Maria Crocker

Maria is a working-class Northern theatre director and deviser based in Newcastle, specialising in new writing, musical theatre and adaptations. Her work spans regional theatre across the UK as well as major West End productions.

Maria’s recent directing credits include The Sorcerer’s Apprentice at Northern Stage, described by The Telegraph as “utterly compelling… with tremendous pace, humour and inventiveness”, and Dogs on the Metro at Live Theatre, praised for its “pitch-perfect direction and deeply human performances”.  In August 2026, she will present a work in progress of new musical THE GAP as part of Shedinburgh’s Shed Originals development programme. Written by Victoria Gimby and Stuart Matthew Price, The Gap is a time-travelling love letter to the North East inspired by the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, for which Maria serves as dramaturg, director and development lead. She is also directing ALL AT SEA, a new play by Alison Carr inspired by the notorious Canoe Man case for Stephen Joseph Theatre and Live Theatre.

She is a long-standing collaborator of internationally acclaimed director Rachel Chavkin, working as Associate Director in the UK. In 2023, Maria directed the West End revival of Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre, which was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Revival. She continues to oversee the production and casting. Her wider experience includes working with leading directors such as Jeremy Herrin, John Crowley, Amy Hodge, John Tiffany and Roger Michell.

Maria’s work has been staged at leading venues including Northern Stage, Live Theatre and Pilot Theatre, and featured in the British Council International Showcase. She has developed new theatre projects through workshops and readings with organisations such as the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), The Lowry, Shoreditch Town Hall and New Writing North.

She is currently developing new musicals with regional theatres, a new play by Alison Carr (Live Theatre and Stephen Joseph Theatre), a devised project for ARC Stockton and Cambridge Junction, and a new pantomime at Durham Gala Theatre.

Maria trained through Headlong Origins and the National Theatre Studio, and is a recipient of the Michael Grandage Futures bursary. She was also runner-up for the RTST Sir Peter Hall Directing Award.

Selected Directing Credits
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Growth, Found (Northern Stage); Dogs on the Metro, My Door, Amai Vangu (Live Theatre); Into the Woods (Customs House); Spring Awakening (Middlesbrough Town Hall); Scarborough Porpoise (Pilot Theatre); Chicago (The Exchange); Assassins (Mountview); Pronoun (ALRA); One Last Waltz (UK Tour); Bonenkai, The Man Who… (The Letter Room/ARC Stockton).

Associate, Assistant & Resident Director Credits
Hadestown (West End – Revival Director); Hadestown (National Theatre); Local Hero (Edinburgh Lyceum/Old Vic); Mood Music (Old Vic); Unprecedented, Meek, Pinocchio (Headlong); Animal Farm, Catch-22 (Northern Stage); The Gamblers (Dundee Rep)