About
Jessica is a director based in the North West. She received attachment training with the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse as one of five young directors. Jessica has also received recognition and mentorship from The JMK Trust as part of their Mentoring Scheme, she was mentored by Piers Black. Jess was also a member of Open Exchange, The Manchester Royal Exchange’s director development scheme. Jessica was a workshop leader with Minerva Arts, a youth theatre company intent on building the confidence and creativity of young people. Throughout her theatre career, Jessica has frequently volunteered for youth groups that support those who are less advantaged than others - she is committed to supporting and uplifting the voices of those often unheard.
Jessica directed ‘Build a Rocket’ written by Christopher York for the the Liverpool Everyman main stage in 2021, and staged ‘Nite Life’ at The Liverpool Playhouse Studio, a verbatim piece of theatre developed with her theatre company, FLOOD Theatre. She assisted James Baker at the Liverpool Everyman on Uk Theatre Awards ‘Best Play’ nominee ‘Cherry Jezebel’ written by Jon Larkin. In 2022, she opened Suba Das’s inaugural season with ‘A Billion Times I Love You’ by Patrick Maguire on the Liverpool Everyman main stage. Jessica was recently awarded The Buzz Goodbody Director’s Award 2023 by The Royal Theatrical Trust with ‘TOUCH’ that was selected to stage at NSDF in 2023, the award recognises exceptional potential as a theatre director. Jessica has also been a shadow director for a number of incredible productions, including National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-Time at London’s Picadilly Theatre, observing the work of Katy Rudd, Marianne Elliott & Stephen Graham.
More recently, Jessica has just directed ‘SKYGLOW’ for Theatre In The Rough, Aug 2024. She looks forward to revisiting the Liverpool Everyman in January 2025 as Assistant Director for Willy Russel’s Shirley Valentine. Jessica is also a photographer and videographer, mostly operating within the music industry / creative arts, she captures the narratives of artists and their fans. She has directed a number of music videos and created tour documentaries. She recently started training with FirstTake, a filmmaking production company, taking courses in Filmmaking and Directing.
Training
First Take Reel Queer 2024 - Filmmaking & Screen Directing Course
Presto School of Music: 2018-PRESENT - Piano Grades
Everyman and Playhouse 2019-2021 – Young Everyman and Playhouse Director Trainee
University of Leeds 2015-2018 - BA Theatre and Performance (First Class)
Kate Simmons School of Dance 2001- 2015 - ISTD Tap (Advanced 1), Cecchetti Ballet (Intermediate) and ISTD Modern Dance (Intermediate)
Workshops:
Middle Child Theatre Company: Paul Smith, via ZOOM (Covid-19), Workshop,
National Student Drama Festival: via ZOOM (Covid-19), Mike Alfreds, Emma Rice, Kully Thiarai and RashDash
Gemma Bodinetz: Workshop, Liverpool Everyman Theatre, 2020
JMK: Jude Christian, HOME, 2019
Yvonne Hurt: Workshop, Liverpool Everyman Theatre, 2020
JMK: Directors and Designers intensive weekend, Amy Leach, Hayley Grindle & Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, Leeds Playhouse, 2019
JMK: Talent Development, HOME, 2019
Simon Stephens Presents: New Writing, Royal Exchange Theatre, 2019
JMK: Liz Stevenson, HOME, 2018
Roy Alexander Weise: Workshop, Royal Exchange Theatre, 2018
JMK: Working with Writers, Box of Tricks & Hannah Tyrell- Pinder, HOME Manchester, 2018
Bryony Shanahan: Workshop, Royal Exchange Theatre 2018
Katie Mitchell: Weekend Intensive workshop, Barbican Theatre, 2018
Manic Chord Theatre: Devising techniques workshop, 2017
Royal Shakespeare Company: Acting workshop, 2015
Frantic Assembly: Devising and Physicality, Sean Hollands Workshop 2014
