julian spooner

“Bonafide Bostonian actor Julian Spooner as Ishmael…”

**** TimeOut

In 2022, Julian was cast as Ismael in the Plexus Polaire production of Moby Dick. Julian performed the role of Ismael in Switzerland, Toronto, New York, Chicago, Brighton (UK), Boston, Pittsburgh & the main theatre space of the Barbican in January 2025.

Cast / Creative Team:

Director – Yngvild Aspeli

Ishmael: Julian Spooner

Actors and puppeteers – Pierre Devérines, Sarah Lascar, Daniel Collados, Alice Chéné, Viktor Lukawski, Maja Kunsic, Andreu Martinez Costa.

Alternating with Alexandre Pallu, Vera Rozanova, Yann Claudel, Olmo Hidalgo, Cristina Iosif, Scott Koehler, Laëtitia Labre.

Music – Guro Skumsnes Moe, Ane Marthe Sørlien Holen and Havard Skaset

Alternating with Lou Renaud-Bailly, Georgia Wartel Collins et Emil Storløkken Åse

Puppet makers – Polina Borisova, Yngvild Aspeli, Manon Dublanc, Sébastien Puech, Elise Nicod

Scenography – Elisabeth Holager Lund

Light Designer – Xavier Lescat and Vincent Loubière

Video Designer – David Lejard-Ruffet

Costume Designer - Benjamin Moreau

Light Technicians - Vincent Loubière or Marine David

Video Technicians - Hugo Masson, Pierre Hubert or Emilie Delforce

Sound Technicians - Raphaël Barani, Simon Masson or Damien Ory

Stage Technicians : Benjamin Dupuis, Xavier Lescat or Margot Boche

Assistant director (on tour) - Benoît Seguin

Assistant director (creation) – Pierre Tual

Dramaturg – Pauline Thimonnier

Production Director and Tour Booking - Claire Costa

Administration - Anne-Laure Doucet and Gaedig Bonabesse

Producer - Noémie Jorez

Photography - Nina Allmoslechner

**** The Guardian

**** The Times

(press from the Barbican run)

“the show is deft and ingenious”- ★★★★ Michael Billington, The Guardian

Julian co-directed and performed in Rhum and Clay’s critical and commercial hit The War of the Worlds, written with Isley Lynn. The production premiered at New Diorama Theatre, London on January 8th 2019 and ran for a critically acclaimed sell- out five week run. The show will feature at The Pleasance for the entire Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019, before heading on an extensive tour for the Spring of 2020.

Creative team:

Created by Rhum and Clay and written with Isley Lynn Directed by Hamish McDougall and Julian Spooner Movement by Matthew Wells Set & Costume Design by Bethany Wells Sound Design by Ben Grant Lighting Design by Nick Flintoff and Pete Maxey Producer Hannah Tookey Executive producer Sally Cowling

“Magnificent production of Dario Fo’s mystery play with an astounding performance from Julian Spooner”

★★★★★ - The Stage

Julian Spooner gives a critically acclaimed solo performance in Dario Fo’s celebrated text ‘Mistero Buffo’. The production began life at New Diorama Theatre in January 2018, before embarking on a UK tour. The production then enjoyed a complete sell out run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018 at Underbelly. Julian Spooner was presented with The Stage Award for Acting excellence for his performance, and the production was selected as one of The Stage’s top shows of the Edinburgh Fringe. The production transferred to the main space at the Arcola Theatre for two weeks in November 2018.

Written by Dario Fo, translated by Ed Emery. Additional material by Nicholas Pitt & Julian Spooner

Cast: Julian Spooner

Creative team:

Directed by Nicholas Pitt
Designed Emily Bates
Lighting Design by Geoff Hense
Music and Sound Design by Jon Ouin
Publicity Design by Rebecca Romero & Guy Sanders (Edinburgh)

“multi-layered and gripping physical theatre… a refreshing, genuinely smart piece of work, full of undercutting humour” - Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

Julian directed and performed in Rhum and Clay’s groundbreaking 2017 production TESTOSTERONE. One year after his first injection of testosterone trans man Kit is perceived completely as a man. However, with this triumph comes a crisis of masculinity; what kind of man is he? 

Drawing on autobiographical experiences, TESTOSTERONE is the true story of Kit Redstone's first entrance into a male gym changing room at the age of 33.

The production began life at New Diorama in late 2016 and was to be part of the British Council Showcase 2017. The production received widespread critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning a Pleasance Indie award for Best Theatre Production at The Pleasance. The production has since toured extensively across the UK, and internationally to Brazil, Kazakhstan & Canada.

Written by Kit Redstone
Directed by Julian Spooner
Movement by Matthew Wells 
Associate Direction by Douglas Rintoul
Produced by Jolie Booth                         Lighting and Sound Design by Geoff Hense  Set & Costume Design by Alberta Jones 

Developed in association with New Diorama Theatre & Redbridge Drama Centre and funded by Arts Council England.

The Ladder marks Julian’s first collaboration with Shon Dale-Jones and Hoipolloi Theatre. Julian co-devised the show with Shon Dale-Jones and Stefanie Mueller.

It’s been 6 years since Hugh Hughes has been been on stage, and this time he’s joined by his father Daniel Hughes. Daniel died in 2001, he had a heart attack and fell off a ladder. As he fell he saw his entire life flash before his eyes. Hugh was excited by this and asked him to write it all down… together, as father and son, they attempt to stage The Ladder.

The show opened at Norwich Playhouse as part of Norfolk & Norwich Festival in May 2019. It will be touring Autumn 2019.

Produced by Hoipolloi

Devised by Shon, Steffi and Julian.

