Photographs by Alexandra Tilling
Alexander is a spoken-word poet who has been anthologised multiple times, performed throughout the UK, and appeared in the shortlists and finals of several national competitions. He writes on love, mental health, and what he terms “deliberate and wilful nonsense”, trying always to put joy into the world and make people feel less alone. He loves fantasy novels, is fascinated by the history of how societies view themselves, and has been known to dabble in the less strenuous areas of philosophy. If you meet him in the bar, he would like a double gin and tonic, please and thank you.
Christine is an academic and dramaturg. She became By Jove’s co-director in 2022. Christine is a Lecturer in Classical Studies at the Open University, teaching undergraduate and Masters courses in Greek language and ancient history and culture, and a researcher in Athenian law and oratory and Greek rhetoric. She also maintains research interests in the reception of Greek drama, translation studies, and the pedagogy of research-based education. She gained her PhD in Classics from UCL in 2017, where she also taught Greek and Latin language and Greek literature in translation. Christine directed and co-wrote Homer’s Women for By Jove.
David is a director, dramaturg, writer, and academic. David is a founding member of By Jove; along with SJ, he is the company’s Co-Artistic Director. Specialising in the adaptation of ancient Greek drama, he has written versions of Aeschylus’ Oresteia, Sophocles’ Electra and Antigone, Euripides’ Bacchae and Medea, and Aristophanes’ Clouds. As an academic, David researches feminist and queer performance making, contemporary approaches to staging Greek drama, and stage and screen adaptations of myth. He has taught at Royal Holloway, Rose Bruford, and King’s College London, and sits on the board of trustees for the Actors of Dionysus.
Malinda started performing in her early teens and was a member of the National Youth Theatre and British Youth Music Theatre, before graduating from Royal Holloway, University of London with a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies, and undertaking acting training at Mountview. She is currently a theatre maker, performer and facilitator in training with Talawa and Emergency Exit Arts; developing practice around self determination theory and creativity in community settings. She is a facilitator at Angel Shed theatre company with additional experience facilitating with young people in organisations including the Little Angel Theatre and Ministry of Stories. She also catsits; surely the greatest professional experience any human could ask for.
Nicole is a Long Island, New York-based theatre-maker, and founding member of By Jove. She holds a BA (Hons) in Drama and Theatre Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London. She also serves as Associate Artistic Director of EastLine Theatre on Long Island, where she has directed Treasure Island, Long Ago and Far Away, and the infamous Yiddish play God of Vengeance. She recently appeared as Chana in the Long Island premiere of Indecent. Her interests include theatre history, musical theatre, Yiddish theatre, and site-specific performance. Her theatre practise is whimsical, inclusive, and based in re-invention.
Sinead has been working with By Jove since 2013. Previous By Jove productions include: Homer’s Women, Pride and Prejudice:
SJ is an actor, director, and writer. She has been performing with By Jove since 2011 and served as co-director from 2017-2022. She writes spoken word poetry and is part of the Young Vic Directors Program. SJ has a keen interest in feminist adaptation and has adapted Othello and The Bacchae for By Jove. She is specifically interested in writing and performing narratives accompanied by a musical score. She is currently developing a full collection of poetry while working in the West End for a theatre producer. She enjoys dance, music, and art and currently resides in South East London.
Wendy is a writer and Associate Director for By Jove with a particular interest in women’s writing, magical realism, science fiction, popular culture, and queer performance practise. She has written and co-written adaptations of Bacchae, The Oresteia, and Medea for By Jove, and produced plays independently (Beautiful Halo – One Act Festival, Stockwell Playhouse).