“Highly perceptive and recognizes nuances that most of us would miss”
- Alleghany Arts Council, 2019
Ashley Jones.
Theatre Maker. Director. Teacher. Practitioner.
Ashley Jones is a UK born director and deviser currently based out of Rochester, NY. After training at ALRA, Rose Bruford College, Academia Teatro Dimitri and RADA he studied under master clowns Angela De Castro and Philippe Gaulier. In 2015, Ashley founded Theatre KinAesthetic, a UK based Theatre Company, that within four years, served over five thousand children, teenagers and young adults in outreach and performance-based programs.
Through Theatre Kin Ashley developed his own practice and methodologies, particularly with emphasis on emotion, physicality, metaphor, breath and musicality. He carried on this research since founding Professor Aardvark and the shows are created with an international ensemble and tour world-wide. He has developed a unique language of training, performance, devising and teaching and these methods are used by the company as well as the multiple ensembles he continues to collaborate with.
Ashley has served as Creative Director of PUSH Physical Theatre and directed and led multiple projects within theatre and circus and taught at colleges across the US and UK. Ashley has worked and trained with UK based theatre companies; Gecko Physical Theatre, David Glass Ensemble, Nonsuch Theatre and Frantic Assembly. Alongside Professor Aardvark Ashley continues to generate relationships around the world.
His recent directorial credits include the multi-award winning “Generic Male: Just What We Need Another Show About Men” that had an off-Broadway run in 2022 and continues to tour around the US co-produced by PUSH Physical Theatre and Professor Aardvark.
Other Credits include; PUSH’s HYDE (2023), H20 (2023), The Trunk Show (2021), TILT (2019), EnCircle (2019), Into the Clouds (2018), The Party’s Over (2017).
“His finished works… are all testament to his true, singular, outstanding ability as clown, actor and director”
-Angela De Castro, Why Not Institute. 2018
What People Are Saying
“The knowledge and passion for devised theatre/clowning that Ashley shares is inspiring. An hour with him makes me just want to make, make, make!”
— Workshop Participant, 2017
““His energy and drive is so motivating. Having never moved like that before, he made it so simple to start”
— Workshop Participant, 2020
“Watching Ashley’s incredible, proactive approach to his theatre masterclasses is a joy. His engagement and energy are contagious. Seeing our students open up and buy into his work is one of the most pleasing parts of watching Ashley at play.”
— NESCOT College, 2019
“…would welcome any and all opportunities to work with him again in the future.”
— Tammy Scruggs-Duncan, 2019
Recent Works.
PUSH Physical Theatre (2019-2022)
As Director, Deviser and Producer. Work made in collaboration with PUSH include; PUSH’s Rep (19/20), Dracula (19), Planted (20) and Can’t Sit (19)
INDOORS (2023)
As Director and Deviser. In collaboration with Cirque Gravity, a Rochester based Circus Company comes a contemporary clown show opening all the doors.
intotheclouds (2018/2019/2020)
As deviser. intotheclouds is a playful, sensory and highly visual experience for very young children and babies (aged 6-18 months and 19-36 months) Performed inside a custom-built sensory box, intotheclouds is an incredible first-time theatre experience.
F*** You Gary Owen (2020 & ongoing)
As Director. Led the generatory R&D period for the development of Carrie Hitchman’s debut play Fuck You Gary Owen. A contemporary disection of sex and society. This play explores how sex and popular culture affects navigating contemporary relationships.
EnCircled (2019)
As Director. Led the creative process for Theatre KinAesthetic’s 2019 devised work, EnCircled. Presented at Wilton’s Music Hall this piece explored the relationship betweem audience and spectacle within circus.
Resume Links
Var, Theatre KinAesthetic 2015
Var, Theatre KinAesthetic 2015
Var, Theatre KinAesthetic 2015
Rite of Passage, Theatre KinAesthetic 2016
Generic Male - Just What We Need... (2021/22)
intotheclouds, Nonsuch Theatre 2017
Rite of Passage, Theatre KinAesthetic 2016
Eclipse, The Old Fire Station 2017
The Party's Over, Nonsuch Theatre 2017
The Party's Over, Nonsuch Theatre 2017
The Party's Over, Nonsuch Theatre 2017
intotheclouds, Nonsuch Theatre 2017
intotheclouds, Nonsuch Theatre 2017
Dracula, PUSH Physical Theatre (Rehearsal) 2018
The Party's Over, Nonsuch Theatre 2017
Dracula, PUSH Physical Theatre (Rehearsal) 2018
The Fun Police, Nonsuch Theatre 2018
Planted, PUSH Physical Theatre 2020
Generic Male..., PUSH Physical Theatre (The Hart Theatre, 2021)
Awards & Commissions
2019 - GVCA Individual Artist
For the research and development of “Generic White Male”.
2016 - Festival Choice Award
Rite of Passage - Theatre KinAesthetic - IYAF 2016
2019 - PWOD Supported Artist
Supoprted residency preriod with Wilton’s Music Hall, London UK.
2015/2016 - Departure Point Artist
Theatre Delicatessen, London UK.
2018 - Alleghany Arts Council Comission
Loneliness and the Arts in the Virginia’s Alleghany Highlands. Comission to facilitate a week long community outreach and the development of new work.