Sliding down bannisters at Bristol Old Vic, throwing snowballs at his headteacher and his journey from The Wardrobe Ensemble to becoming Artistic Director of Royal & Derngate, Northampton. All this and more is discussed in this month’s episode of Regrets I’ve Had A Few with celebrated director Jesse Jones.

About Jesse Jones

Jesse Jones joined Royal & Derngate as Artistic Director in July 2023. Jesse co-founded the multi-award-winning company The Wardrobe Ensemble, has been Associate Artistic Director at Paines Plough and first worked with Royal & Derngate in 2015 as Resident Assistant Director supported by a Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme bursary. In 2011 Jesse founded The Wardrobe Theatre where he was Co-Artistic Director until 2015 and is currently a trustee of Shoreditch Town Hall. 

Most recent directing credits include The Jolly Christmas Postmanand Simple8’s Moby Dick in association with Royal & Derngate. Other notable directing credits include Mog the Forgetful Cat, a co-production between Royal & Derngate, the Old Vic and Wardrobe Ensemble, West End hits Death Dropand its sequel Death Drop Back in the Habit, Sorry You’re Not a Winner for Paines Plough, and the world premiere musical adaptation of Pippi Longstocking, for Royal & Derngate and Wizard Presents. Other collaborations between Royal & Derngate and The Wardrobe Ensemble include Education, Education, Education and The Last of the Pelican Daughters. Productions for The Wardrobe Ensemble also include 1972: The Future of Sex and WINNERS. Other credits include The Wind in the Willows for The Core at Corby Cube, The Grandfathers with the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic, For the Record at Pleasance Theatre, This Perfect World for Theatre Royal Bath, Exceptional Mercy for The Old Vic, Building the Wall at The Bush Destiny at Tobacco Factory Theatres and Guttermouth, Wildbore and Scumbag for Wardrobe Theatre.