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Basil Jones

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Basil Jones BIO

Basil Jones is a South African actor, playwright, and director. He is best known for co-founding the Handspring Puppet Company with Adrian Kohler in 1981. Jones was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1954. He attended the University of Cape Town, where he studied drama and English literature.
Jones and Kohler met while working on a production of "Faustus in Africa" in 1981. They decided to form their own company, which eventually became the Handspring Puppet Company. The company has since become internationally renowned for its innovative use of puppets in theater productions.
Jones has directed several productions for the Handspring Puppet Company, including "Woyzeck on the Highveld," "Ubu and the Truth Commission," and "Or You Could Kiss Me." These productions have been performed in theaters around the world, including the National Theatre in London and the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.
In addition to his work with the Handspring Puppet Company, Jones has also acted in several productions. He appeared in the South African film "The Road to Mecca" in 1991, and in the television series "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" in 2008.
Jones has received numerous awards for his work in theater, including a Tony Award for Best Puppet Design for the play "War Horse" in 2011. "War Horse" was a collaboration between the Handspring Puppet Company and the National Theatre of Great Britain, and went on to become an international sensation.
Jones' most recent work includes the production "Chalk About" with the company Oily Cart, which premiered in London in 2017.

Basil Jones Photos

Basil Jones Productions

 
[West End, 2019]
Puppet Fabricator & Director
 
[Broadway, 2011]
Puppet Designer
 
[West End, 2009]
Puppet Designer
Puppet Fabrication
Puppetry Director

Basil Jones Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2011 - Special Award

Basil Jones, War Horse

Basil Jones Videos

Basil Jones News


Further Dates Added to UK Tour of WAR HORSE


New dates have been announced for the National Theatre’s production of War Horse, the theatrical event based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, which embarks on a major 18-month UK and Ireland tour from 5 September 2024, touring through to 2026.

National Theatre's WAR HORSE Will Embark on UK Tour Beginning September 2024


The National Theatre's production of War Horse will embark on a major 18-month UK Tour from 5 September 2024, touring through to 2026. Find out where you can catch the show here!

American Premiere of LIFE & TIMES OF MICHAEL K is Coming to St. Ann's Warehouse


Don't miss the American premiere of 'Life & Times of Michael K,' a stunning puppet theater production that received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Find out the dates and venue for this highly acclaimed show at St. Ann's Warehouse.

SEGAL TALK on November 17 to be Conversation with Basil Jones (South Africa) about THE WALK


The Walk dramatised the stories of refugee children by means of a 3.5-metre-high puppet, Little Amal, who traveled from the Syrian border through Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and France in search of her mother.

BWW Interview: Bringing Award-Winning Novel to Life Through Puppetry in LIFE AND TIMES OF MICHAEL K


Adapted for stage by Lara Foot and in collaboration with Handspring Puppet Company, Nobel Prize-winning author JM Coetzee’s LIFE AND TIMES OF MICHAEL K opens for a special preview season next month at Baxter Theatre Centre. Letting us in on their process of working with puppetry for the past four decades, Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler of Handspring chat with BroadwayWorld.

LIFE AND TIMES OF MICHAEL K Will Be Performed at The Baxter This June


The Baxter Theatre Centre has announced its most ambitious and exciting production in recent years, the world premiere of Nobel Prize-winning author JM Coetzee's Life and Times of Michael K, adapted for the stage by Lara Foot, in collaboration with the Handspring Puppet Company.

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center Announces SEGAL TALKS Week Four


The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center Announces SEGAL TALKS Week Four

VIDEO: Leenya Rideout Sings 'Children Will Listen' For Milwaukee Rep's OUR HOME TO YOUR HOME Series


Milwaukee Rep has shared a video of Leenya Rideout singing 'Children Will Listen' for their Our Home to Your Home series.

National Theatre Announces December 2019 �" June 2020 Lineup; ROMEO & JULIET, SEA SICK, and More!


The National Theatre has announced its upcoming lineup for December 2019 - June 2020.

National Theatre Announces New Productions, Including Emma Rice and Tony Kushner Adaptations


The National Theatre has announced its productions on-sale for October 2019 a?' March 2020

WAR HORSE--An Unmissable Theatrical Feat--Must Close in Hong Kong Today, June 2


After a week of extended performances, the second UK and international touring company of the Tony-Award winning play WAR HORSE must close its Hong Kong leg today, June 2, 2019, at the Lyric Theatre of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts--the venue was packed to the rafters when we watched it last Tuesday, May 28, 2019.

WAR HORSE Debuts in Hong Kong; Show Runs Now Thru June 2


WAR HORSE, the unforgettable theatrical event from the National Theatre of Great Britain, producers of the smash-hit production of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," made its debut at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, with a star-studded gala premiere held Saturday, May 11. The gala night audience included invited VIPs, show sponsors, and a host of local celebrities such as Cecil Chao, Gigi Chao, Stephen Chan, Ankie Beilke, Vincci Cheuk, Sabrina Leung, Bianca Wu, Cheung Tat-Ming, Geoff Wong, Cecilia Yip, Rita Carpio, and Tony Cruz.

WAR HORSE Gallops Into Hong Kong--The Only Asian Stop in Its First International Tour


The National Theatre of Great Britain's critically-acclaimed 2007 stage production of 'War Horse,' which inspired Steven Spielberg's 2011 war drama film of the same name, extends its limited engagement at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai). Tickets to the performances from May 10 to June 2, 2019, are now on sale at HKTicketing.com.

National Theatre Announces Listings For May - October 2019


National Theatre has announced its listings for May - October 2019. Check out the full lineup below!

African Premiere Of SAVE THE PEDESTALS Comes to The Baxter


Save the Pedestals, a unique, international, artistic collaboration between the Baxter Theatre Centre, Handspring Puppet Company and Halle Puppet Theatre, makes its African debut at the Baxter Flipside, for four performances only, from 28 to 30 March, at 8pm, with a matinee on Saturday, 30 March at 4pm. This follows its hugely successful world premiere in Halle, Germany, last year.

Tickets Now On Sale For WAR HORSE At Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre


Joey, the life-sized horse puppet from the National Theatre's acclaimed play War Horse, visited Wembley Park to celebrate today's general public on sale of War Horse coming to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre this autumn.

BWW Review: WAR HORSE, SEC Armadillo Glasgow


Courage, friendship, determination and hope, War Horse is a love story like no other. After the auction purchase of a foal by a foolish father bidding to save his pride, the Narracott family must work out what to do with a bay thoroughbred horse on their Devon farm. Glasgow born actor Scott Miller plays Albert Narracott, the young country son who bonds with the horse, naming him Joey. Their connection appears unbreakable until a hasty decision pushes their connection to its limits.

National Theatre Announces Lineup For First Half of 2019


The National Theatre has announced its upcoming lineup for the first half of 2019.

WAR HORSE Will Return to London At New Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre


Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, Wembley Park's highly-anticipated new theatre venture announces that the acclaimed National Theatre production of War Horse will return to London for a strictly limited run from 18 October 23 November 2019.

THE WIDER EARTH At The Natural History Museum Announces Extension


The Wider Earth - the critically acclaimed drama about the young Charles Darwin's expedition on HMS Beagle - currently playing at the custom-built theatre in the Jerwood Gallery at London's Natural History Museum, has extended its run and will now play until 24 February 2019.

Basil Jones FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What awards has Basil Jones been nominated for?

Basil Jones has been nominated for a Special Award at the Drama Desk Awards for his work on War Horse.

What awards has Basil Jones won?

Basil Jones won a Special Award from the Drama Desk Awards for War Horse.

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