Jon Ivay
Encyclopedia
Jon Ivay is an English writer, director, actor, and producer.
, Dorset
and grew up near the town of Blandford Forum. He studied at the Oxford School of Drama
and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
in London.
(Bristol Old Vic, Cockpit London , Pleasance - Edinburgh Festival and tour) a motorcycle based comedy.
After leaving ITF, Ivay adapted and directed the screen version of Freebird
. Working with the producers and production team from the British movies LAYER CAKE
and KICK-ASS
. FREEBIRD was shot in London, Hay-on- Wye, Brecon Wales and Los Angeles. The film starred Phil Daniels
, Gary Stretch
and Geoff Bell
. Supporting cast included Peter Bowles
, Arthur Brown (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown) and Laila Rouass. The film was released in cinemas across the UK in spring 2008. The films London Premiere was at the Empire Leicester Square London. Freebird
's American premiere was at the Sunset 5 Movie Theater on Sunset Blvd Los Angeles on the 27th of October 2008. The film was an official entry at the 2009 Academy Awards. In 2009 Freebird
was screened at the Berlin and Cannes film festivals. The original soundtrack for the film was produced by YOUTH
who also produced Urban Hymns
by The Verve
amongst many other notable British and world artists including Embrace, The Prodigy
, Paul McCartney
, Primal Scream
, JAMES
and The Cult
. The soundtrack from the film was released in Spring 2010. Ivay’s latest project 'JD & COKE' tells the story of John Deloreans struggle to build the DeLorean DMC-12 Sports car in Belfast between 1978 and 1982. As an actor he has appeared many times on stage and television. He has appeared in the films The Gigolos
, Telstar
& Freebird
. His most recent credit on television is the BBC Drama Spooks
.
Early years
Ivay was born on the Isle of PortlandIsle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
and grew up near the town of Blandford Forum. He studied at the Oxford School of Drama
Oxford School of Drama
The Oxford School of Drama is one of the most prestigious drama schools in the United Kingdom, and the only professional drama school in Oxfordshire...
and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, formerly the Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art, was a drama school, and originally a singing school, in London. It was one of the leading drama schools in Britain, and offered comprehensive training for those intending to pursue a...
in London.
Career
Early in his career, Ivay formed a theatrical production company (ITF Productions Ltd) with two friends. Over a seven year period between 1997 and 2003 they produced over thirty national touring productions working with some of Britain’s best known theatres and promising directors. Whilst with ITF, he wrote the stage plays INSIDE THE FIRM (Edinburgh Festival & the Queens theatre Hornchurch) which told the story of Tony Lambrianou’s involvement with the Kray Twins and FreebirdFreebird (film)
Freebird is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jon Ivay and starring Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell, Phil Daniels and Peter Bowles.-Plot:Three friends, Fred , Tyg and Grouch , set out on a motorcycle trip to Wales in order to bring back a haul of cannabis for Fred's friend The Chairman...
(Bristol Old Vic, Cockpit London , Pleasance - Edinburgh Festival and tour) a motorcycle based comedy.
After leaving ITF, Ivay adapted and directed the screen version of Freebird
Freebird (film)
Freebird is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jon Ivay and starring Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell, Phil Daniels and Peter Bowles.-Plot:Three friends, Fred , Tyg and Grouch , set out on a motorcycle trip to Wales in order to bring back a haul of cannabis for Fred's friend The Chairman...
. Working with the producers and production team from the British movies LAYER CAKE
Layer Cake (film)
Layer Cake is a 2004 British crime thriller produced and directed by Matthew Vaughn, in his directorial debut. It is based on the novel Layer Cake by J. J...
and KICK-ASS
Kick-Ass (film)
Kick-Ass is a 2010 superhero comedy film based on the comic book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. The film was directed by Matthew Vaughn, who co-produced the film with actor Brad Pitt, and co-wrote the screenplay with Jane Goldman...
. FREEBIRD was shot in London, Hay-on- Wye, Brecon Wales and Los Angeles. The film starred Phil Daniels
Phil Daniels
Philip W. "Phil" Daniels is an English actor, most noted for film and television roles as "cockneys" such as Jimmy in Quadrophenia, Richards in Scum, Stewart in The Class of Miss MacMichael, Mark in Meantime, Kevin Wicks in EastEnders, DCS Frank Patterson in New Tricks and Edward Kitchener "Ted"...
