April 2019
Based on a book by Michael Morpurgo
Adapted by Daniel Buckroyd
Puppet design & direction - Maia Kirkman-Richards
Set & Costume Design - Lizzy Leech
Sound Design & Composition - Anna Cock
Theatre Director
"What a radiant production Jessica Daniels has made" The Guardian
"A tremendous and deeply moving production from Jessica Daniels" The Stage
I'm Jess, a freelance theatre director. In 2022 I was nominated for Best Director at the UK Theatre Awards for my production of Michael Morpurgo’s The Mozart Question at the Barn Theatre.
Other accolades for my work include:
The Stage’s Top 10 Shows of 2019 - The Butterfly Lion
The Guardian’s Top 10 shows of 2022 - The Mozart Question
I've been the Resident Director of the Olivier Award-Winning Girl From the North Country since it began at The Old Vic in 2017. In this time I have looked after two West End transfers, the 2019 North American premiere in Toronto, and the 2023 UK/Ireland tour.
I’m excited by new writing, and by plays that challenge an idea, a form, an audience. I like to work collaboratively and to explore creative ways of getting to the heart of a play. I’m interested in making theatre that reflects and challenges the world we live in today.
I'm also an experienced facilitator and regularly run workshops across different disciplines for companies including The Old Vic, The National Theatre, 2-3 Degrees and KPMG.
In 2019 I co-founded the arts collective MAGNA - to find out more about our work check out: wearemagna.org