Jessica Palfrey
Jessica Palfrey
Actor Director etc
Jessica Palfrey is an Australian playwright and director whose work has been produced
in both Australian and the United Kingdom. Jessica has experience in writing, directing,
designing and producing theatre. She has also previously worked as a dance teacher
and choreographer both in Brisbane and her hometown, Byron Bay.
Biography
Jessica Palfrey is a writer, director and designer currently working in Brisbane, Australia. Her last play ‘When the Friendship Has Sailed’; premiered at Edinburgh Fringe and received 4 and 5 star reviews. Her cabaret about women’s health titled “Ragtime: There Will Be Blood”; was written with long-time collaborator Bonnie Mullins and sold out its initial run in Brisbane’s Anywhere Festival, and again for the return season. Jessica was also commissioned to write and adapt Shakespeare for the Gold Coast Renaissance Faire in 2014 and 2015. Her other works include “An Enemy of the People”; (Designer - Queensland Theatre Youth Ensemble); Merry Wives of Windsor; (Assistant Director and Costume Designer - Lisa Gasteen National Opera School), Lady Macbeth and Macbeth vs The World (Director - Grin&Tonic Theatre Troupe), The Pillowman (Director and Designer - Underground Productions).
Ad Astra Plays
Upcoming Plays
Past Plays
Other Theatre
2022 – An Enemy of the People, Queensland Theatre Youth Ensemble, Designer
2021 – Hive Theatre Collective, Metro Arts, Associate Designer
2019 – Yerma (Playreading), Playlab, Director
2019 – Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Lisa Gasteen National Opera School,Assistant Director and Designer
2018 – N89, Matchstick Theatre London, Dramaturg
2018 – When The Friendship Has Sailed, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Writer and Designer
2017 – The Milk of Human Kindness, Theatre 503, Writer
2016 – Ragtime: There Will Be Blood!, Anywhere Theatre Festival, Co-writer and Co-director
2016 – Lady Macbeth and Macbeth vs The World, Grin & Tonic Theatre Troupe,Director
2015 – Sunnytown, La Boite Indie, Assistant Director
2015 – The Pillowman, Underground Productions, Director and Designer
2014 – The Comedy of Errors, Gold Coast Renaissance Faire, Adaptor and Director
Training
2018 Soho Theatre London: Edinburgh Lab, Various
2017 Biographical Performance, Bryony Kimmings 2016 Playwriting: Character and Voice, Daniel Evans and Suzie Miller
2015 Rehearsal observation and mentorship, Jason Klarwein
2013 NIDA Open Screenwriting Course, Sally Mackenzie
2013 Playwriting Masterclass: Voice and Symbol, Maxine Mellor
2012 Playwriting Workshop, Noella Janechzcha
Representation
Freelance
Reviews
“One of society’s last taboos, being lonely, gets the Fringe treatment with aplomb;
sensitively handled, but with plenty of laughs to boot. A versatile cast, clever props and a
well-rounded piece that delivers lots of humour alongside the take-home message. The cast
and crew should be proud.”
Polly Allen – Everything Theatre | Read Review Here
“Despite Palfrey’s youth, she displayed the maturity of an experienced director by
introducing many directives of theatre with the use of puppetry, sound, and doll-like
movement throughout the production with the intent to appeal the child within. In addition,
Palfrey used a minimalist set design to convey the isolation and confinement of a totalitarian
society. This representation of McDonagh’s script is not unlike that of Orwell’s 1984.”
Annie Thompson – Aussie Theatre | Read Review Here