Jonathan Holloway Biography and CV (Scroll down for full CV or return to Homepage. ) On Death in Venice: "Jonathan Holloway: solid art extract" - The Sunday Times Magazine. On Get Carter:"Holloway has developed a very idiosyncratic theatrical language which is very effective as the long applause at the end showed. It is gritty, violent and bleak, and set in a world that most of us will (thankfully) never know, and yet the presentation distances us just enough to reflect on what it has to say about people." - The British Theatre Guide

Jonathan Holloway

2012: NEW PLAY COMMISSIONS: major BBC radio event concerning the life and work of George Orwell including a new adaptation of 1984 and two orignal plays, JURA! JURA! JURA! and WATCH OUT, ORWELL'S ABOUT. A new adapation of Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL for Pleasance Theatre, Islington. REVIVALS: THE FALL OF MAN (review) presented by The Right Brain Project, Chicago. Continuing professional and amateur revivals of back catalogue work inc LES MISERABLES and DARKNESS FALLS (review) (Samuel French editions). TEACHING: LECTURER IN CONTEXTUAL STUDIES, Guildford School of Acting at the University of Surrey. CONSULTANCY: ARTIST ASSOCIATE, Kingston University. PRO BONO PUBLICO: Member of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Participant Council. DIRECTION: CHARLEY'S AUNT for Connaught Productions/Frinton Summer Theatre. FOR PUBLICATION: THE RED SHIFT BOOK, a history of 30 years of Red Shift Theatre Company.

In 2011 Jonathan conceived, wrote and directed Red Shift's INVISIBLE SHOW II for the Latitude and Edinburgh Festivals in co-production with Pleasance Theatre ("Five stars are not enough for this polished, multifaceted, flawless, 24-carat rose diamond of a show" - WhatsOnStage.com "This little show sings with potential" - The Guardian). The past year has also seen broadcast of Jonathan's wry comedy OLD SPIES (BBC Radio 4) imagining former GCHQ employees on the threshold of dementia; his pugilistic adapatation of WUTHERING HEIGHTS (review) (BBC Radio 3) in which robust language caused press comment across the globe; revival of his adaptation of GET CARTER (review) by SP Productions for performance at London's Courtyard Theatre and at the Brighton and Edinburgh Festivals; revival of his English language version of the Camoletti (of Boeing Boeing fame) farce CHANGING ROOMS ("the English version by Jonathan Holloway is cannily written and full of snappy one-liners" - Western Mail review) mounted by Ian Dickens Productions; directing the NJ Crisp thriller DANGEROUS OBSESSION at the Frinton Summer Festival Theatre.

Summary: Jonathan Holloway's work as a director, writer and teacher has been seen and heard all over the world. He has directed 70+ professional theatre events ranging from touring circus to pocket musicals to landmark reinventions of the classics, written over 50 professionally produced plays and collaborated with some of the most important writers, designers and composers in British theatre. His work as a writer is frequently produced by other directors and has been translated into Spanish and Cantonese. 

As a Director: Jonathan is committed to making interdisciplinary work that marries intellectual rigor, theatrical invention and entertainment. He has always worked at the innovative end of UK practice and his dynamic theatre-making is best summed up in four of Red Shift's keynote productions; a MORT D'ARTHUR which employed the first thorough-going integration of Capoeira (accompanied by Afro Brazilian music) seen on the professional stage in this country; a new translation by Neil Bartlett of Moliere's LE MISANTHROPE which employed the archaic Alexandrine verse form in a sumptuous version that delighted audiences here and abroad; Greg Cullen's original drama FRIDA AND DIEGO which drew on imagery from Kahlo's pictures to explore her tempestuous life; a modern brutalist rendition of the First Quarto HAMLET played in Wayne Hemingway's Red or Dead clothes against a thunderous contemporary rock score. Jonathan founded Red Shift in 1982. Under his leadership it grew from a shoestring operation to become an Arts Council RFO and a linchpin of UK national touring provision. He has directed all but one of the company's nearly sixty shows. Freelance directing has included THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD in Ireland, LE MISANTHROPE in Boston USA and co-directing Gifford's Circus. His work has toured to hundreds of theatres in the British Isles and traveled to North America, South America, the Near and Far East.

