Sally Knyvette is a British Actress, Director, Voice Artist, & Teacher who has been fortunate enough to spend a lifetime working in the profession she loves. Born Sally James, a doctor’s daughter from Horsham. She is best known for her role as Jenna Stannis in the cult BBC sci-fi series Blake’s 7 and Kate Sugden in Emmerdale. She has built a richly varied career which includes acting, directing in the theatre, voice work and teaching, Her real love has always been the stage. She started out working in REP Theatre, where she worked hard for 7 years and was inspired by the excitement of live performance.
“It was where I began, and where I continue to return”. Her stage career has taken her to the West End and many theatres across the country, including memorable productions with Mike Alfreds, whose inventive approach to storytelling has had a tremendous influence. “Working with Mike changed my approach to acting. His methods of working have been inspirational.
He has taught me to be:
“Different Every Night“
“His rigorous insistence on storytelling & the importance of truth and spontaneity in all performances has transformed my work over the years” Whether performing, directing, or teaching, her passion remains the same:
‘Exploring the many ways stories can move, inform, inspire and connect us’.
Theatre
Productions Include:
- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – Jean – Lucy Bailey
- 5 Characters in search of a good nights sleep – Helen – Mike Alfreds
- King lear – Goneril – Johnathan Millar
- Presidential Suite – Mdme Chataigne – John T Brinkley
- Collette Collage -Collette – David Phipps Davis
- Vinegar Tom – Joan – Cobden club – Tom Patton
- Filumena – Diana – Piccadilly Theatre – Sir Peter Hall
- Hamlet – Ophelia – Mervyn willis
- The Country Wife – Mrs Fidget – Lawrence Boswell
- Divine Right – Madame Speaker Sarah Pointer/Jenny – Bill Alexander
- How The Other Half Loves – Fiona – Ian Masters
- A Handful Of Dust – Mrs Rattery/Polly Cockpurse/Babs Caroline – Mike Alfreds
- The Dearly Beloved – Caroline – Mike Alfreds
- Hamlet – Ophelia – John Southworth
- Dangerous Obssesions – Sally – David Fleishman
- Overruled – Mrs Juno – Ken Parrott
- Having A Ball – The Surgeon – Bob Thompson
- Rule Of The Game – Mrs Lindo – Ken Parrott
- Time And Time Again – Janet – John Southworth
- The Importance Of Being Earnest – Gwendolyn – John Southworth
- Sawn Off At The Knees – Julie – Chris Wilkinson
- The Cocktail Party – Celia – John Southworth
- King Lear – Cordelia – Giles Block
Directing
Sally started directing in 2001 when she assisted Jack Gold in his production of Twelve Angry Men at The Tricycle Theatre.
Inspired by this, she went on to direct her own productions of:
- Twelve Angry Men at Pentameters
- Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been by Eric Bentley at The Tricycle Theatre
- Inherit the Wind – by Jerome Lawrence/Robert E Lee at The Tricycle Theatre
- To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee at The Tricycle Theatre
- Judgment at Nuremberg by Abbey Mann at The Tricycle Theatre and at The Bridewell Theatre
- A World Elsewhere by Alan Franks at Theatre 503
- Burning Bridges by Amy Schindler at Theatre 503
Drama School Productions:
- Summer Folk – Maxim Gorky at BADA
- A Midsummer Nights Dream – Shakespeare at GSA
- Hard Times– Charles Dickens (adapted by Stephen Jeffreys) at City Lit
- Twelfth Night – Shakespeare at RADA.
- A dramatised reading of Clare McIntyre’s adaptation of Beware of Pity by Stephan Zweig, at RADA, with Tom Burke.
Teaching
Sally has directed various Drama School productions. She has also taught acting, audition technique and voice work
as well as teaching privately.
Corporate work
She has also worked for many years in the corporate sector: at The Foreign Office, The Treasury and at Ashridge (Britain’s leading executive education center), helping individuals develop both Impact and presence and leadership skills. She uses her performance experience, insights and skills to encourage business professionals to communicate clearly and effectively in any professional or public situation.
She also ran her own courses at City Lit for many years, called ‘Impact and Presence’ and ‘Exploring Shakespeare’.
Podcast
Sally is soon to launch her own Podcast focusing on
‘women who do not have their own children‘
How to navigate the years between 40ish – 100 if you do not have your own family.
She hopes to open up the subject globally so that women can discuss and share their different experiences
Gallery
Theatre (repertory)
7 years in rep theatre, including many Shakespeare roles.
Jenna Stannis
in the cult BBC sci-fi series Blake’s 7
Kate Sugden
in Emmerdale.
The Sweeney - Angela
Guest role in this crime-drama.
Z-Cars
Appeared in two episodes as different characters (Valerie Howton / Fiona Seaton).
Who Pays the Ferryman?
She appeared in this series.
A Chance to Sit Down — Helen Firbank
she appeared in two episodes.