Jo Girdlestone

In a variety of hats (songwriter, playwright, actor, director, workshop leader and artist in residence) as well as the occasional red nose, Jo has been making theatre for and with young people since the early 90’s. Music has been a strong thread through her theatre career, first as an actor musician and later as a composer of original music and songs for a catalogue of devised youth theatre productions.

Collaborations include youth theatre projects at Royal National Theatre, Richmond Theatre, Tricycle (Kilburn), Hackney Empire, Palace Theatre (Watford), Roundhouse (Highbury), Union Chapel (Islington), Rosemary Branch Theatre (Islington), Wolsey (Ipswich), Royal Theatre (Northampton), English Teaching Theatre, Snap People’s Theatre Trust and local to home with Age Exchange (Blackheath) and Lewisham Youth Theatre at Broadway Theatre in Catford.   

Originally Jo studied Drama and Music at Kent University, followed by the Post Grad Acting course at Drama Studio London and Songwriting at Goldsmiths.

As a singer songwriter she plays regularly for the Icarus Club at a variety of music venues in and around Greenwich including Blackheath Concert Halls for Christmas Icarus 2017. In 2017 she was also a featured singer songwriter on BBC Radio Kent Folk.

Theatre wise, 2018 brought 2 commissions from the V&A. The first to write (songs and script) and direct a Pop Up Theatre work alongside the ‘Winnie the Pooh Exploring a Classic’ exhibition and the second to write songs for a Pop Up Theatre work alongside the Ocean Liners exhibition.

"I’m delighted to be part of the Early Years Music team at Blackheath Conservatoire. Exploring the language of music through physical play with the very young is a process of discovery that is a joy to lead and incredibly rewarding. I love it!"