Jonathan Holloway
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Holloway is an English
theatre director and Playwright.
, South London in 1955, Jonathan Holloway became a prominent figure in British fringe
and touring theatre in the 1980s and 1990s. Coming from a modest family background at 16 a chance opportunity took him to the Edinburgh Fringe
as part of the Oxford University Players; a group with whom he had no formal association, but who needed a competent actor at very short notice. The 1972 Fringe was a life determining experience for Holloway who cites work he saw by Lindsay Kemp
, Steven Berkoff
, Max Stafford-Clarke and Jerzy Grotowski
as pretty-much forging the aesthetics with which he still works today.
, initially as technical manager of its studio space, The Theatre Upstairs. After a few months he also became an Assistant Director working in the Main House, and directed his own production in the Theatre Upstairs. In the summer of 1978 Holloway left the Royal Court and began touring as a performer with the community arts outfit, Free form Arts Trust Ltd. After a year of performing in shows Holloway left, took a temporary teaching job and started a new theatre company with a group of like-minded artists called The East End Theatre group based at Chat’s Palace Arts Centre in Homerton, E London.
founder Pierre Audi to become his resident company), Red Shift was built into a national and international touring company which soon became both influential and a linchpin of UK national touring provision. Through Red Shift Holloway has demonstrate a commitment making interdisciplinary work that marries intellectual rigor, theatrical invention and entertainment. Keynote productions include a MORT D'ARTHUR which employed the first thorough-going integration of Capoeira
(accompanied by Afro Brazilian music) seen on the professional stage in the UK; a new translation by Neil Bartlett (playwright)
of Molière's LE MISANTHROPE which employed the archaic Alexandrine verse form and was successful in the UK and the US; 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 performed in Wayne Hemingway
's Red or Dead clothes against a contemporary rock score. Holloway has directed all but one of Red Shift’s over 50 shows and has written the lion’s share of the company’s work. By 2009 Red Shift had given over 3000 performances; sold over 250000 tickets; driven 50000 miles; flown 35000 miles. Freelance directing has included The Playboy Of The Western World in Ireland, Le Misanthrope in Boston US and advising on the 2008 Gifford's Circus show Caravan. His work has toured to hundreds of theatres in the British Isles and traveled to North America, South America, the Near and Far East.
In Sept 2007 Holloway withdrew Red Shift from Arts Council RFO (Regularly Funded Organisation) status, explaining his action as the result of a difficult period between the theatre company and its principal funder, the London office of ACE (Arts Council England). In December 2007 ACE cut a number of touring companies that were peers of Red Shift, and it remains an open question as to whether or not Holloway’s withdrawal from subsidy was a further demonstration of his proven acuity when it came to the politics of arts funding. Holloway then took a senior academic post as Head of Performing Arts at Middlesex University, from which he withdrew in fairly short-order, citing a difficult internal culture as the reason he was unable to attempt the innovations he had planned at the time of accepting the post. Holloway acted as artistic associate to Giffords Circus for their 2008 production of ‘Caravan’, arguably the company’s most successful and popular show to date. Since then Holloway has concentrated on developing a series of crowd embedded open air performances at festivals, working under the title ‘The Invisible Show’. He has also refocused his artistic career, concentrating on writing original plays for theatre and broadcasting. His substantial back catalogue is presented by other theatre producers with increasing frequency. In March 2011 he became briefly internationally (in)famous for the controversial introduction of violence and swearing into his version of Wuthering Heights for BBC Radio 3.
Holloway’s eldest son is a theatre manager and aspiring director, his second son is training as an architect, his oldest daughter is studying History of Art and he has twin girls at secondary school. Holloway’s long-term partner is a senior Arts Management consultant.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
theatre director and Playwright.
Early life
Born in DulwichDulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
, South London in 1955, Jonathan Holloway became a prominent figure in British fringe
Fringe theatre
Fringe theatre is theatre that is not of the mainstream. The term comes from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which name comes from Robert Kemp, who described the unofficial companies performing at the same time as the second Edinburgh International Festival as a ‘fringe’, writing: ‘Round the fringe...
and touring theatre in the 1980s and 1990s. Coming from a modest family background at 16 a chance opportunity took him to the Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
as part of the Oxford University Players; a group with whom he had no formal association, but who needed a competent actor at very short notice. The 1972 Fringe was a life determining experience for Holloway who cites work he saw by Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp is a British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist and choreographer.Born in South Shields on May 3, 1938, Kemp's father, a seaman, was lost at sea in 1940. According to Kemp, he danced from early childhood: "I'd dance on the kitchen table to entertain the neighbours. I mean, it was a...
, Steven Berkoff
Steven Berkoff
Steven Berkoff is an English actor, writer and director. Best known for his performance as General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy, he is typically cast in villanous roles, such as Lt...
, Max Stafford-Clarke and Jerzy Grotowski
Jerzy Grotowski
Jerzy Grotowski was a Polish theatre director and innovator of experimental theatre, the "theatre laboratory" and "poor theatre" concepts....
as pretty-much forging the aesthetics with which he still works today.
