Ben SantaMaria
@bensantamaria.bsky.social
Writer | queer (they/them) | BAFTA Connect member | Paines Plough mentored writer 2024-26/Mercury Theatre Playwright | AD flamingtheatre.bsky.social | BFI NETWORK South East Script Lab shortlist | dramaturg @theatre503.bsky.social | MDANT bensantamaria.com
So grateful to be awarded a Peggy Ramsay Foundation grant - and double the amount I requested! Huge affirmation for me about a risk-taking play I’ve believed in for many years and can finally develop for a production.
October 20, 2025 at 7:39 AM
So grateful to be awarded a Peggy Ramsay Foundation grant - and double the amount I requested! Huge affirmation for me about a risk-taking play I’ve believed in for many years and can finally develop for a production.
share one of your favorite moments from a HORROR film or TV show 🎥📺🖤
August 30, 2025 at 11:23 AM
share one of your favorite moments from a HORROR film or TV show 🎥📺🖤
Thrilled to continue developing a play that means so much to me in Year 3 of Tour the Writer with the incredible support of @painesplough.bsky.social & @mercurytheatre.bsky.social. Year 2 was a blast with my Mercury writers gang. Looking forward to more fun leading up to our showcase next year. 🙏
May 30, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Thrilled to continue developing a play that means so much to me in Year 3 of Tour the Writer with the incredible support of @painesplough.bsky.social & @mercurytheatre.bsky.social. Year 2 was a blast with my Mercury writers gang. Looking forward to more fun leading up to our showcase next year. 🙏
Another spellbinding Patrick Wolf show. Tears of laughter when he called that tech-wrecked old Astoria part of London “Dubai”. And in full tears at the beauty and grief and genius on display.
May 16, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Another spellbinding Patrick Wolf show. Tears of laughter when he called that tech-wrecked old Astoria part of London “Dubai”. And in full tears at the beauty and grief and genius on display.
The poster’s the only thing that’s dated about this masterpiece, which is on iPlayer now. Hadn’t revisited it in ages but can confirm STONEWALL (the 1995 version - not the dodgy later flop) is still one of the greatest films ever made.
March 24, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The poster’s the only thing that’s dated about this masterpiece, which is on iPlayer now. Hadn’t revisited it in ages but can confirm STONEWALL (the 1995 version - not the dodgy later flop) is still one of the greatest films ever made.
Fab BAFTA Connect LGBTQIA+ Creatives networking night. Always reassuring to hear others admit they find networking awks but still keep showing up at events and being lovely to chat with. Big congrats to the new BAFTA x BFI NETWORK Flare mentees who were announced there too. #BAFTAConnect #BFIFlare
March 20, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Fab BAFTA Connect LGBTQIA+ Creatives networking night. Always reassuring to hear others admit they find networking awks but still keep showing up at events and being lovely to chat with. Big congrats to the new BAFTA x BFI NETWORK Flare mentees who were announced there too. #BAFTAConnect #BFIFlare
Profoundly traumatic. Stunningly filmed and acted. Left me in a state of shock.
March 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Profoundly traumatic. Stunningly filmed and acted. Left me in a state of shock.
Alison Moyet at the Palladium. Need I say more? 💐
March 11, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Alison Moyet at the Palladium. Need I say more? 💐
Legendary talk from Judith Butler. Rubbish heckling was no match for the great mind. Ash Sarkar kept the chat fast and witty. Has an academic sold out the Royal Festival Hall with a rock star fan response like this before tonight?
March 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Legendary talk from Judith Butler. Rubbish heckling was no match for the great mind. Ash Sarkar kept the chat fast and witty. Has an academic sold out the Royal Festival Hall with a rock star fan response like this before tonight?
Annie Lennox just blew the roof off the Albert Hall and saved 2025. What. A. Show.
March 7, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Annie Lennox just blew the roof off the Albert Hall and saved 2025. What. A. Show.