, Gary Stretch
Gary Stretch
Gary Stretch is a British boxer, male model, and an actor.-Early life:Gary Stretch was brought up in the Haresfinch area of St. Helens, the son of a plumber...
and Geoff Bell
Geoff Bell (actor)
Geoff Bell is an English actor.-Career:He has appeared in many films, mostly as a cameo appearance or as a supporting role.He has appeared in Girl with a Pearl Earring, Stardust, The Long Firm, Making Waves, The Business and RocknRolla.One of his most well-known films is Green Street, where he...
. Supporting cast included Peter Bowles
Peter Bowles
-Early life:Bowles was born in London, England, the son of Sarah Jane and Herbert Reginald Bowles. His father was a chauffeur and butler at a stately home in Warwickshire; but, upon the outbreak of World War II, he was seconded to work as an engineer at Rolls-Royce and moved the family to Nottingham...
, Arthur Brown (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown) and Laila Rouass. The film was released in cinemas across the UK in spring 2008. The films London Premiere was at the Empire Leicester Square London. Freebird
Freebird (film)
Freebird is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jon Ivay and starring Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell, Phil Daniels and Peter Bowles.-Plot:Three friends, Fred , Tyg and Grouch , set out on a motorcycle trip to Wales in order to bring back a haul of cannabis for Fred's friend The Chairman...
's American premiere was at the Sunset 5 Movie Theater on Sunset Blvd Los Angeles on the 27th of October 2008. The film was an official entry at the 2009 Academy Awards. In 2009 Freebird
Freebird (film)
Freebird is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jon Ivay and starring Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell, Phil Daniels and Peter Bowles.-Plot:Three friends, Fred , Tyg and Grouch , set out on a motorcycle trip to Wales in order to bring back a haul of cannabis for Fred's friend The Chairman...
was screened at the Berlin and Cannes film festivals. The original soundtrack for the film was produced by YOUTH
Martin Glover
Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
who also produced Urban Hymns
Urban Hymns
Urban Hymns is the third album by English rock band The Verve, released on 29 September 1997 on Hut Recordings. It earned nearly unanimous critical praise upon its release, and went on to become the band's best-selling release and one of the biggest selling albums of the year...
by The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
amongst many other notable British and world artists including Embrace, The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
, JAMES
James (band)
James are a British rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", and "She's a Star" as well as their American College Radio hit "Laid"...
and The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
. The soundtrack from the film was released in Spring 2010. Ivay’s latest project 'JD & COKE' tells the story of John Deloreans struggle to build the DeLorean DMC-12 Sports car in Belfast between 1978 and 1982. As an actor he has appeared many times on stage and television. He has appeared in the films The Gigolos
The Gigolos
The Gigolos is a 2006 British comedy film directed by Richard Bracewell, starring Sacha Tarter and Trevor Sather alongside Susannah York, Anna Massey and Siân Phillips...
, Telstar
Telstar (film)
Telstar is a film adaptation of James Hicks' play of the same name. It stars Con O'Neill as Joe Meek and Kevin Spacey as Meek's business advisor, Major Banks...
& Freebird
Freebird (film)
Freebird is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jon Ivay and starring Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell, Phil Daniels and Peter Bowles.-Plot:Three friends, Fred , Tyg and Grouch , set out on a motorcycle trip to Wales in order to bring back a haul of cannabis for Fred's friend The Chairman...
. His most recent credit on television is the BBC Drama Spooks
Spooks
Spooks is a British television drama series that originally aired on BBC One from 13 May 2002 – 23 October 2011, consisting of 10 series. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, as the series follows the work of a group of MI5 officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters, in a...
.
Personal life
Ivay is married to the actress Caroline Hunnisett. The couple have a daughter Tawney and a son Ned.Other Work
Ivay is involved in the building of a new arts centre in his home town of Blandford Forum. The project is called The Fording Point.Director
- FreebirdFreebird (film)Freebird is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jon Ivay and starring Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell, Phil Daniels and Peter Bowles.-Plot:Three friends, Fred , Tyg and Grouch , set out on a motorcycle trip to Wales in order to bring back a haul of cannabis for Fred's friend The Chairman...
- Feature Film - Cinematic Release UK 2008, Berlin Film Fest 2009, and Cannes Film Fest 2009 - Freebird – Stageplay - Edinburgh Festival (Pleasance Theatre)
- Lonestar by James Mclure - Kenneth More Theatre Ilford/small scale tour
- Bouncers by John Godber - 2 x national tours (also Lincoln theatre Royal)
- Inside the Firm - Edinburgh Festival (Adam House Theatre). Won Spirit of the Fringe award
- Teechers by John Godber - 2 x National Tours
- Just Like That - National Tour (two act play) (also Edinburgh Festival Gilded balloon one act play)
- Vintage Stuff by Tom Sharpe - national tour
- The Rise and Fall of Little VoiceThe Rise and Fall of Little VoiceThe Rise and Fall of Little Voice is a 1992 play written by English dramatist Jim Cartwright. Sam Mendes directed stars Jane Horrocks and Alison Steadman at the Royal National Theatre before transferring to the Aldwych Theatre in London's West End....
by Jim Cartwright - National Tour - Popcorn - Two National Tours
Writer
- Inside The Firm – One Act - Play Edinburgh Festival
- Inside The Firm – Two Act Play – Queens Theatre HornchurchQueen's Theatre, HornchurchThe Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch is a 500-seat theatre located in Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering, east London.The theatre opened in its current purpose-built site on Billet Lane, Hornchurch in 1975....
