Resolutions 2026

Here we go again.

Another year has past and again I find myself reviewing the last 12 months and thinking about the future. I’ll be honest it’s been a bit of a mixed year for me.

On the one hand life has been good – I’ve an amazing partner, Lou, and a beautiful son, Harris, as well as cheeky Poppy The Dog, who bring me so much joy and warmth. I’ve got to make and tour another show, this time in association with the Lawrence Batley Theatre (with 12 dates still to come in Feb and Mar). Theatr Clwyd has finally reopened and the shows, so far, have sold very well.

But… I’ve also not been very well for a chunk of the year, a combination of fairly brutal anxiety and occasional darkness bubbling under the surface – it’s a confusing thing, I’m outwardly very jolly, but there’s always been the two Sam’s, the outward face, and then the introvert who, frankly, doesn’t like himself very much.

I mention it because I’ve been a little flaky this year in writing blog posts and might be writing more about this (possibly) in the future (we’ll see how I feel). I guess sometimes we can tell ourselves we’re invincible, we may try and project calm and control, but under the surface we’re secretly drowning.

Fairly bleak eh? Let’s move on.

So to the important business that regular readers (circa 4 people) get to engage with on an annual basis. Where I assess the success of the previous resolutions (see here to read) and then make some new ones.

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Resolutions 2025 – Review

1. Finish and tour “We’re Not Getting A Dog” 
   Done. This made me so monumentally happy. Basically the amazing CEO of the LBT in Huddersfield messaged me (what a legend) and I ended up doing a WIP in their basement. It went well and I booked some dates in Autumn. They went well and so I’ve got another 12 dates in Feb and March! I feel like I’ve got a real sense of my voice and more confidence on stage. And yes the show will lose money. And no no-one has reviewed it. And yes audiences are small (occasionally single figures). But who gives a fuck. It’s fun.
2. Work for a theatre for free (again)
   Done. Again I really loved doing this, spending a day with the team at Shakespeare North Theatre and a little time with the team at the LBT, chatting about various things as an outside eye (I’m careful to avoid the word consultant as I’m not one of those, more a marketing eye. I really enjoyed it. It’s really heartening to see some of the the astonishingly talented marketeers in the UK. I also got to help out some really great artists this year who are touring for the first time to support them. Also deeply rewarding.
3. Swim 50km in 1 year
   Fail. I think I managed about 12km which really isn’t a lot. I think what I’ve discovered is that I really enjoyed swimming when I was going to the nice gym in Chester near our old house (it had a jacuzzi), but I don’t like it when I either have to go to a tiny hotel pool near my house (they had a £17 a month swim only pass) that’s full of dewy-eyed couples on spa retreats, or, the municipal pool which has very very specific times for swimming (staggeringly inconvenient).
4. Do 24 stand up gigs
   Done. I did a lot of terrible terrible gigs this year. I can’t stress how terrible. But also I loved them to pieces. I’ve been trying to work out who I want to be in a comedy sense (rather than theatrically) and so started with the ol’ compereing 101 which was, frankly, easy, but also a bit dull to perform and fairly generic. Then I started doing a more arty version, set to music (but not musical) and, well, frankly, it’s got potential. Not for stand up clubs, but for the more arty end of the scene…
5. Record a song
   Nope. I’m still not playing enough piano. I think it’s been about finding the time…
6. Udemy Courses – I did a PowerBi course which was great on Udemy – online focused learning. I’d like to do some more – specifically Adobe Illustrator, Google Ads, A notation software Muse Score and a sound creation pack one too…
   Nope. Although I did follow a fairly geeky and fairly extensive youtube tutorial to get using the Polyend Play. If you don’t know what a Polyend Play is and you’re quite musical then hit up youtube. So. Very. Geeky.
7. Start the next show “Diary Of A Neurotic New Dad” or “1000 Ways To Say Hello”
   Yes. So the show title is undecided – it’s going to be based on the 1,000 ways to say hello idea – crucially, I won’t be reading this one I don’t think. Unless I do a WIP and it’s shit. I’m possibly doing a preview of the show as a second half to my current show at three rural tour dates.
8. Make a change professionally
   No. This has been the thing that I think has frustrated me the most and also has come to haunt me the most. I think I’m naturally risk-averse and also terrified of change – I suspect people might think I’m more opportunistic than I actually am. I think part of the issue is the lack of solidity – those moments of maybe changing have felt too wobbly, or maybe too risky. That’s not to say I didn’t apply for anything, I did, but it was, I think, to try and break me out a bit (although it was something that, at the time, I got quite excited about).

Resolutions 2026

1. Make & Tour A New Show – This, I think will be one of three ideas (in a perfect world I’d do them all, but let’s see if anyone’s interested). The first is the show I’ve started called 1,000 Ways To Say Hello – it’s about there being stories all around us, but also about us being part of stories too – and of course, loneliness, loss and love. Then the second is an idea I’ve been pondering, which is a contemporary, more comic, storytelling version of A Christmas Carol (sort of) – so I can buy a big hat. Then finally a rehash of the Truth show I made years ago which, I rewatched recently, and actually had potential. If you’re interested in any of these then drop me a line and I’ll come do a WIP with you for free and give you a credit if it tours. There’s a fairly high chance I’m ging to be doing some of the new show at some rural touring dates in March… I’d also love to do Edinburgh but I’m not putting that down unless I get asked.
2. Get an absolutely slamming 20 set – I’ve not specifically tried to write a stand up set for a long time but I’d like to write (or rather finish writing) a really good, interesting 20 set. I get a bit bored performing stand up so I need to find a quirky, slightly different way in. Essentially I want to get a good set and get paid to perform it. Once.
3. Have a monthly date with Art – I don’t see enough theatre truthfully – certainly not much that’s unconnected with a) my day job or b) my side hustle. I think it’s easy to lose the love of seeing performance when you work in the industry, the magic goes and you become a bit cynical. I went to see a show in Bristol recently by Will Adamsdale – mostly on a whim because I like his work. It reminded me that theatre is about a shared experience and that art and the consumption of art can be, well enough. So I want to go see something each month. I also appreciate this doesn’t sound like I see much – rather this is stuff I want to see for me, rather than for work or professional development.
4. Write 12 Blog Posts – I got a bit obsessive about my blogging a few years ago – essentially wanted every post to be amazing and special and I forgot, pretty much, that my blog is predominantly for me. So I want to try and get in the habit again, even if it’s no longer epic masterpieces – it could be screenshots, photos, short content or a video – but something rather than nothing.
5. Reduce my caffeine input to max 2 coffees a day (and only before midday) – I’ve been drinking too much and sleeping less well. Fairly simple this one.
6. Donate a day of my time and arts marketing brain to a theatre – 7.4 hours is available for free – first-come-first-served – usual rules (I come to you, no payment nor expectation, must be a charity and a venue)
7. Write a successes post each month on LinkedIn – I see this a lot on Linkedin and it makes me cringe. You know the type of post – a mixture of gratitude and thanks that is all a little self serving. I’m naturally a fairly (very) negative person, I don’t focus on success instead dedicating my brain space to what hasn’t worked or what’s gone wrong. It’s not a tremendously healthy mentality – also I’m wanting to make a change in my life and frequently forget the good stuff I’ve been involved with, so it’ll be a useful (if cringy) reminder.
8. Make a change professionally – I’m not sure what, or how, or when, but enough of a change that I feel better about myself (if you’ve any suggestions then message me).

Cheers, here’s to a great 2026.

Sam