JJ Almond

JJ Almond  – Director of Assembly Hall Theatre and Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery

Producer and Director JJ Almond took up post in May 2016 for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council as Director of Assembly Hall Theatre, later adding the management of the Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery team to his role. Central to his early plans was to embark on the vital work to future-proof the theatre for coming generations.

JJ holds a BA (Hons) in Business Administration, a Post Graduate Diploma in Theatre Directing, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Alumni of the Clore Leadership Foundation.

As part of a strategy of audience development, JJ is introducing a more vibrant line-up on stage, focusing on popular theatre and musical touring productions, and high profile one-night events across the music and comedy genres, with the longer-term goal to introduce in-house producing from 2020/21. 

A Creative Learning Department has been established, with the aim of putting community engagement at the heart of the organisation’s work, and as part of this JJ, and his team (across the museum and theatre), are introducing a comprehensive education and outreach programme to increase arts participation.

Prior to his role at the Assembly Hall Theatre, in his 25 year career, JJ has held the roles of Artistic Director, Chief Executive and Executive Director in a number of venues, and has worked as a freelance theatre director and across the UK.