[1] Sharrock was born to journalist parents in London, but spent part of her childhood living in Kenya.

In addition to work at the Playhouse, she served as an associate director on the long-running West End production of 'Art', directed works for the National Theatre and English Touring Theatre, and began her association with the Peter Hall Company.

Sharrock left the Southwark Playhouse in late 2003, and became artistic director at the Gate Theatre in August 2004.

She served on the selection panel for the 2005 biennial Linbury Prize for Stage Design, and is now a JMK Award trustee.

at the National Theatre,[6] before taking her 2007 West End revival of Equus to New York in 2008 with Daniel Radcliffe making his Broadway debut.

In 2010, Sharrock directed a revival of Martin Crimp's version of The Misanthrope originally by Moliere, at the Comedy Theatre starring Keira Knightley and Damian Lewis.