Early career
Holloway graduated in 1977 and went to work at London’s Royal Court TheatreRoyal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
, initially as technical manager of its studio space, The Theatre Upstairs. After a few months he also became an Assistant Director working in the Main House, and directed his own production in the Theatre Upstairs. In the summer of 1978 Holloway left the Royal Court and began touring as a performer with the community arts outfit, Free form Arts Trust Ltd. After a year of performing in shows Holloway left, took a temporary teaching job and started a new theatre company with a group of like-minded artists called The East End Theatre group based at Chat’s Palace Arts Centre in Homerton, E London.
Mature career
In 1982 Holloway (in collaboration with designer Charlotte Humpston) founded a group called Red Shift Theatre Company (http://www.redshifttheatreco.co.uk). Holloway regards Red Shift as his major life achievement to date. Beginning as a shoestring outfit (initially considered by Almeida TheatreAlmeida Theatre
The Almeida Theatre, opened in 1980, is a 325 seat studio theatre with an international reputation which takes its name from the street in which it is located, off Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington. The theatre produces a diverse range of drama and holds an annual summer festival of...
founder Pierre Audi to become his resident company), Red Shift was built into a national and international touring company which soon became both influential and a linchpin of UK national touring provision. Through Red Shift Holloway has demonstrate a commitment making interdisciplinary work that marries intellectual rigor, theatrical invention and entertainment. Keynote productions include a MORT D'ARTHUR which employed the first thorough-going integration of Capoeira
Capoeira
Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century...
(accompanied by Afro Brazilian music) seen on the professional stage in the UK; a new translation by Neil Bartlett (playwright)
Neil Bartlett (playwright)
Neil Vivian Bartlett, OBE, is an award-winning British director, performer, translator, and writer. He is one of the founding members of Gloria, a production company established in 1988 to produce his work along with that of Nicolas Bloomfield, Leah Hausman and Simon Mellor...
of Molière's LE MISANTHROPE which employed the archaic Alexandrine verse form and was successful in the UK and the US; 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 performed in Wayne Hemingway
Wayne Hemingway
Wayne Andrew Hemingway, MBE is an English fashion designer and co-founder of Red or Dead. He is also chairman of the South Coast Design Forum, and chair of Building For Life .Hemingway is the son of Canadian Mohawk chief and former wrestler Billy Two Rivers...
's Red or Dead clothes against a contemporary rock score. Holloway has directed all but one of Red Shift’s over 50 shows and has written the lion’s share of the company’s work. By 2009 Red Shift had given over 3000 performances; sold over 250000 tickets; driven 50000 miles; flown 35000 miles. Freelance directing has included The Playboy Of The Western World in Ireland, Le Misanthrope in Boston US and advising on the 2008 Gifford's Circus show Caravan. His work has toured to hundreds of theatres in the British Isles and traveled to North America, South America, the Near and Far East.
In Sept 2007 Holloway withdrew Red Shift from Arts Council RFO (Regularly Funded Organisation) status, explaining his action as the result of a difficult period between the theatre company and its principal funder, the London office of ACE (Arts Council England). In December 2007 ACE cut a number of touring companies that were peers of Red Shift, and it remains an open question as to whether or not Holloway’s withdrawal from subsidy was a further demonstration of his proven acuity when it came to the politics of arts funding. Holloway then took a senior academic post as Head of Performing Arts at Middlesex University, from which he withdrew in fairly short-order, citing a difficult internal culture as the reason he was unable to attempt the innovations he had planned at the time of accepting the post. Holloway acted as artistic associate to Giffords Circus for their 2008 production of ‘Caravan’, arguably the company’s most successful and popular show to date. Since then Holloway has concentrated on developing a series of crowd embedded open air performances at festivals, working under the title ‘The Invisible Show’. He has also refocused his artistic career, concentrating on writing original plays for theatre and broadcasting. His substantial back catalogue is presented by other theatre producers with increasing frequency. In March 2011 he became briefly internationally (in)famous for the controversial introduction of violence and swearing into his version of Wuthering Heights for BBC Radio 3.
As a Playwright
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 Misérables (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 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. Holloway has also forged a distinguished career as a writer of radio drama. is writing for the BBC includes fifteen episodes of the original daily serial Postcards, a five episode series celebrating the cult TV show The Man From Uncle, adaptations of stories by George Eliot, Willa Cather, Walter de la Mare, Evelyn Waugh, Heinrich Boll, Leo Tolstoy and Andrew Motion. Recent work for the BBC includes dramatising 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 and Goethe's Faust. His version of Vertigo was recently revived in a major Nottingham Playhouse production. In 2011 his Get Carter is being produced at the Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals and his English language version of Camoletti's Changing Rooms is going out on a commercial tour.Personal
Holloway has traveled 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 is regularly invited to talk about his work in universities and colleges, and has traveled 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.Holloway’s eldest son is a theatre manager and aspiring director, his second son is training as an architect, his oldest daughter is studying History of Art and he has twin girls at secondary school. Holloway’s long-term partner is a senior Arts Management consultant.