- FreebirdFreebird (film)Freebird is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jon Ivay and starring Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell, Phil Daniels and Peter Bowles.-Plot:Three friends, Fred , Tyg and Grouch , set out on a motorcycle trip to Wales in order to bring back a haul of cannabis for Fred's friend The Chairman...
– Stage play – Bristol Old VicBristol Old VicThe Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
– Cockpit London – Edinburgh FestivalEdinburgh FestivalThe Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August... - FreebirdFreebird (film)Freebird is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jon Ivay and starring Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell, Phil Daniels and Peter Bowles.-Plot:Three friends, Fred , Tyg and Grouch , set out on a motorcycle trip to Wales in order to bring back a haul of cannabis for Fred's friend The Chairman...
– Feature Film. UK & American release – Berlin & Cannes Festivals - JD & COKE – Stage play (Pre-production from Spring 2012)
- Bud MB (in Somerset & Dorset) Screenplay (In Development)
- The Red Lion – Stage play (Announced)
Producer
- Travels with My AuntTravels with My Aunt (play)Travels with My Aunt is a 1989 comedy adapted by Scottish dramatist by Giles Havergal from the Graham Greene novel of the same title. The play was first staged at Citizens Theatre in Glasgow on 10 November 1989 with Havergal, Derwent Watson, Patrick Hannaway, and Christopher Gee, and has since been...
by Graham Greene. Co-produced by Salisbury Playhouse & National Tour. Directed by Rupert GooldRupert GooldRupert Goold is an English theatre director. He is the artistic director of Headlong Theatre and from 2010 he will be an associate director at the Royal Shakespeare Company.- Early years :... - Inside the Firm by Jon Ivay. Co-produced by Queens Theatre and Hornchurch. Directed by Marina Calderone
- Travels with My AuntTravels with My Aunt (play)Travels with My Aunt is a 1989 comedy adapted by Scottish dramatist by Giles Havergal from the Graham Greene novel of the same title. The play was first staged at Citizens Theatre in Glasgow on 10 November 1989 with Havergal, Derwent Watson, Patrick Hannaway, and Christopher Gee, and has since been...
- Co-produced by Chester Gateway and National Tour. Directed by Rupert GooldRupert GooldRupert Goold is an English theatre director. He is the artistic director of Headlong Theatre and from 2010 he will be an associate director at the Royal Shakespeare Company.- Early years :... - Travels with My AuntTravels with My Aunt (play)Travels with My Aunt is a 1989 comedy adapted by Scottish dramatist by Giles Havergal from the Graham Greene novel of the same title. The play was first staged at Citizens Theatre in Glasgow on 10 November 1989 with Havergal, Derwent Watson, Patrick Hannaway, and Christopher Gee, and has since been...
- Co-produced by Exeter Northcott and Vienna Est (6 week run). Directed by Sue Lefton - On the Piste by John Godber. National Tour. Directed by James Puddephatt
- Outside Edge by Richard Harris. National Tour. Directed by Grant Burgin
- Freebird by Jon Ivay. Co-produced by Bristol Old Vic. Directed by Ian Hastings
- Freebird - 1999. Cockpit Theatre London. Directed by Samantha SpiroSamantha SpiroSamantha Spiro is an Olivier Award-winning English actress. She is known for portraying Barbara Windsor in the stage play Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick and the television film Cor, Blimey!, and DI Vivien Friend in M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team.-Background:Born in Mill Hill, Spiro grew up...
- Love Me Slender – Vanessa Brooks – 1999. Co-produced by Perth Theatre and national tour
Associate producer and management
- Ecstasy by Mike LeighMike LeighMichael "Mike" Leigh, OBE is a British writer and director of film and theatre. He studied theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and studied further at the Camberwell School of Art and the Central School of Art and Design. He began as a theatre director and playwright in the mid 1960s...
. Arts Theatre. West End. Directed by Patrick Davey - Mr. Wonderful by James Robson. Chester Gateway. Directed by Deborah Shaw