In rehearsal for Elephant at the Bush Theatre. Photo by Richard Davenport
Image description: Jess is mid-directing, saying something to an actor who is out of shot. She sits on a bench in a wood-clad room, and leans forward with an expression of surprise and interest on her face. Next to her, asleep, is her dog Pan. She is a small, grey whippet wrapped in a sage green blanket.
Jess has been directing theatre professionally for 14 years. She is an experienced dramaturg and develops work from scratch with writers, often starting with the very earliest seed of an idea and taking it through to full production. Her work is often autofiction, working with lived experience material. Because of this, she has created a development and directing process that centres care and compassion, crafting a space of the utmost emotional safety in which to embrace creative risk.
Her rehearsal rooms bring together therapeutic techniques, visualisation, movement and yoga. The vibe is warm, open and inclusive, using a nervous system informed approach to make the whole experience as creatively nurturing as possible for everyone involved - not just performers and writers. Jess is a mindfulness practitioner and a qualified yoga instructor, and she brings this knowledge to every rehearsal process.
Her work has appeared across London and Europe, at the Bush Theatre, Soho Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, Arcola, Theatre503, the Roundhouse, and HighTide. She has also directed extensively at the Edinburgh Festival. She won the Summerhall Lustrum Award (Passengers in 2019) and the MTR Best Musical Award (Sparks in 2018).
ELEPHANT, Bush Theatre, Sergei Sarakhanov
PUNTS, Theatre 503
ANTIGONE, The Cellar
ELEPHANT, Bush Theatre, Sergei Sarakhanov
As Director
Selected Credits
Going Out Out / HOME Manchester / 2025
Conversations After Sex / Park Theatre / 2025
Carrie: the musical / Central School of Speech & Drama / 2025
This is a Love Story (workshop) / Birmingham Hippodrome / 2024
Elephant / Bush Theatre & Menier Chocolate Factory / 2023-5
War & Culture / New Diorama Theatre / 2023
Funeral Flowers / Roundhouse & UK tour / 2020/2
Albatross / Playground Theatre / 2021
Fitter / Soho Theatre / 2019/21
Hotter / Soho Theatre / 2019/21
Machinal / Arts Educational School / 2019
Passengers / Summerhall & Adelaide Fringe / 2019/20
Sparks / Pleasance Edinburgh & HighTide Festival / 2018
Nacktsängerin / BKA Theater Berlin / 2018
Denim World Tour / Soho Theatre / 2018
Punts / Theatre503 / 2017
Torch / Underbelly / 2016
Haters Make You Famous / Almeida Theatre Young Company / 2016
Queering Marlow / Jamie Lloyd Company / 2016
The Cherry Orchard / Rose Bruford College / 2015
The Itinerant Music Hall / Lyric Hammersmith / 2014
The Box / Theatre Deli / 2014
Jekyll & Hyde / Southwark Playhouse / 2013
As Associate / Assistant
Selected Credits
Doctor Faustus / Jamie Lloyd / Duke of York's / 2016
The Maids / Jamie Lloyd / Trafalgar Studios / 2016
Bull / Claire Lizzimore / Young Vic / 2015
King Charles III / Rupert Goold / Wyndham's Theatre & UK Tour / 2015
Bakkhai / James Macdonald / Almeida Theatre / 2015
In The Next Room / Laurence Boswell / Theatre Royal Bath / 2012
The Double / Laurence Boswell / Theatre Royal Bath / 2012
Red Light Winter / Richard Beecham / Theatre Royal Bath / 2012
