joannamurphy.co.uk

Jo has directed, with unrelenting passion, fascination for psychological and sub-textual detail, and a deep respect for the dedication she has encountered amongst her students, a vast and various body of work. Each new cast contributes its own rich ideas – Jo’s work with the company has always involved collaboration, the group drives forward their ideas in a whirlwind of humour, adamantine attention to detail, and absolute dedication to the work in hand. Disbanding each ensemble has always been painful for the whole company, conversely, Jo has found it an absolute delight to work with individuals who continually beat a return path to her productions.

Jo has a profound understanding of psychology, and vast experience of working with a range of actors, a deep knowledge of the theatre canon, both in terms of playwrights’ and practitioners’ work. She uses aspects of The System, the Method and its main exponents, although she is also an expert on Shakespeare, Greek Theatre, Devising, Physical theatre and many other genres.

Her approach is always accompanied by an accipitral absorption in the developing skills of the actor, and, in directorial terms, a supra-acute eye for what has true veracity onstage. She is equally at home working individually, or in a team: all her productions have an inclusive, ensemble feel and her acting classes are renowned for their dynamism, profundity and originality.