As a Writer: Scripts for Red Shift include THE DOUBLE, IN THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST (Edinburgh Fringe First, 1987), THE HAMMER (also recorded for BBC Radio 3), DEATH IN VENICE, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (also produced in Chile), LES MISERABLES (pub. Samuel French, recently in rep in Hong Kong), THE ASPERN PAPERS, NOSFERATU THE VISITOR, NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, THE MAN WHO WAS THURSDAY, the first stage versions of MORT D'ARTHUR, THE THIRD MAN, GET CARTER [review] [review] (recently revived in Sydney, Australia) and VERTIGO. Jonathan's freelance theatre writing includes DARKNESS FALLS (pub. Samuel French) for the Palace Theatre Watford, BECAUSE IT'S THERE (2000), ANGELS AMONG THE TREES (2004) and A SENSIBLE WORLD (2005), all for Nottingham Playhouse. His writing for BBC Radio Drama includes fifteen episodes of the original daily serial POSTCARDS, a five episode series celebrating the cult TV show THE MAN FROM UNCLE, original ghosts stories and hard-boiled American-set thrillers, adaptations include stories by George Eliot, Willa Cather, Walter de la Mare, Heinrich Boll, Leo Tolstoy, Vita Sackville-West and Charlotte Bronte. The unusual range of his work in broadcasting embraces dramatisations of the entirety of C P Snow's eleven novel cycle STRANGERS AND BROTHERS, Christiaan Barnard's first successful human heart transplant, Evelyn Waugh's THE LOVED ONE, Andrew Motion's THE INVENTION OF DR CAKE, Olivia Manning's LEVANT TRILOGY, Goethe's FAUST and Malory's MORT d'ARTHUR. His version of VERTIGO [review] was recently revived in a major Nottingham Playhouse production.

Teaching, Broadcasting and Beyond.....: He has travelled to Chile to lead EU sponsored workshops, was an elected member of the Board of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Advisory Panel of the National Campaign for the Arts, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and in 2005 he was made an Honorary Fellow of St Mary's University College, London. He has taught at Middlesex University and Royal Holloway University of London. Jonathan is regularly invited to talk about his work in universities and colleges, and has also travelled to America, S America and the Far East to do so. Broadcasting includes guest appearances on BBC Radio 4's A Good Read and sharing the bill with artist Grayson Perry on a feature about the Arthur Mee Children's Encyclopaedia.

