World, My Masters ''A Mad World, My Masters'' is a Jacobean stage play written by Thomas Middleton, a comedy first performed around 1605 and first published in 1608. The title had been used by a pamphleteer, Nicholas Breton, in 1603, and was later the origin for ...

''. The production was well received by UK critics. It was announced in June 2013 that Foley would be directing Matthew MacFadyen and

Stephen Mangan Stephen James Mangan (born 16 May 1968) is an English actor, comedian, presenter and writer. He has played Guy Secretan in ''Green Wing'', Dan Moody in ''I'm Alan Partridge'', Seán Lincoln in '' Episodes'', Bigwig in ''Watership Down'', Postm ...

in a theatrical adaptation of

P. G. Wodehouse Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, ( ; 15 October 188114 February 1975) was an English author and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. His creations include the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Jeeve ...

Jeeves Jeeves (born Reginald Jeeves, nicknamed Reggie) is a fictional character in a series of comedic short stories and novels by English author P. G. Wodehouse. Jeeves is the highly competent valet of a wealthy and idle young Londoner named Berti ...

and Wooster stories, to be titled '' Perfect Nonsense'', at the

Duke of York's Theatre The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster, London. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre until her death in 1935. Designed by th ...

, London, from 30 October 2013."Sean Foley"
. Retrieved 2012-10-14. Foley also directed the ''

X Factor ''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for ''Pop Idol'' (2001–2003) ...

'' stage musical, ''

I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical ''I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical'' was a musical comedy written by Harry Hill, and Steve Brown. Based on the TV series ''The X Factor'', the musical made its West End and world premiere in March 2014, at the London Palladium. Due to low tic ...

'', which premiered in 2014. Foley adapted and directed ''The Painkiller'' starring

Kenneth Branagh Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh (; born 10 December 1960) is a British actor and filmmaker. Branagh trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and has served as its president since 2015. He has won an Academy Award, four BAFTAs (plus ...

and

Rob Brydon Robert Brydon Jones (; born 3 May 1965) is a Welsh actor, comedian, impressionist, presenter, singer and writer. He played Dr Paul Hamilton in the Australian/British comedy series ''Supernova'', Bryn West in the BBC sitcom '' Gavin & Stacey'' ...

during the Kenneth Branagh season at the

Garrick Theatre The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, named after the stage actor David Garrick. It opened in 1889 with ''The Profligate'', a play by Arthur Wing Pinero, and another Pinero play, ' ...

in the West End in March 2016. He also adapted Eugène Ionesco's '' Amédée, or How to Get Rid of It'' starring

Josie Lawrence Josie Lawrence (born Wendy Lawrence; 6 June 1959) is an English actress and comedian. She is best known for her work with the Comedy Store Players improvisational troupe, the television series '' Whose Line Is It Anyway?'' and as Manda Best in ...

and Trevor Fox in March 2017 at the

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre ...

. He directed his and Phil Porter's adaptation of Molière's ''

The Miser ''The Miser'' (french: L'Avare; ; also known by the longer name ''L'Avare ou L'École du Mensonge,'' meaning The Miser, or the School for Lies) is a five-act comedy in prose by the French playwright Molière. It was first performed on September ...

'' starring

Griff Rhys Jones Griffith Rhys Jones (born 16 November 1953) is a Welsh comedian, writer, actor, and television presenter. He starred in a number of television series with his comedy partner, Mel Smith. Rhys Jones came to national attention in the 1980s for h ...

Lee Mack Lee Gordon McKillop (born 4 August 1968), known by his stage name Lee Mack, is an English comedian, actor, podcaster and presenter. He is known for his quick wit, writing and starring in the sitcom '' Not Going Out'', being a team captain on th ...

and

Mathew Horne Mathew Frazer Horne (born 6 September 1978) is an English actor, comedian, television presenter and narrator. He is best known for appearing on several BBC sketch shows and sitcoms, most notably ''Gavin & Stacey'' (as Gavin Shipman), ''The C ...

at the

which was nominated for a 2018 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. He also directed Noël Coward's ''

Present Laughter ''Present Laughter'' is a comic play written by Noël Coward in 1939 but not produced until 1942 because the Second World War began while it was in rehearsal, and the British theatres closed. The title is drawn from a song in Shakespeare's ''T ...

'' for

Chichester Festival Theatre Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, it was opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Mart ...

in April 2018 starring

Rufus Hound Rufus Hound (born Robert James Blair Simpson 6 March 1979) is an English actor, comedian and presenter. Early life Hound was born on 6 March 1979, in Essex and moved to Surrey at the age of seven. He was educated at Hoe Bridge School Woking ...

as Garry Essendine with

Katherine Kingsley Katherine Kingsley (born 24 December 1981) is an English actress. Early life Born and raised in Cambridge and schooled at Parkside Community College and Long Road Sixth Form College, Kingsley moved to London to study with the English National Oper ...

and

Tracy Ann Oberman Tracy-Ann Oberman (born Tracy Anne Oberman; 25 August 1966) is an English actress, playwright and narrator. She is widely known for roles including Chrissie Watts in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'' (2004–2005) and Valerie Lewis or "Auntie ...

