joannamurphy.co.uk

Jo trained at London University, taking a B Ed Hons in Drama and Education. She did a fourth year honours course in Direction and has been teaching and directing ever since apart from five highly productive years in Italy when she taught English and wrote her film-script “The Long Gallery.” She also wrote a collection of poetry “Burnt Dress,” about the volatile nature of the mother/daughter relationship, which is about to be published by The Heretic’s Press – (please see separate link). She has a son, Jack, and lives in Hampshire with her writer husband and collaborator, James.

Until her departure three years ago in July 2010, Jo spent a fast and furious decade combining the posts of Director of Drama and Artistic Director of the Bedales Olivier Theatre at the renowned progressive co-ed and Arts based school, Bedales, in Hampshire. (Further details of her time at Bedales can be found below).
 
 
 

Jo’s new venture:

Communication Skills through Drama Training at the NHS

Since leaving Bedales, Jo has begun an exciting new project at the NHS Postgraduate School of General Practice, the Wessex Deanery, in Otterbourne, Winchester, where she is now a trainer for the PSU – the Professional Support Unit at the Deanery, (she is listed on the VSG, Virtual Support Group list under the PSU heading at www.wessexdeanery.co.uk) and is Course Designer and Leader of the CSI.
 
Her freelance work at the Deanery has four key strands:

• New Communication Skill Intensive – the CSI Face-to-Face all-day course – based at the Wessex Deanery. (See below for more details on all four headings).

• One-to-one sessions for UK GP and overseas GP trainees

• Bespoke workshops for GP trainees

• Training the Trainers
 
New Communication Skill Intensive – the CSI: Face-to-Face

Jo has designed, and is Course Leader of, the Communication Skill Intensive, Face-to-Face, (known as the CSI) for the NHS, a training day for overseas doctors which combines Communication Skills with improved language skills and a more professional approach overall. Having had highly successful days in Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole, this intensive course is now going national and, with her colleague Theatre Practitioner and University Lecturer Al Muir assisting, Jo will be taking this to the Oxford and Newcastle Deaneries this spring, a major development for her company: wired. (www.wiredskills.com)
 
1-1‘s for English nationals and overseas GP trainees

Jo also tutors trainee doctors in the required speech and communication skills for the CSA: the Clinical Skills Assessment. This includes help across a range of communication skills: body language, gesture, articulation, accent softening, rebuilding confidence, and assertiveness training. She is pleased to report, to date, a 100% pass rate.
 
Bespoke workshops for GP trainees

Jo designs and leads half-day Communication Skill workshops for key “Patches” in the South and South West which combine UK and overseas GP trainees.
 
Training the Trainers

Jo is pleased to announce that she is currently developing a new workshop to assist GP Trainers in their approach to teaching Communication Skills to overseas doctors.
 
Jo at Bedales 2001 – 2010.

During her era at Bedales as Head of Drama, the Department produced, under Jo’s leadership, between 30 to 36 productions per year, an outstanding record of top flight theatre which drew large and appreciative audiences from the wider community. As her testimonials illustrate, she directs and teaches drama with her unique blend of originality, passion and insight: three qualities that continue to deepen with profound – and continual – experience in her field. She has successfully tutored many students for drama school entry.

With her dynamic and highly professional colleagues, Jo staged full-scale productions with large casts in the highly versatile, award-winning and professionally run space, the Bedales Olivier Theatre, performing to demanding audiences. Please see her “Production Repertoire” for further information, film clips and photographs.

Many of the students’ parents were well-known figures in theatre and film, (Tim Bevan from Working Title, Richard E Grant, John Caird, Trevor Nunn, Joely Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave being among the most notable). Bedales’ alumni have been equally distinguished: Minnie Driver, Daniel Day Lewis and more recently, Natalie Tena and Jamie Bower, amongst a host of other drama school successes.

 
Other ongoing work

Jo also teaches Speech and Lamda part-time for the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London.