John R. Wilkinson
Director
Agent
Assistant
Biography
John is a theatre director and dramaturg with Cerebral Palsy. He has just directed the world premiere of THE LAST PICTURE by Catherine Dyson, his second collaboration with English Touring Theatre and York Theatre Royal, following MUGABE, MY DAD & ME by Tonderai Munyevu, which won Best New Play at the UK Theatre Awards 2022. He was the tenth recipient of the Genesis Future Director’s Award at the Young Vic, where he staged a sold out production of WINTER by Nobel laureate Jon Fosse. A 2024 Clore Fellow, John sits on the boards of Middle Child, Pilot Theatre, and the Stephen Joseph Theatre. From 2017 to 2019, he was Agent for Change at Leeds Playhouse.
Training: Bretton Hall College and the National Theatre Directors’ Course.
Awards & Nominations:
Winner: UK Theatre Awards 2022 (Best New Play) – MUGABE, MY DAD & ME
Finalist: Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme 2020
Winner: Genesis Future Directors Award 2018
Finalist: Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme 2017
Finalist: Sir Peter Hall Directors Award 2016
Credits
Theatre
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AS DIRECTOR | ||
|
THE LAST PICTURE 2026 |
York Theatre Royal |
By Catherine Dyson. |
|
SOVEREIGN 2023 |
York Theatre Royal |
By Mike Kenny (adapted from the C.J. Sansom novel) |
|
THE COPPERGATE WOMAN 2022 |
York Theatre Royal |
By Maureen Lennon |
|
MUGABE, MY DAD & ME 2021 |
English Touring Theatre / York Theatre Royal / Brixton House |
By Tonderai Munyevu |
|
DIGITAL ADVENT CALENDAR (PINK SKIES…) 2020 |
Royal Exchange Theatre | |
|
MUGABE, MY DAD & ME 2020 |
Audible.com |
Audio version |
|
HELLO AND GOODBYE 2019 |
York Theatre Royal |
By Athol Fugard |
|
SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS 2019 |
York Theatre Royal |
From the novel by Arthur Ransome, Stage Adaptation by Helen Edmondson |
|
TALKING HEADS 2018 |
Leeds Playhouse |
By Alan Bennett |
|
WINTER 2018 |
Young Vic |
By Jon Fosse, Translation Ann Henning Jocelyn |
|
THE DROWNED WORLD 2017 |
National Theatre Studio |
Research and Development Week |
|
CAN’T STAND UP FOR FALLING DOWN 2013 |
York Theatre Royal |
By Richard Cameron |
| AS ASSOCIATE/ ASSISTANT DIRECTOR | ||
|
NT Connections 2022 |
National Theatre | |
|
NT Connections 2021 |
National Theatre | |
|
NT CONNECTIONS 2020 |
National Theatre | |
|
SUNSHINE ON LEITH 2018 |
Leeds Playhouse |
By Stephen Greenhorn |
|
NT CONNECTIONS 2017 |
National Theatre | |
| (UNTITLED R&D) | National Theatre |
Dir. Rufus Norris |
|
LAUREL AND HARDY 2011 |
By Tom McGrath |
|
|
MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS 2011 |
From the autobiography by Gerald Durrell, stage adaptation by Janys Chambers |
|
| AS DRAMATURG | ||
|
YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING 2017 |
Dark Horse Theatre – UK Tour |
Writer & Director: Lucy Campbell |
|
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD 2011 |
York Theatre Royal – UK Tour |
From the novel by Harper Lee, stage adaptation by Christopher Sergel |
Other
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
WINNER UK THEATRE AWARDS 2022 |
Best New Play MUGABE, MY DAD & ME |
|
|
NOMINEE ANTONYO AWARDS 2022 |
Best Audio Theater Production MUGABE, MY DAD & ME |
|
|
FINALIST REGIONAL THEATRE YOUNG DIRECTORS SCHEME 2020 |
Birmingham Rep, Sheffield Theatres, Manchester Royal Exchange | |
|
WINNER GENESIS FUTURE DIRECTORS AWARD 2018 |
Young Vic | |
|
FINALIST REGIONAL THEATRE YOUNG DIRECTORS SCHEME 2017 |
Birmingham Rep, Sheffield Theatres, Manchester Royal Exchange | |
|
FINALIST ROYAL THEATRICAL SUPPORT TRUST DIRECTOR AWARD 2016 |
Sheffield Theatres |
Inaugural Year |
| OBSERVER MONDAYS BLINDSIDED | Manchester Royal Exchange |
Dir. Sarah Frankcom |
