Meet new Board Chair Sam Haren

February 27th, 2023

We spoke with Patch’s new Chair, Sam Haren, about leading the board, his experience with children’s theatre and what excites him most about Patch’s future.

What first drew you to Patch Theatre and its work for young audiences?

Patch was actually a huge inspiration for me when I first started creating work for young audiences. I directed a show called Plop! and at the time I was really inspired by the work Patch and Dave Brown were making - there was such immediacy and theatricality to it. I remember aspiring to create something with that same clarity and magic. As it turned out, that very first show was also a collaboration with Geoff Cobham as designer, and his love for this young audience and his creative insights were key to the success of that show. So it feels very special to now come full circle.

What excites you most about the future of Patch Theatre?

Patch is at an incredibly exciting moment. There’s such strong demand for the company’s work, and Geoff has defined a really distinctive artistic vision in collaboration with an exceptional team.

Young audiences so genuinely connect with what Patch creates. I’m excited about how the company can continue to grow and share that work more broadly, and in new contexts.

What is your first memory of performing arts?

I’m not sure I remember the very first show I saw, but theatre was a huge part of my life growing up. As a teenager, I was part of Southern Youth Theatre Ensemble, where we created and performed new works. That experience - collaborating, generating ideas, turning them into live experiences - really shaped my passion for directing and for creativity itself.

Designer Jonathan Oxlade and Sam working on Beep for Windmill Theatre | Photo: Sia Duff

As Chair, what strengths or perspectives are you most looking forward to bringing to the company?

It’s such a privilege to step into this role. I feel very lucky that so much of my experience intersects naturally with Patch’s vision. I’ve spent many years creating theatre for young audiences at Windmill, and I led Sandpit for 13 years, a company focused on interactive and immersive experiences. I’m deeply passionate about participatory work that places audiences at the centre of the experience. That philosophy feels very aligned with what Patch does so beautifully.


What have you learned about young audiences that adults sometimes overlook?

One of the things I love about the age group Patch creates for is their immediacy. There’s no subtext with a 4-year-old, they’re completely present! They’re there to engage, to participate, to connect. In my own work, I’ve always been inspired by the question: how do we situate children inside the experience? How do we give them purpose in the room?

Sam and his blue ribbon winning banana cake at the Royal Adelaide Show

When you’re not in board mode, what brings you joy or helps you recharge?

I love cooking, and especially baking. It’s my way of switching off on the weekend. A few years ago, I entered the Royal Show for the very first time with a banana cake … and won the blue ribbon! It was a tremendous honour (and the most prestigious award I’ve won in my career!). Sadly, I haven’t won anything since... but it was glorious while it lasted!


In three words, how would you describe the magic of live theatre for children?

Imaginative. Electric. Alive.