OTHERLAND is the best show so far this year. Thrilling writing from @chrisbushwrites.bsky.social. Beautiful staging. Incredible cast. Do yourself a favour and run to the Almeida.
February 26, 2025 at 11:03 PM
OTHERLAND is the best show so far this year. Thrilling writing from @chrisbushwrites.bsky.social. Beautiful staging. Incredible cast. Do yourself a favour and run to the Almeida.
NO OTHER LAND is one of the most important films I’ve ever seen.
February 20, 2025 at 9:06 PM
NO OTHER LAND is one of the most important films I’ve ever seen.
A real night to remember @painesplough.bsky.social 50th anniversary gala. Incredible line-up of stars giving their all in classic plays and a scary/hilarious new short from @mrjamesgraham.bsky.social.
February 11, 2025 at 12:52 PM
A real night to remember @painesplough.bsky.social 50th anniversary gala. Incredible line-up of stars giving their all in classic plays and a scary/hilarious new short from @mrjamesgraham.bsky.social.
Discovered the beautiful Word on the Water barge bookshop on Regent’s Canal towpath. One of the most magical things I’ve ever seen in London.
February 9, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Discovered the beautiful Word on the Water barge bookshop on Regent’s Canal towpath. One of the most magical things I’ve ever seen in London.
NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 ☄️ @donmarwarehouse.bsky.social is just overwhelmingly stunning. In total awe of everything and everyone involved.
February 8, 2025 at 12:39 AM
NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 ☄️ @donmarwarehouse.bsky.social is just overwhelmingly stunning. In total awe of everything and everyone involved.
Blown away by this. Single interior location feature that’s more exciting than plenty of flashier thrillers. Knockout performances from everyone. A real classic.
February 2, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Blown away by this. Single interior location feature that’s more exciting than plenty of flashier thrillers. Knockout performances from everyone. A real classic.
The queen is dead. A peerless legend forever. So many magnificent and heart-wrenching gigs, songs, performances - the list is endless. I’ve been bewitched by everything she did for much of my life. 🥀
#MarianneFaithfull
#MarianneFaithfull
January 30, 2025 at 8:11 PM
The queen is dead. A peerless legend forever. So many magnificent and heart-wrenching gigs, songs, performances - the list is endless. I’ve been bewitched by everything she did for much of my life. 🥀
#MarianneFaithfull
#MarianneFaithfull
Farah Nabulsi’s THE TEACHER is such a masterpiece. Saleh Bakri follows THE BLUE CAFTAN with another classic performance and film. All the cast and other elements of this are just stunning.
January 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Farah Nabulsi’s THE TEACHER is such a masterpiece. Saleh Bakri follows THE BLUE CAFTAN with another classic performance and film. All the cast and other elements of this are just stunning.
As essential viewing as it gets.
January 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
As essential viewing as it gets.
Didn’t think I’d ever need to see another version of The Importance of Being Earnest. This @nationaltheatre.org.uk one blew all others out of my memory. Life-affirming ecstasy. Think I invented new ways to laugh by the end. Whole audience in giddy hysterics. And Ncuti Gatwa winked at me.
January 19, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Didn’t think I’d ever need to see another version of The Importance of Being Earnest. This @nationaltheatre.org.uk one blew all others out of my memory. Life-affirming ecstasy. Think I invented new ways to laugh by the end. Whole audience in giddy hysterics. And Ncuti Gatwa winked at me.
Well played, London.
January 15, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Well played, London.
Now THAT’S a film. On the edge of my sofa to the end. Absolute masterpiece.
January 12, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Now THAT’S a film. On the edge of my sofa to the end. Absolute masterpiece.
The relief of finally finishing my new play after months of 😱bad luck😱 getting in the way… How do you relax without expecting another evil curveball again? 😅
January 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
The relief of finally finishing my new play after months of 😱bad luck😱 getting in the way… How do you relax without expecting another evil curveball again? 😅