Simon Carroll-Jones

At the age of nine Simon was taken by his parents to the Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton to see a touring production from Trestle Theatre Company. Simon was always into creative things, but that could be from dancing to Micheal Jackson to practicing diving on holiday. However, once Simon saw this production, he knew that this is what he wanted to do: where a giant mask and jump around on stage in front of people.

In order to get to the point of getting paid to jump around in front of people wearing a giant mask he had to do a few things:

Simon auditioned and was accepted into the National Youth Theatre and took part in their summer training programme. On the programme he got to work with many people, namely Kevin Tomlinson of Kepow Theatre. Kevin inspired him more to perform in improvisation and clown work.

After a short period where Simon became a member of Fat Cow Theatre and Taunton Dance company. Simon went to East 15 Acting School and trained on the three year BA in Acting. During his training he played such roles as Colley Cibber in MASKS AND FACES, Roebuck Ramsden in MAN AND SUPERMAN, Kay in THE SNOW QUEEN, Captain Brennan in THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS, Claudio in MEASURE FOR MEASUREM, and Lewis in ANGELS IN AMERICA. But his main source of inspiration came from Uri Roodner, a clown and movement teacher who directed Simon in an untitled Commedia piece where he played Magnifico the Priest.

During his third year Simon was invited to perform at the Bush Theatre in the rehearsed reading of WHEN YOU CURE ME by Jack Thorn. Simon played the role of Peter and was directed by Mike Bradwell.

Simon joined us at The Actors File on leaving East 15. We saw him in his final year showcase and then in HAPPY END at Wilton’s Music Hall playing Brother Ben Owen and took him on straight away.

Since being on our books Simon has been incredibly busy. He spent four months in Brighton with Intrepid Theatre Company; he went to Austria for six months with Vienna’s English Theatre; he has done numerous touring productions here in the UK; Simon has starred in many adverts – most recently, Film Four’s Fright Fest where he was attacked by an arm chair.

Most recently Simon has been starting to reach his goal of jumping around in front of people on stage wearing a mask. He took part in a week long mask workshop with John Wright of Trestle Theatre and Told By An Idiot. From that he worked on a research and development on a mask show, experimenting with different masks. From that he got involved with a research and development of the piece SHOOTING RATS. This had its performance at The Old Vic in front of directors, producers and writers.

Most recently Simon worked on a devised piece with MAKE WORK ONE initiative at Arch 468. This was a collaboration work where three theatre companies use the same space to create three individual works inspired by the other companies in the space.

Simon Has Just recenlty started work on an untitled physical theatre piece with director Ben Webb. Also with Ben directing, Simon will be seen on stage at The Canal Cafe performing KATHY ACKER OUT LOUD in February.

Simon is also a keen physical actor and keeps himself fit by mountain biking, skiing, skating and other things that might endanger his life!