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In 2025 Jonathan directed a professional stage revival of his 1997 version of Les Miserables (publisher, Concord Theatrical – formerly Samuel French). He has written a version of Herman Melville’s Bartleby for HK’s Chung Ying Theatre Company (who this year revived his version of Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities in three opera houses in China).  His BBC radio versions of George Eliot’s The Lifted Veil, the original drama Hello Caller, an updated version of Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight (directed by Johnny Vegas), Vita Sackville West’s All Passion Spent (starring Honor Blackman) and his reimagining of Dickens’ The Signalman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYv8Hk7rBGA) have all been re-broadcast and most remain available on BBC SOUNDS. His stage adaptation of The Signalman is slated for professional stage revival by Hydrocracker Theatre Co in 2026 in the tunnels beneath Brighton Station https://www.hydrocracker.co.uk/work/the-signalman.

Jonathan Holloway (Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts) delivers “pure art extract” – The Sunday Times. “99.9% pure theatrical magic” – Time Out Magazine.  Jonathan writes dramas for broadcasting, conventional theatre and robust live physical/immersive performance. He sometimes directs. 1984 “Jonathan Holloway’s reboot feels frighteningly contemporary… bleak, dark and disquieting”  – The Oxford Times.  Brave New World “this site-specific production takes full advantage of the Westgate’s architecture, walkways and different levels. The audience (listen) through wireless headphones and swivel as the action (flows) around them. Actors interact with filmed footage on a six metre wide LED screen…groundbreaking…perfect” – BritishTheatre.com “Get Carter leaves you wishing for more at the end of 90 frantic minutes.” – British Theatre Guide, Edinburgh Fringe, 2006. “Holloway leads us through Dickens (Nicholas Nickleby) with immense understanding and passion.”  – The Scotsman, Cumbernauld Theatre, 2002 “Much Ado About Nothing (is) challenging theatre…shocks and laughter, respect for the text and outrageous liberties. This works for Shakespeare enthusiasts and newcomers alike.” – Shakespeare Review, 2008

His work has won Three Edinburgh Fringe First Awards, First Prize at the Prix Italia and The Shakespeare Prize at the World Festival of Theatre, Chile. His plays have been tranlated include Spanish, Norwegian and Cantonese.

A selection of interesting things:– In 2022 Jonathan adapted Dickens’ The Signalman for BBC radio b’cast on Christmas Day (now available on BBC SOUNDS) and then directed a stage version in Oxford which enjoyed an extended run. He wrote a modern reimagining of Gaslight – the play that defined domestic coercive control – directed by Johnny Vegas – music by Imelda May – b’cast in Feb 2023 and now on BBC SOUNDS. He and actor-musician Liam Grundy currently produce the podcast ‘Walking Out‘, available on Podbean, Spotify and Amazon Music – which is popular in Japan. All ten 60′ eps of Jonathan’s BBC adaptation of CP Snow’s ‘Strangers and Brothers‘ are on Audible, as are his BBC adaptations of Huxley’s ‘Brave New World‘ (Pt 1) (Pt2), and his original thriller The Old Spies. His adaptation of Goethe’s FAUST starring Mark Gatiss and Julian Rhind-Tutt is currently available on various platforms, as is his Lana Turner play ‘A Night With Johnny Stompanato‘. His BBC version of Willa Cather’s The Affair at Grover Station (with an impressive musical score by Ross Brown) is available on YouTube.  Jonathan’s adaptation of Wuthering  Heights for BBC Radio 3 was surprisingly featured in newspaper articles around the world for its use of raw emotional language and its depiction of race hatred. Listen here to his slyly entertaining play No Conferring about the BBC TV series, University Challenge (with live performances from former quizmasters Bamber Cascoigne and Jeremy Paxman).

Jonathan has performed in, directed, lit and written shows for 24 Edinburgh Festivals and he managed a Scottish venue for five years.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA); won a First Prize at the Prix Italia for the BBC; is an Honorary Fellow of St Mary’s University for whom his production of No Pasaran won the ensemble prize at the National Student Drama Festival 46 years ago. He was Artist in Residence at Kingston University for whom he directed his own versions of Mallory’s Mort d’Arthur and Wazzeck in the Studio at The Rose Theatre, and at Central School of Speech and Drama’s Centre for Excellence in Theatre Training, where he experimented with immersive open-air styles for productions at the Latitude and Edinburgh Festivals, and Westival in Taunton.  He served on the Board of the Edinburgh Fringe and on the Advisory Panel of the National Campaign for the Arts. Here are some comments re Jess Edward’s 2013 Edinburgh and Southwark Playhouse production of his ‘Jekyll and Hyde‘: ★★★★ ‘Creepily melodramatic and beautifully realised’ – The Times.  ★★★★★ ‘Bound to win awards… highly recommended’ – British Theatre Guide.  ★★★★ ‘a gripping, radical retelling of a classic’ – Three Weeks‘.  ★★★★ ‘Holloway reveals an acute intelligence’ – Broadway Baby.  ★★★★★ ‘Undeniably brilliant.’ – Views from the Gods.  ★★★★ ‘…sordid, sexy, intelligent…’ – Everything Theatre.

Jonathan is represented by Rachel Daniels at Berlin Associates, London, England. 

A Tale of Two Cities : Blood for Blood review

A Tale of Two Cities : Blood For Blood

Jonathan has written 100+ hours of broadcast drama, 30+ professionally produced stage plays and directed 80+ stage shows for the UK, HK, USA, Chile, Eire, Northern Ireland and Egypt. A list can be found under ‘CV’ in the dropdown menu above. Jonathan’s earlier work from 1977 can be referenced from his CV.

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