Written by Shon Dale-Jones

Directed by Stefanie Mueller

Cast:

Hugh Hughes is played by Shon Dale-Jones

Daniel Hughes is played by Julian Spooner

Winner of the Best Comedy Short Film at Hollywood Shorts Festival

Julian co-wrote, co-produced and starred in the award winning short film, Toby, directed by long time collaborator Tom Savage. The film came about from a short play Julian developed with Simon Maeder whilst at Drama school in Paris. Julian produces films with Tom Savage under the name of Skym Bay productions.

"Weird and wonderful theatre performed with inch-perfect precision." - ★★★★ The Observer

Julian co-directed and performed in Rhum and Clay’s smash hit 64 Squares which had a total sell out run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2015.

64 Squares is a one man show performed by three actors and a drummer.

Welcome to B's mind. B's got some memories he wants to share with you. He wants to tell you about how he ended up on a cruise ship, playing chess against the current world chess champion. He wants to tell you all about his life and the choices he's made. The problem? He's been split into four and can't remember what happened. 

Accompanied by a live jazz percussive score, a tale of madness, memory and chess,  adapted from Stefan Zweig's The Royal Game.

Directed by
Christopher Harrisson, Julian Spooner and Matt Wells

Written by:
Christopher Harrison

Performers
Julian Spooner
Matthew Wells
Roisin O'Mahony
Charlotte Dubery(2014)

Musician
Fred McLaren

Producer
Sarah Wilson

Stage Manager/Production Assistant
Rob Stenson

Design
Amelia Jane Hankin

Lighting Design
Geoff Hense

Devised by the company

“Pulled off triumphantly... every transition is fluid and purposeful, with smart lighting and sound design adding real depth to a creative, characterful production.” - ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ TimeOut

Julian co-created and performed in Rhum and Clay’s hit production Hardboiled (2014/16). Originally a co-production with The Watermill, the production was co-created with Beth Flintoff. After a successful run at The Watermill Theatre, the show transferred to New Diorama for a sell out three week run.

Created by Rhum and Clay Theatre Company & Beth Flintoff.  Devised by the company.

Cast
Christopher Harrisson
Jess Mabel Jones
Julian Spooner
Matthew Wells

Director
 Beth Flintoff

Designer
David Harris

Lighting Design
Nick Flintoff

Sound Design
Neil Starke

Julian is developing this Rhum and Clay production alongside the writer Tom Morton-Smith (Oppenheimer, RSC) and Kirsty Housley (The Encounter, Complicite).

The production centres around the life of Leon Theremin, who developed on the world’s first ever electronic instruments: The Theremin.

The production is slated for premiere in 2020.

“A fascinating fusion of physicality and artistic theatre…superb acting, inspired direction and a comic sense of absurdity.”— ★★★★ The Stage

Julian co-directed and performed in this highly physical and radical re-telling of the famous Stevenson classic. It was co-produced by The Watermill Theatre, and played at the main house before embarking on an extensive rural tour.

Co-created by Rhum and Clay and Beth Flintoff. Co-production between Rhum and Clay and The Watermill.

Written and Directed by:

Julian Spooner, Beth Flintoff, Chris Harrisson & Matthew Wells.

Cast
Christopher Harrisson
Julian Spooner
Matthew Wells

Design
Hayley Grindle

Music and Sound Design
Neil Starke

Lighting Design
Lawrence T Doyle

Photography
Phillip Tull

Irresistibly daft....Oddball comedy and genuine pathos" - ★★★★ The Herald

Julian co-wrote and co-directed with his company, the endearing hit A Strange Wild Song (2012). The production ear-marked his company, Rhum and Clay, as one of the UK’s most exciting emerging theatre ensembles.

Written and Directed by the company. 

Cast
Christopher Harrisson
Julian Spooner
Matthew Wells
Daniel Wilcox
Laila Woozeer (musician)
Peter Wiedmann (UK 2015 tour)
 Producer
Sarah Wilson

Production Design
Alberta Jones

Production Assistant
Aella Jordan-Edge
 Lighting Design
Greg Cebula

Publicity Design
Sandra Dieckmann

"The rising stars of Absurd Physical Theatre"- ★★★★★ Fringe Review

Julian co-wrote and co-directed Shutterland as Rhum and Clay’s first production, which proved to be a smash hit at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011, and then went onto tour nationally and internationally.

Directed and written by the company.

Cast
Christopher Harrison
Julian Spooner
Matthew Wells
Kristoffer Huball (Edinburgh 2011)
Sean Jones (2012 tours)
Daniel Wilcox (autumn/winter 2012)

Lighting Design
Greg Cebula

“Julian Spooner and Sophie Cullen the focus as Friedmann and Taro. The two develop a refreshingly honest romance that grounds this flamboyant theatrical style and gives the narrative its heart. “ ★★★★ The Stage

Julian co-created and performed in Idle Motion’s visually stunning story of Gerda Taro, Shooting with Light. He played the role of war photographer, Robert Capa (Andre Friedmann) to critical acclaim. Julian performed in both London transfers, and the international tour to China.

Nominated for a Total Theatre Award for Best Emerging Company

Julian co-created and performed in Idle Motion’s breakout hit Borges and I, a visually arresting show inspired by the magical realist works of Jorge Luis Borges. The show enjoyed a total sell out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe , the company was nominated for a Total Theatre Award, and Julian has performed in the London transfer and subsequent International tour of China.

Julian co-created and performed in Tornerose, a Jammy Voo co-production with Teater Innlandet made in association with Rhum and Clay. Directed by puppetry visionary Yngvild Aspeli, the production was inspired by the story of sleeping beauty, and combined puppetry, clowning, stunning visuals and live music. The production was made at Teater Innlandet in Hamar, Norway and proceeded to tour Oslo and rural Norway.