Remembering Wyn Jones, 1952-2023

Guildhall School was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Wyn Jones, former Director of Acting, who has passed away after a period of illness.

Wyn read Drama at the University of Hull and then worked as an actor in repertory theatre around the United Kingdom until 1985. 

As a freelance director, his productions included The Winslow Boy, Murder Is Easy and as Associate Director, Shadowlands in the West End. National tours included Peace In Our Time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of VE Day and Shadowlands (nominated as Best Touring Production UK 1992 TMA/Martini Awards). Regional theatre productions included Mrs Klein (nominated Best Overall Production UK 1992 TMA/Martini Awards) at Northampton, Toyer (Farnham), Rat in The Skull, The Price, A Time and A Season (Plymouth), Hard Times (Cheltenham and tour), The Towers Of Trebizond (Edinburgh Festival) and The Hollow Crown (Leatherhead). Wyn founded Southern Lights Theatre Company which ran the New End Theatre in Hampstead for two years, directing Rutherford and Son, Talk To Me, Above All, Courage, Made In Spain and A Night Of Passion On Buttermoor Drive for them. 

After several years working as a freelance tutor Wyn Jones joined Guildhall School as Head of Acting in 1997, becoming Director of Drama in 2004 and Director of Acting in 2008, until his retirement in 2018. A three-year professional training in acting has long been at the core of Guildhall Drama department’s work. During Wyn’s time at the School the training was converted into a degree programme, without sacrificing its vocational nature, offering the United Kingdom’s first BA (Honours) degree in Acting in 1993. Wyn directed 31 final year productions between 1992 and 2019 for Guildhall, beginning with Broken Pieces by Michel Tremblay. In addition, he delivered core first year teaching and many first year Chekhov and second year Twentieth Century texts projects. Wyn also played a key role in the planning, design and eventual opening of Milton Court which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and his production of The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov opened the new Milton Court Theatre. His final production for the School was Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti in the Milton Court Studio in 2019.

Our deepest condolences are with Wyn’s friends and family. As part of the 23/24 season, the Drama department will be dedicating a production of a classic text later this year to his memory.

Photo: Wyn Jones directing © Simon Annand