Jen Quinn

Jen Quinn (she/they)
www.jenquinn.work

I hold an MA in Applied Theatre from Central School of Speech and Drama, where I focused on theatre and the criminal legal system and wrote my dissertation on ecodramaturgy and how theatre might play a role in moving towards climate justice. Originally from Canada, I completed a BFA in Theatre (Directing, Design and Production Management) at the University of Victoria in British Columbia and studied Management of Cultural Organisations at HEC Montréal.

I am driven by curiosity, collaboration and connection. I believe theatre is a powerful catalyst for conversation. Grounded in feminism, visual storytelling and new creations, my work tends towards intimate performances and non-traditional spaces. Many styles, forms and mediums merge and mix, often with elements of puppetry and in immersive installation design. I make theatre that is sometimes weird and wonderful but always with equity, inclusion and climate justice as core values.

As a freelancer, I have collaborated on projects coast to coast across Canada, in Mexico, Lebanon and now the UK; working in English, French and Spanish. I have facilitated community workshops, directed professional productions, worked with young people and delivered projects in prisons. My work has been seen at the Victoria and Montréal Fringe Festivals as well as Toronto’s SummerWorks Performance Festival where I received an Honourable Mention in the Canadian Stage Award for Direction.

Credits

DIRECTOR / CO-CREATOR, Worlds Apart- a tale from Yener Velt, Lost and Found Puppet Co. & Little Wanderer Theatre Co.
premier performance at Tsist Jewish Fringe Festival, 2023
scratch performance at Moving Parts Puppetry Festival, 2023
scratch performance at Theatre Deli, 2019

DIRECTOR, Her Home, Geordie Theatre, 2019

DIRECTOR, The Penelopiad, Imago Théâtre, 2017

DIRECTOR, I’m Not Here, Composite Theatre Co. at SummerWorks Performance Festival, 2016

Training

Carbon Literacy Facilitator - Carbon Literacy Project

MA - Applied Theatre - Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Directors Lab Mediterranean (“Labbie”) - Beirut, Lebanon

3-Week National Devised Theatre Intensive - Ghost River Theatre

Intro to Intimacy for Stage and Screen with Siobhan Richardson

Directing Masterclass with Jackie Maxwell - National Theatre School

Dramaturgy with Katalin Trencsényi - Playwrights Workshop Montreal

Gestion d’organismes culturels (Management of Cultural Organizations) - HEC Montréal, 2017/18

Exploring Micro Performance with Sherry Yoon - Playwrights Workshop Montreal
L’Espèce de troupe (Object Theatre Workshop) - Théâtre de la Pire Espèce
Directors Lab North (“Labbie”) - Toronto, Ontario, 2016
Artist Mentorship Ensemble (Director) - Black Theatre Workshop, 2015/16
BFA - Theatre (Directing, Design & Production Management) University of Victoria, 2008