Jonathan Ainscough (www.jonathanainscough.com) trained at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music, and now works as a writer, director, singer, actor, multi-instrumentalist, musical director, arranger and facilitator across the UK and around the world.

Recent work includes: writing and directing The Big Opera Adventure for Opera North; writing opera librettos for The Wish Thief and The Sapling, along with writing and directing the new play A Letter from Ben, for the Royal Opera House; writing, directing and performing in Voices of the Polar Night, a ground-breaking piece of immersive choral theatre for acclaimed Manchester choir The Sunday Boys; and directing the RNCM’s first ever community opera Silverwood, with a cast of 110 amateurs and professionals from across Greater Manchester. Future projects include adapting and directing The Magic Flute to be performed by thousands of children from the United Learning schools trust in Summer 2025, and creating a choral murder mystery for Kantos Chamber Choir’s 2025/26 season.

Jonathan is a leader on English National Opera’s award-winning Breathe project, working with Long COVID patients, and regularly leads projects for renowned homelessness charity Streetwise Opera – mostly recently conducting performances of their Re:Sound and Re:Discover projects at the Bridgewater and Royal Festival Halls. He frequently writes and presents live events online and onstage for the Royal Opera House, introducing children to opera for the first time.

As a performer, Jonathan’s recent work has included Dr Purgeon in Moliere’s The Hypochondriac at the Sheffield Crucible, the title role in The Water Diviner’s Tale for Opera North, and Father Christmas (as well as tenor saxophone and a huge host of percussion instruments!) in Stick Man at the Lowry and in the West End. He is a company member of the Oliver-Award-winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, with whom he can be found making up musicals in the West End and on tour.