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Sam's performance journey
Beginnings 2020-2022
Sam began writing comedy scripts and making videos during the COVID lockdowns of 2020. These featured his invention, Socrates Smith (a would be intellectual-about-town and misanthrope) who first appeared in Sam's 2019 novel 'The Tin Parrot' and was brought to life in the exhibition 'The Lost Photographs of Socrates Smith' . Other characters include wannabe rock star Rick Solomon, of whom it was once said, "he was an artist who just missed out on making the small time". In another project, Sam recreated Albert Camus' 'The Plague', casting Socrates Smith as the minor character Mr. Grande, who tries to take over the novel, killing the author in the process.
Click on the images below to view Socrates Smith's 'The Pest' and videos from the 'Rick Solomon Songbook'.
Rick Solomon Songbook
Socrates Smith's 'The Pest'
An Evening with Borges 2023
During 2021-2022, Sam undertook drama coaching with dramatist Crystal Haig. In 2023, he engaged Elizabeth Dawson-Smith aka Miss Friby as dramaturg for his first public theatre project, Socrates Smith's 'An Evening with Borges', which opened at the Melbourne Fringe 2023.
In this absurd comedy, would-be literati Socrates Smith is convinced his life script is being written by real-life surrealist writer J. L. Borges. Socrates hosts an event at which 'the greatest author never to win the Nobel Prize' is due to arrive. The only problem for Socrates is that Borges is dead . . . but will he turn up anyway?
The work features absurd wordplay, physical comedy and clever and hilarious props.
View the gallery below for images of the show and rehearsals.
An Evening with Borges
Click on the image below to view a video of the performance at Club Voltaire, October 2023.
Video of show at Club Voltaire
The Classroom of Tomorrow 2025
Sam's second public theatre project, 'The Classroom of Tomorrow' opened at Club Voltaire in October 2025 as an off-fringe show.
Channelling teachers from his past as an ADHD-afflicted student, Sam plays Mr. Kerr, a grade 6 teacher in 1967. Mr. Kerr tries to envision for his students how the world will be in sixty years - "say, 2025, to pick a number AT RANDOM". Sam uses this ploy to ridicule our assumptions that the world improves over time, exposing that rather, it is a case of mindlessly repeating the same mistakes. Mr Kerr has a poignant back story that is gradually revealed, and and a SHOCKING SECRET that we learn at the opening of Act 3. Sam performs three musical numbers in the show, paying homage to discredited 60's icon, Rolf Harris.
View the gallery below for images from the live show at Club Voltaire.
Poster designed by Zebraprawn aka Kathy Lloyd
Click on the images below to watch a full video of a studio rehearsal or an excerpt of the live show at Club Voltaire.
Studio rehearsal (entire show)
Excerpt from performance at Club Voltaire
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