Full CV for Jonathan Holloway Writing (commissioned, produced and published original plays and adaptations): 2011: THE INVISIBLE SHOW II Latitude Festival/Edinburgh Fringe WUTHERING HEIGHTS BBC Radio 3 THE SHROUDING OF SHERLOCK HOLMES Connaught Productions/Frinton Summer Theatre THE OLD SPIES BBC Radio 4 GET CARTER Brighton and Edinburgh Fringes and Courtyard London, THE KANE CONSPIRACY BBC Radio 4, 2010 CHANGING ROOMS Frinton Summer Theatre, 2010 THE INVISIBLE SHOW Red Shift, Latitude Festival & Westival, 2010 THE FALL OF MAN Red Shift Theatre Co Edinburgh & London 2009 THE RAILWAY SIDING BBC Radio 4 2009 REP BBC Radio 4 2009 THE QUEST BBC Radio 4 serial 2009 ALL PASSION SPENT BBC Radio 4 serial 2009 VERTIGO (revised) Nottingham Playhouse 2008 A NIGHT WITH JOHNNY STOMPANATO BBC Radio 4 2008 CARAVAN (script and artistic associate) Giffords Circus 2008 THE LEVANT TRILOGY BBC Radio 4 2008 FAUST (dark farce reworking) BBC Radio 4 serial 2008 THE INVENTION OF DR CAKE BBC Radio4 2007 THE LOVED ONE BBC Radio4 2007 VERTIGO Red Shift Theatre Co 2006 MASTER AND MAN BBC Radio4 2006 GET CARTER Red Shift Theatre Co 2005 FAMILY COVER BBC Radio4 2005 THE THIRD MAN Red Shift Theatre Co 2004 OLD WORLD BBC Radio4 2004 MORT D'ARTHUR Red Shift Theatre Co 2003 NO CONFERRING BBC Radio4 2003 FIRST HUMAN HEART TRANSPLANT BBC Radio4 2003 ANGELS AMONG THE TREES Nottingham Playhouse 2002 STRANGERS AND BROTHERS BBC Radio 4 (10 x 1hr eps) 2002/2003 NICHOLAS NICKLEBY Red Shift Theatre Co 2001 THE MAN WHO WAS THURSDAY Red Shift Theatre Co 2001 THE FLANDERS PANEL BBC Radio4 2001 BECAUSE IT'S THERE Nottingham Playhouse 2000 NAPLES 44 BBC Radio 4 2000 NOSFERATU THE VISITOR Red Shift Theatre Co 2000 MURKE'S COLLECTED SILENCES BBC Radio4 2000 THE SURPRISE SUMMER BBC Radio4 serial 1999 NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T BBC Radio4 serial 1999 KISS AND KIN BBC Radio4 1999 THE MONKEY'S PAW/ THE DARK Palace Theatre Watford 1999 (pub S French) THE FALL BBC Radio4 serial 1998 MR LOVEDAY'S LITTLE OUTING BBC Radio4 1998 SPRING TIDE BBC Radio4 serial 1998 THE BILL: COMING UP FOR AIR Thames TV 1998 THE ASPERN PAPERS Red Shift Theatre Co 1998 THE AFFAIR AT GROVER STATION BBC Radio4 1997 LES MISERABLES Red Shift Theatre Co 1997 (pub S French) THE LIFTED VEIL BBC Radio4 1997 SEATON'S AUNT BBC Radio4 1996 CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Red Shift Theatre Co 1994 DEATH IN VENICE Red Shift Theatre Co 1993 A CHRISTMAS CAROL Red Shift/Microsoft Corporation THE HAMMER RS/BBC R3/Essential Music 1991/1993 THE MACBETH PROJECT Site specific Edinburgh, Sponsor Fisons, 1990 THE BOOK OF LAUGHTER AND FORGETTING Academy of Live and Recorded Arts THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST (Ed Fest Fringe First Award) Red Shift Theatre Co 1987 THE DOUBLE Red Shift Theatre Co 1986 ECLIPSED Red Shadow Films (short feature) 1985 1984 (1st authorised stage version) Surrey University/SE Arts THE FATED East End Theatre Group Education: GUEST DIRECTOR e15 Acting School COURSE TUTOR MA THEATRE St Mary's University College 2009 LEADER OF MA/MFA THEATRE DIRECTION PROGRAMME and LEADER WAYS OF DIRECTING BA UNIT Royal Holloway College, University of London 2008-2009 VISITING LECTURER BA UNITS WRITING FOR PERFORMANCE and THEATRE DIRECTION Middlesex University 2007 HEAD OF PERFORMING ARTS Middlesex University 2007 - 2008 VISITNG LECTURER UNIVERISITIES AND COLLEGES OF ART 1990 - Wimbledon, Central, Bristol, Kent, Westminster, etc HEAD OF SECTION, PERFORMING ARTS Brooklands County College, Weybridge, Surrey 1979 - 1989 SUPPLY TEACHER AND YOUTH SESSION WORKER Various London Boroughs 1977-1979 Other: Lighting Designer 1976-Present, clients inc Royal Court Theatre, Royal Court Young Peoples Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, National Student Drama Festival, Free Form Arts Trust, Chat's Palace, Cochrane Theatre, Bloomsbury Theatre, Red Shift Theatre Company, The Gate Theatre. Film and Video Maker working with disadvantaged young people in urban and secure settings.

