Maria Crocker

Maria is a working-class, Northern director and deviser working across new writing, musical theatre and adaptations. Based in Newcastle, her work spans both regional theatre and the West End.

Recent productions 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”.

Maria has a long-standing collaboration with internationally acclaimed director Rachel Chavkin, working as her Associate Director in the UK. Maria directed the West End revival of HADESTOWN in 2023, which was nominated for the 'Best Revival' Olivier Award, and continues to oversee the production and casting. Maria has also worked alongside renowned directors including Jeremy Herrin, John Crowley, Amy Hodge, John Tiffany and Roger Michell

Her work has been staged at Northern Stage, Live Theatre, Pilot Theatre and as part of the British Council International Showcase. She has developed new work through workshops and readings at organisations including the National Theatre, The Lowry, The RSC, Shoreditch Town Hall and New Writing North. She is currently developing two new musicals with Regional Theatres, a new play by Alison Carr for Live Theatre and Stephen Joseph Theatre, a devised project for ARC Stockton and Cambridge Junction, and a new pantomime at Durham Gala.

Maria is an alumna of Headlong Origins and the National Theatre Studio, the Michael Grandage Futures bursary programme, and was runner-up for the RTST Sir Peter Hall Directing Award. 

Directing/Devising credits: All Of It (The Tute); Into The Woods (Customs House); Dogs on the Metro, My Door, Amai Vangu (Live Theatre); The Voyage Home, She's Always Hungry (Durham Gala); You Heard Me (British Council International Showcase and UK Tour); Chicago (The Exchange); The Sorcerers Apprentice, Growth, Found (Northern Stage); Spring Awakening (Middlesbrough Town Hall); Scarborough Porpoise (Pilot Theatre); Assassins (Mountview), Pronoun (ALRA) Little Bits of Light, The Blessed (National Theatre – workshop); No Miracles Here (The Letter Room/Summerhall); One Last Waltz (Hope Theatre, UK Tour); Bonenkai (The Letter Room/Underbelly) The Man Who… (The Letter Room/ARC Stockton).

Staff, Assistant, Associate & Resident Director credits: Hadestown (The Lyric, West End – Revival Director); Unprecedented, Meek, Pinocchio (Headlong); Local Hero (Edinburgh Lyceum/Old Vic); Hadestown (National Theatre); Mood Music (Old Vic); Gods Are Fallen (Greyscale); Animal Farm, Catch 22 (Northern Stage); The Gamblers (Dundee Rep).