Authors

Dave Johns

Dave Johns is an English stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He played the title role in Ken Loach's 2016 film I, Daniel Blake, later adapting Paul Laverty's screenplay for the stage.

I, Daniel Blake

Andy Johnson

Andy Johnson is an actor, writer, director and drama teacher. His work includes acting roles in Peak Practice, The Bill and Picking Up the Pieces, and directorial credits at venues such as the BAC and Young Vic. He has taught at East 15, Mountview, Middlesex University and the University of Nevada, and is currently Director-in-Residence at Hurtwood House, Surrey.

Andy Johnson
The Excellent Audition Guide

Chris Johnston

Chris Johnston (1952-2017) was a writer, performer, director, teacher, and workshop facilitator who championed work in community-based theatre and improvisation. His work with Insight Arts Trust (1988-98) and then Rideout (1999-2016) pioneered a range of theatre and arts-based strategies for working with prisoners and those on probation. His experiments with ensemble work were realised in two companies, ESP and Fluxx. Particularly with Fluxx he developed Citizen Theatre - improvised performances that explored issues of concern to local communities. A further company, Livestock, was established in Brighton with a focus on arts and education.

He was a visiting lecturer at the University of Warwick between 1998 and 2003, and between 2003 and 2006 he was an AHRC Fellow in Creative & Performing Arts. He was awarded a Butler Trust Award in 2005 for his work in the Prison Service and made a Companion of LIPA in 2011. His writings for Nick Hern Books include House of Games (2006, first published by Routledge in 1998), The Improvisation Game (2006) and Drama Games for Those Who Like to Say No (2010).

Chris Johnston
Drama Games for Those Who Like to Say No
The Improvisation Game
House of Games

Cat Jones

Cat Jones is a playwright and screenwriter.

Her plays include Glory Dazed (winner of the 2011 BBC Alfred Bradley Bursary for Radio Drama; Edinburgh Fringe, 2012; Adelaide Fringe Festival, 2013; Soho Theatre, London, 2013) and Rendered (runner-up in the Theatre503/Old Vic New Voices Award).

She was the creator and writer of BBC television drama series The Jetty (2024).

She founded and ran Second Shot Productions, a film and theatre production company based within HMP & YOI Doncaster that employs serving prisoners and ex-offenders.

Glory Dazed

Kelly Jones

Kelly Jones is a playwright and neo-burlesque performer from Dagenham. She was the winner of the BBC Wales Drama Award 2014.

Her plays include My Mother’s Funeral: The Show (Paines Plough tour, 2024).

My Mother's Funeral: The Show

Vicky Jones

Vicky Jones is a theatre director and writer. As a director, her credits include Mydidae (Soho Theatre, then Trafalgar Studios) and Fleabag (Fringe First Award, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013, then Soho Theatre). As a writer, her plays include Touch (Soho Theatre, London, 2017); and The One (Soho Theatre, 2014; winner of the Verity Bargate Award for Best New Play).

She is co-founder and co-Artistic Director of new-writing company DryWrite.

Vicky Jones
The One
Touch
Snatches: Moments from 100 Years of Women's Lives