About

I’m Sam West, a creative producer, curator, and researcher working at the intersection of performance, visual arts, and storytelling. With a background spanning professional wrestling, contemporary visual arts, and academia, my work explores how performance and narrative shape our understanding of identity, culture, and history.

I hold a PhD in Performance Studies from Loughborough University, where my research focused on the storytelling traditions within professional wrestling. This academic foundation informs my practice as a co-founder and creative producer of Wrestling Resurgence, an innovative theatre-led wrestling company that merges sports entertainment with live performance and visual arts. Through Resurgence, I’ve staged critically acclaimed events, secured major funding, and contributed to a growing dialogue about wrestling as a cultural and artistic medium.

Beyond wrestling, my career as a curator has included leading exhibitions at the Attenborough Arts Centre and working with internationally renowned artists such as Aaron Williamson and Laura Swanson. My curatorial practice is rooted in inclusivity, with a particular focus on disability representation in the arts. My work in this area extends into theatre, academia, and research, where I design and deliver workshops exploring themes of access, representation, and embodied storytelling.

Adaptive Strength & Physical Culture

Alongside my work in the arts, I have a deep personal and professional interest in physical culture, strength training, and adaptive weightlifting. As someone with a limb difference, my journey in the gym has been one of both self-discovery and adaptation—learning how to challenge conventional training methods and develop approaches that work for my body. This experience has shaped my understanding of physical culture as a space where identity, performance, and resilience intersect.

My research and creative projects frequently engage with themes of the body, movement, and physicality, whether through professional wrestling, combat theatre, or exploring the role of strength in performance history. I am particularly interested in how strength sports, bodybuilding, and adaptive training can challenge perceptions of disability and open up new ways of thinking about the body in motion.

I’m passionate about how creative expression can challenge perceptions, build communities, and open up new possibilities for engagement—whether through live events, exhibitions, or digital storytelling. Whether I’m producing a wrestling show, curating an exhibition, or developing interactive storytelling tools, I aim to push boundaries and create meaningful cultural experiences.

If you’d like to connect or collaborate, feel free to reach out.