About
Jack Murphy
A choreographer and movement director based in London, working across television, film and stage.
01 — MEET JACK
Jack Murphy trained as an actor at LAMDA, graduating with the Alec Clunes Memorial Prize.
He moved into movement direction at the Royal National Theatre, where he has since created the movement for more than twenty-five productions, before becoming one of British screen's most sought-after choreographers for period drama.
His work aims to realise the director's vision and release the physical potential of a moment, ranging from precise period movement to contemporary, character-led physicality. He has worked with directors including Jane Campion, Mira Nair, Nicholas Hytner and Marianne Elliott, and with performers including Daniel Craig, Cate Blanchett, Colin Firth, Emily Blunt and Reese Witherspoon.
He has received three Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Choreography, forBridgerton and Doctor Who.
02 — MOVEMENT PHILOSOPHY
Our personalities are indicated by the shape of our bodies and the way that we stand, sit walk. Our movements and their motivations stem from physical, emotional and mental sources. Our minds and feelings are informed by physical experience. Thoughts trigger emotions and actions. We sense our bodies and we are aware of its energy. The outline of the body is the shape of its inner contents. Movement starts with an impulse and not for movements' sake. The actor transforms his body into many bodies but always moves out of need. The role of the movement teacher is to free this process. To assist the actor in bringing the body to a state of readiness; to be aware of its weight, rhythm and breath. It is through the practice of movement that we open up the possibility of information flowing freely from the inside-out and the outside-in. This state enables the actor to give way to the imagination.
03 — PROFESSIONAL BIO
Jack Murphy trained at LAMDA. His work in theatre includes Three Sisters, Treasure Island, 3 Winters, Protest Song, Home, The Doctor's Dilemma, Collaborators, The Veil, Double Feature, Twelfth Night, Men Should Weep, The History Boys (also UK tour, Broadway and West End), Exiles, The Voysey Inheritance, The False Servant, Remembrance of Things Past, The London Cuckolds, Happy Birthday Brecht, Frogs, Wicked Yaar!, Henry V, Jo Jo the Melon Donkey and The Wind in the Willows (recreated movement) at the National; and King John for the RSC. Other theatre includes Shining City, Mary Stuart, Not Talking, Utility, A Month of Sundays, Arms and the Man, Splendour, She Stoops to Conquer, The Importance of Being Earnest, Ghost from a Perfect Place, Hobson's Choice, A View from the Bridge, The Winter's Tale, Disgraced, The Winslow Boy, Spot's Birthday Party, The Man on Her Mind, The Recruiting Officer, Good, Mad for It, Marriage of Figaro, Yerma, Heartbreak House, Look Back in Anger, Death of a Salesman, Ballroom, Blavatsky, Ali Baba, Wimp, Coriolanus, Macbeth, Love's Labour's Lost and My Sister in This House.
His film and TV includes: Pride and Prejudice, House of Guinness, Doctor Who 1 & 2 (Emmy Nominated), See How They Run, Bridgerton Seasons 1, 2, 3 & 4 (Emmy Nominated), Queen Charlotte, Great Expectations, Brassic, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein, Dancing on the Edge, Parade's End, Papadopoulous and Sons, Bright Star, Brighton Rock, Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging, The Young Victoria, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Starter for 10, Sylvia, Vanity Fair, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, The Merchant of Venice, Hart's War, Charlotte Gray, The Wide Sargasso Sea, The Ruby in the Smoke, Colditz, Trial and Retribution IV, Unconditional Love, Me and Mrs Jones, Ain't Misbehavin' and Brown Eyed Handsome Man.