Direction (Theatre, Broadcasting and Higher Education): 2011: THE INVISIBLE SHOW II Red Shift, Latitude and Edinburgh DANGEROUS OBSESSION Connaught Productions at Frinton Summer Theatre NOSFERATU THE VISITOR E15 Acting School, 2010 CHANGING ROOMS Frinton Summer Theatre 2010 THE INVISIBLE SHOW Red Shift at The Latitude Festival and Westival, 2010 THE FALL OF MAN Red Shift Theatre Company, London & Edinburgh 2009, revived 2010 LULU E15 Acting School, Essex University 2008 THE DECORATOR Frinton Summer Festival Theatre 2008 HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES Frinton Summer Festival Theatre 2008 CARAVAN Giffords Circus 2008 (Artistic Associate) MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Red Shift Theatre Co touring 2007 -2008 ANIMAL FARM Middlesex University 2008 GASLIGHT Frinton Summer Festival Theatre 2007 VERTIGO Red Shift Theatre Co touring 2006 - 2007 GET CARTER Red Shift touring and Ed Fest 2005-2006 THE THIRD MAN Red Shift Theatre Co touring 2004 - 2005 BARTLEBY (revival) Red Shift Theatre Co touring 2003 THE MORT D' ARTHUR Red Shift Theatre Co touring 2002 THE LOVE CHILD Red Shift Theatre Co touring 2002 NICHOLAS NICKLEBY Red Shift Theatre Co touring 2001 - 2002 NOSFERATU THE VISITOR Red Shift Theatre Co touring 2000 FIRST QUARTO HAMLET Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1999 - 2000 POOR MRS PEPYS Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1998 ASPERN PAPERS Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1998 LES MISERABLES Red Shift touring and Ed Fest 1997 NOISES OFF Brewhouse Theatre Productions 1996 BARTLEBY (festival prize) Red Shift touring and Ed Fest 1996 HANSEL AND GRETEL Lyric Theatre Hammersmith 1995 RED PRINCESS Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1995 GEORGE DANDIN Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1995 CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1994 LE MISANTHROPE New Rep Boston USA 1994 DEATH IN VENICE Red Shift touring and Ed Fest 1994 MACBETH (revival) Hong Kong Arts Centre 1993 MACBETH (revival) (festival prize) World Theatre Fest Santiago Chile 1993 THE HAMMER BBC Radio 3/Essential Music 1993 MACBETH Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1993 A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Microsoft Corporation 1992 ORLANDO Red Shift touring and Ed Fest 1992 THE WAY OF ALL FLESH (revival) Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1992 THE MACBETH PROJECT Red Shift site-specific Edinburgh 1991 THE HAMMER Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1991 THE LIFE AND TIMES OF FANNY HILL Red Shift/Northern Stage touring 1991 THE WAY OF ALL FLESH Red Shift/Nottinghamshire Stages 1990 PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD Lyric Theatre Belfast 1990 THE BOOK OF LAUGHTER AND FORGETTING ALRA 1990 LULU Red Shift/BAC Ed Fest and touring 1990 LOOT CSSD Embassy Theatre 1990 ROAD Red Shift YPT Ed Fest and RNT 1989 FRIDA AND DIEGO (Ed fringe first) RS/Warehouse Ed Fest and touring 1989 TIMON OF ATHENS (time out award) RS/Warehouse Ed Fest and touring 1988 LE MISANTHROPE (Ed fringe first) Red Shift/Warehouse Croydon COWBOYS Red Shift Ed Fest and touring 1988 THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST (fringe first) RS/Warehouse Ed Fest and touring 1987 THE MILL ON THE FLOSS Red Shift Ed Fest and touring 1987 SPRING AWAKENING Red Shift YPT Ed Fest and London 1987 THE DOUBLE Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1986 THE GOOD PERSON OF SETZUAN Red Shift YPT Ed Fest 1986 ROMEO AND JULIET Red Shift Ed Fest & touring 1985 - 1986 ECLIPSED Red Shadow Films (cinemas & TV) 1985 SPRING AWAKENING Bridge Lane Theatre London 1986 BROKEN ENGLISH Red Shift Ed Fest and touring 1984 X EQUALS MURDER Red Shift Ed Fest and touring 1984 THE DUCHESS OF MALFI (II) Red Shift Ed Fest and touring 1984 THE DUCHESS OF MALFI Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1983 THE MASK Red Shift Theatre Co touring 1983 FEARS AND MISERIES... THIRD REICH Elephant Theatre London 1983 PLANET X East End TG/Old Red Lion 1982 THE FATED East End Theatre Group 1981 NO PASARAN (festival prize) National Students Drama Festival 1989 SECRET IDENTITIES East End TG Chats Palace 1980 FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY Free Form Arts Trust Ltd 1978 COCKS AND HENS Warehouse Theatre Croydon 1978 BAD DREAM IN AN OLD HOTEL Theatre Upstairs Royal Court 1977 THE GOOD PERSON OF SETZUAN Assist Dir Royal Court Theatre 1977

Nicholas Nickleby: "Jonathan Holloway's brilliant production makes such sense… this brilliant tribute to a great novelist who was also a mighty campaigner for social compassion." - The Scotsman Vertigo: "taut and wonderfully atmospheric" - The Guardian. Critic's Choice - The Independent. Critic's Choice - Time Out. "Visual genius and superb staging... a classic triumph, a superbly adapted masterpiece and a must-see theatre production" - BBC Radio4 The Loved One: "Jonathan Holloway's adaptation glistened from the off and I was sorry when it ended" - The Guardian. "Bliss…*****" - The Financial Times. "a splendid production… outstanding" - The Daily Telegraph. Guardian interview with James Purefoy, lead in the HBO series 'Rome': "He showed me a lot that I still carry with me today; he was my big inspiration" - The Guardian Get Carter: "Holloway keeps it moving at such a lick that the emotional outlines emerge stark and clear, and as graphic as a streak of blood on a breezeblock wall." - The Scotsman

Jonathan works alongside Acting General Manager Jane Hellings who is regarded as one of the country's leading cultural industries and third sector consultants and guides Red Shift's own consultancy provision.