Sam Cochrane is a multi-award-winning writer who previously developed a semi-autobiographical comedy drama series with BBC & Can Can Productions called Reel Life. Currently, he has a comedy drama series in development with Argo Films called Ballistic, and is writing two other series for TV: a drama called Get Well Soon and a comedy drama called Crackers.
Sam is the Artistic Director of Gigglemug Theatre. He wrote, directed and performed in all of their Edinburgh Fringe hits: Timpson: The Musical, which won The Stage Award, the critically-acclaimed RuneSical, and most recently A Jaffa Cake Musical, which sold out its entire run and gained over 50 four & five star reviews. He also wrote and directed Scouts! The Musical which received a WhatsOnStage Award Nomination for Best Off-West End Production. Sam is one half of The Bean Spillers: The Improvised Musical which regularly performs with members of Showstopper!, Mischief Theatre & Austentatious.
Sam has also created several comedy podcasts including Archergeddon!, an apocalyptic parody of The Archers starring Mel Giedroyc, and Go Home, You’re Drunk!, an award-winning series featuring comedians from Taskmaster, Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You & QI.
Sam studied History at the University of Warwick and screenwriting at the National Film and Television School.
A JAFFA CAKE MUSICAL
(writer/producer/performer – KEVIN)
Selected for the MTFest 2024. Produced at Pleasance Courtyard, The Edinburgh Fringe 2024 & 2025.
*WINNER Fringe Theatre Award 2025
*Featured in The Guardian’s top 12 shows for families
*Featured in The Times’ best shows to see
*Featured in The Stage’s best theatre shows to see
*Featured in WhatsOnStage’s pick of musicals to see
*Weird and wonderful – THE SUN
*Phenomenal – THE PHOENIX REMIX *****
*Really silly and great fun – BROADWAY WORLD *****
*A Jaffa Cake Musical is a hit! – THEATRE & TONIC *****
*A superbly polished and entertaining musical – THE STUDENT *****
*A hysterically funny hour of whimsy – THE WEE REVIEW *****
*Pure delight – THREEWEEKS *****
*Wildy funny and hugely entertaining – THEATRE WEEKLY *****
*A spectacularly fun musical – NORTH WEST END *****
*Pure ridiculous bliss – LONDON THEATRE DOC *****
*This show is ready for the West End – FRINGESIDER *****
*A force to be reckoned with on the musical comedy scene – THE STAGE ****
*A brilliant family-friendly musical – THE NATIONAL ****
SCOUTS! THE MUSICAL
(writer/director/producer)
Selected for BEAM2021. Produced at The Other Palace, London 2023 & on tour in 2025, including at The Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester & The Egg Theatre, Bath.
*WINNER The Standing Ovation Award 2025
*NOMINATED WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off-West End Production 2024
*NOMINATED Offies Best Performance Ensemble 2023
*NOMINATED Four Fringe Theatre Awards 2025
*An utter masterpiece in entertainment – BOX OFFICE RADIO *****
*A comedic triumph – WEST END EVENINGS *****
*Truly delightful – A YOUNG(ISH) PERSPECTIVE *****
*A magnificent family musical for all ages – NORTH WEST END *****
*A gem of a show – FAIRY POWERED PRODUCTIONS *****
*A wholesome musical that will leave you wanting to buy the CD – SHORT THEATRE REVIEWS *****
*Heartfelt, silly and sweet – BROADWAY WORLD ****
*Utterly joyous and incredibly witty – ALL THAT DAZZLES ****
*Extraordinary – BROADWAY BABY ****
*Scouts! The Musical is truly something special – FIRST NIGHT MAGAZINE ****
TIMPSON: THE MUSICAL
(writer/director/producer/ performer – MAN 1)
Produced at The Edinburgh Fringe 2018 and on tour in 2019 including at The King’s Head, London.
*WINNER The Stage Edinburgh Award 2018
*NOMINATED BroadwayWorld Best Musical Award 2018
*Featured in The Guardian’s list of best shows at the Edinburgh Festival
*Bonkers but brilliant! – THE BBC
*For laugh-a-minute silliness, this Gigglemug Theatre production is hard to beat – DAILY EXPRESS
*Blistering wit – THEATRE WEEKLY *****
*Fun, clever and simply brilliant – NORTH WEST END *****
*The dawn of a new music-focused comedy collective – THE STAGE ****
*Constant madcap fun – THE REVIEWS HUB ****
*Spectacular – YOUNG PERSPECTIVE ****
*Prepare to laugh until you ache – LONDON PUB THEATRES ****
*Charming, witty, and bonkers – INDIEPENDENT ****
*Timpson: The Musical had me throatily guffawing from minute one – LONDON CITY NIGHTS ****
RUNESICAL
(writer/director/producer/performer – THE WISE OLD MAN)
Produced at The Gilded Balloon, The Edinburgh Fringe 2022.
*NOMINATED The Standing Ovation Award 2023
*Featured in WhatsOnStage’s list of the top musicals to see
*Featured in The Stage’s pick of the Fringe
*A delight from start to finish – LONDONTHEATRE1 *****
*Simply fantastic – FRINGEBISCUIT *****
*Witty, smart and just downright brilliant – STAGE TO PAGE *****
*A nostalgic, hilarious show – BEYOND THE CURTAIN *****
*Absolute bangers – THE STAGE ****
*Laugh out loud funny – MUSICAL THEATRE REVIEW ****
*Masters of comedy musical theatre – THEATRE WEEKLY ****
*RuneSical is a ‘level up’ from standard musicals – ADVENTURES IN THEATRELAND ****
*Gigglemug are fast becoming the tops in seriously silly musicals – LOUREVIEWS ****
*Gigglemug Theatre has triumphed with this show… Now I’m off to watch it again – THESE THEATRE THOUGHTS ****
