Jane Bower, Actress and Writer
(and retired teacher, occasional artist, storyteller and vocal coach)
Heartfelt thanks to the 616 establishments both here and abroad (India, UAE, Armenia) for which I worked for forty years (455 primary schools, 21 churches, 5 libraries, 17 publishers, 3 TV companies, 5 theatres, 4 tourist attractions, 21 clubs and groups, 13 colleges, 2 museums, 14 private houses, 3 recording studios, 7 secondary schools, 5 village halls, 4 hospitals/care homes, 2 galleries, 35 other educational companies). You provided me with a wonderfully varied freelance career!
Welcome to my website! Please scroll down and browse to see the range of work I currently offer.
To access hundreds of my magazine articles on practical primary art, drama, history, dance, storytelling and other aspects of the arts, visit https://resource-bank.scholastic.co.uk/ and enter 'Jane Bower' in the search box.
NEW SHOW Owed to Joyce (formerly Joyce - A Celebration) See poster above right
Next confirmed show:
Garstang Arts Festival, Lancashire, August 23rd 2020
My solo show on the life and work of Joyce Grenfell makes a comeback in a new version. 'A finely judged, mellifluous performance, thrilling to watch!' - audience member
Radio interview : https://cambridge105.co.uk/leigh-chambers-01-04-2019/
To book the show for a public venue or private party, please contact me (scroll down for details)
My solo show Daddy's Diaries has now been professionally filmed and is available as a DVD, price £10 plus postage. This is a non-profit-making venture, with 20% of takings going to the charity War Child (https://www.warchild.org.uk). The sealed case includes photos and explanatory notes. To buy, please contact me.
Daddy's Diaries is the true story of my father's journey through war to peace, with his original clarinet and piano recordings, and slides throughout. Humorous, poignant, with unexpected twists. Suitable for Y6 to adult.
The play has toured since 2015 and was chosen for an Arts Council grant for performances in Cambridgeshire Libraries.
SEE VIDEO HERE: http://youtu.be/PY-LPgKk3rU
SEE UNDER 'SHOWS' FOR REVIEWS AND PHOTOS
My shows are designed to be adaptable to a variety of venues.
Talks:
Sandstone in my Blood - Ashwood, the first villa in Headingley, Leeds, which was my childhood home and that of Britain's worst Poet Laureate, Alfred Austin!
Ruth, Joyce, Maureen and Me - How I came to write a play for Maureen Lipman and perform it with her on World Cup night Hear this talk at Gt. Chesterford WI on February 19th 2020
See under SHOWS for further talks offered
'Jane Bower, as Margery, won the audience within seconds' - review of performance of 'Cell Talk' near Oxford, 2017
See my US clothing collection, featuring my hand-painted designs, here:
http://www.shopvida.com/collections/voices/jane-bower
Contact
Please note: Having completed forty years as a primary specialist I am now retired from teaching in schools, and as associate lecturer in primary art, drama and history at the Faculty of Education. I do, however, retain my keen interest in performance, speaking, writing, singing, vocal delivery, art, drama, dance, acting and storytelling.
If you would like to make a booking for a show or talk, discuss your needs or have any queries, please contact me.
jane-bower@ntlworld.com 01223 502628
I look forward to working with you!