. Foley also adapted and directed ''

The Man in the White Suit ''The Man in the White Suit'' is a 1951 British satirical science fiction comedy film made by Ealing Studios. It stars Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood and Cecil Parker and was directed by Alexander Mackendrick. The film was nominated for an A ...

'' for the stage, starring

and

Kara Tointon Kara Louise Tointon (born 5 August 1983) is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Dawn Swann in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders''. In 2010, she won the BBC competition series '' Strictly Come Dancing'', and in 2015, she appeared ...

, beginning at the

Theatre Royal, Bath The Theatre Royal in Bath, England, was built in 1805. A Grade II* listed building, it has been described by the Theatres Trust as "One of the most important surviving examples of Georgian theatre architecture". It has a capacity for an audien ...

for three weeks before transferring to the

Wyndham's Theatre Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by actor/manager Charles Wyndham (the other is the Criterion Theatre). Located on Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, it was designed c.1898 by W. G. R. Sprague, the archit ...

in London's West End from 9 October until 7 December 2019. In February 2020, Foley directed ''

The Upstart Crow ''The Upstart Crow'' is a stage play by Ben Elton developed from his BBC TV sitcom ''Upstart Crow''. Production history The play, directed by Sean Foley (director), Sean Foley, began previews at the Gielgud Theatre in West End theatre, London' ...

'' by

Ben Elton Benjamin Charles Elton (born 3 May 1959) is an English comedian, actor, author, playwright, lyricist and director. He was a part of London's alternative comedy movement of the 1980s and became a writer on the sitcoms '' The Young Ones'' and ''Bla ...

, based on the BBC TV series with David Mitchell reprising his role as

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

at the

Gielgud Theatre The Gielgud Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, at the corner of Rupert Street, in the City of Westminster, London. The house currently has 986 seats on three levels. The theatre was designed by W. G. R. Sprague and ...

, London. The production was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play. However, due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

, the production closed early. The production will be revived at the Apollo Theatre, London from 23 September to 3 December 2022.

Artistic Director of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre

In March 2019 it was announced that Foley was appointed to become artistic director of

succeeding Roxana Silbert. Foley's inaugural season was due to start in 2020 however, due to the

it began in autumn 2021. Foley's first production as director was a revival of his play ''

'' from 27 November 2021 until 1 January 2022, followed by ''The COVID-19 Variations: A Piano Drama'' composed by Richard Thomas, created by Alison Jackson and performed by Philip Edward Fisher from 8 to 9 February 2022. In February 2023 he will direct ''Spitting Image Live,'' based on the TV series, co-written by himself,

Al Murray Alastair James Hay Murray (born 10 May 1968) is an English comedian, actor, musician and writer from Hammersmith. In 2003, he was listed in ''The Observer'' as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy, and in 2007 he was voted the 16th gre ...

and

Matt Forde Matt Forde (born 6 November 1982) is an English impressionist, television writer, and radio presenter. Background Forde attended Becket School in West Bridgford, Nottingham. His mother is a former nun. He joined the Labour Party when he was 15 ...

Awards and nominations

Olivier Awards

;Winner * 1999 Best Entertainment, ''Do You Come Here Often'' * 2002 Best Comedy, ''

'' ;Nominations * 2002 Best Actor (with

), ''

'' * 2006 Best Entertainment, ''

Ducktastic ''Ducktastic'' is a 2005 farce, parodying the Siegfried and Roy Las Vegas act, but with performing ducks instead of tigers. The show stars, and was written by the double act The Right Size (Hamish McColl and Sean Foley) and directed by Kenneth ...

'' * 2010 Best Entertainment, ''Arturo Brachetti: Change'' * 2012 Best Director, '' The Ladykillers'' * 2012 Best New Play, '' The Ladykillers'' *2018 Best New Comedy, ''

Tony Awards

;Nominations * 2003 Best Special Theatrical Event, ''

Selected other work

Television

*''

Spine Chillers ''Spine Chillers'' was the name of two separate supernatural television series, broadcast on the BBC. 1980s series ''Spine Chillers'' was a 1980 British children's supernatural television series produced by the Jackanory team and broadcast on BBC ...

'' *''

Wild West The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial ...

'' *''

Happiness Happiness, in the context of mental or emotional states, is positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishing and eudaimonia. ...

'' *'' People Like Us'' *'' The Fitz'' *''

Brass Eye ''Brass Eye'' is a British satirical television series parodying current affairs news programming. A series of six episodes aired on Channel 4 in 1997, and a further episode in 2001. The series was created and presented by Chris Morris, written ...

Radio

* ''The Remains of Foley and McColl'' * ''Foley and McColl Again'' * ''The Goldfish Bowl''

Film

*'' Mindhorn'' (2016)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Sean Alumni of the University of Oxford English male comedians British directors English male stage actors Living people People from Cleethorpes 1964 births