Jessica McKenna

Director Facilitator Educator Dramaturg Community Artist

She/They

I am a theatre-maker, facilitator and educator who is passionate about the transformative potential that theatre has on both an individual and institutional level. I work collaboratively, and I’m interested in exploring theatre’s intersections with advocacy and activism.

I have worked with many communities across London, including young people (6-18), mental health service users, migrants, and individuals who have special educational needs. I currently facilitate educational workshops for Tender Education & Arts, and have recently been commissioned by C&T to create digital applied theatre work which celebrates LGBTQ+ identities. I have also worked with participation departments at the Almeida Theatre, the Arcola Theatre and the Donmar Warehouse. I am currently writing my MA dissertation at Central School of Speech and Drama on the ways in which applied theatre practices might support recovery communities.

Credits

Recent:

Assistant Director, The Key Workers Cycle, Almeida Theatre, March 2022

Commissioned Artist, C&T/Prospero Digital 'Identities' Project, Jan-March 2022

Freelance facilitator for multiple theatres/orgs including: Tender; Arcola; and London Arts and Health.

Previously:

Director, The Bacchae, Tower Theatre, July 2021

Director, The Pleasure of Your Bedlam, Arcola Theatre, February 2020

Director, The Prophetic Visions of Bethany Lewis, Brighton Fringe, July 2019

Co-Artistic Director, Drift Shop, 2016-2017

Training

MA Applied Theatre, CSSD, 2020-22

Location

London

Experience

2-5 years

Art forms / Disciplines

  • Comedy
  • Crafts
  • Literature
  • Multi-disciplinary / cross art form
  • New technologies / digital
  • Theatre / Live perfomance
  • Visual arts

What I do

  • Creative Access
  • Devising
  • Directing
  • Dramaturgy
  • Facilitating
  • Outdoor performance
  • Physical Theatre / Mime
  • Producing
  • Puppetry
  • Site Responsive/Immersive
  • Street Theatre
  • Teaching / Coaching
  • Theatre making
  • Verbatim theatre
  • Working with disabled artists
  • Working with disabled non-professional adults / children
  • Working with learning disabled adults / children
  • Working with learning disabled artists
  • Working with young people
  • Working with young people with special educational needs
  • Working within a Community / with community participants
  • Workshopping & Development
  • Writing

Social

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