Biography + credits
I am a theatre-maker, director, writer, Feldenkrais practitioner and teacher with a background in theatre and movement. After studying at Edinburgh University, I went to train for two years with Jacques Lecoq at his international school of theatre in Paris, before studying contemporary clowning with Sue Morrison and Philippe Gaulier.
In 2001, I set up a theatre company, Shams, making new work, and was its artistic director until 2012. I produced, co-created and performed and/or directed 8 productions for the company. These included writing the scripts for The Garden and Reykjavik (both finalists for Total Theatre Awards in 2006 and 2010) and Thin Ice, all of which toured the UK.
I work freelance as a director, maker and writer /dramaturg and was an Associate Tutor at LAMDA from 2020-24 teaching movement, clown and the Feldenkrais Method. I have regularly taught acting, movement, clowning and devising /writing skills in drama schools and universities since 2008, including at Central, LAMDA, LISPA, Guildford School of Acting, Mountview , Birkbeck, Manchester and Northampton Universities.
I am a qualified Feldenkrais practitioner and work with both the public and with actors, in group and individual settings.
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I am now based in the Haute Languedoc, Southern France. To get in touch, email cjonathanyoung[at]gmail.com
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Directing/creation/dramaturgy includes: Love me or I'll kill myself, director/co-writer for Faith Brandon, 2021-23; Sheriff, dramaturg for theatre O, 2020; Total Eclipse, director /dramaturg for Moving Pieces, 2016-19; Holy Presents, associate director /dramaturg for humanish, 2015; Helen, director/co-writer for aod, 2014 & 2016; Dream a little, Dream and We Want U 2 B Free, director/lead devisor for Northampton University BA Acting, 2013 + 2014; When the Messiah comes and Tibet House Scratch directing for Tamasha, 2013; Thin Ice director for Shams 2012, Sunset in Morden, director /dramaturg for Freya Stang, 2010, 2015; Victorian Parlour, director /dramaturg for Shams and Enchanted Parks Festival, Gateshead 2009; Today is Tomorrow, director /dramaturg for Wysing Arts Centre and Christodoulos Panayiotou, 2009; This Child, director for The Junction and Company of Angels, 2008; The Multi-Storey, co-director /dramaturg with Nic Fryer for Hotbed Festival, 2008; Black Stuff director for Shams, 2008; Funeral Games, mentor/dramaturg for Unpacked, 2007; Bacchic, director/co-writer for aod, 2007; Hysteria, dramaturg for Inspector Sands, 2006; Waiting for Godot, co-director for Ultramarinos de Lucas, Spain, 2000; Witch hunt, co-director /dramaturg for Undraland, Iceland, 2000.
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Writing: Theatre scripts produced include Love me or I'll kill myself, co-written with Faith Brandon, 2021-23; Helen, co-written with Tamsin Shasha for aod, 2014-16; Thin Ice, for Shams, 2012; Reykjavik for Shams, 2010-11; Bacchic, co-written with Tamsin Shasha for aod, 2006-7; The Garden, for Shams 2003-7; Sleeping Beauties, co-written with Sue Morrison for Shams, 2001-2.
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Screenplays include: Fossil (TV pilot) 2020; The Storm (feature film) 2019; Ghosting (TV pilot) 2018; Padlock, short film co-written with Ben S Hyland 2017 (Best Film: Bottle Smoke Film Festival; Best Thriller: New Renaissance Film Festival); Rendering Kate (TV pilot) 2017 and Second Grace (feature) 2016; both shortlisted for the Screenwriting Goldmine Competition.
Performing includes: Love in Idleness, dir. Rachel Dean, 2012 + 2008; all roles in Reykjavik, dir. Lucinka Eisler + Carolina Valdes, 2010-11; Albert in Victorian Parlour, dir. Jonathan Young, 2009; Mark in La Marea, dir. Mario Pensotti, 2009; The Suit in The Multi-Storey, co-dir. Jonathan Young + Nic Fryer; Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, dir. Simon Godwin;all roles in The Garden, dir. Carolina Valdes, 2003-7; the Landlord in A Quiet Afternoon, dir. Lucinka Eisler (Stamping Ground theatre); clown in Sleeping Beauties, dir. Sue Morrison, 2001.