Actor | Aerialist | Vocal Coach

Hi, I’m Karina and I’m a visually impaired actor, aerialist, belly dancer and vocal coach from Wales. I trained at Liverpool Hope University and The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and also work as a voice and accent coach, an audio description consultant and I’m a qualified NLP practitioner.

Latest News

New Agent – Jane Hollywood! 🎭

  • Jane Hollowood Logo. A dark blue background with a white squat in the centre. Inside the square is a pink letter J and H which have been combined together.

I’m thrilled to announce I am now represented by Jane Hollywood Associates. I’m very excited for this new chapter. For all acting enquiries, please get in touch with info@janehollowood.co.uk

We’re Open! Macbeth at Leeds Playhouse 🌟

Press night photo of Karina and the whole cast of Macbeth. They stand smiling to camera on a raised black platform in from of an orange backdrop with the Leeds Playhouse logo on.

We’re having a blast on Macbeth directed by Amy Leach. This take on the productions is a unique and compelling perspective, with accessibility at its core, and is something I am deeply proud to be a part of.

Running until the 23rd March | GET YOUR TICKETS HERE https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/macbeth/

Karina on stage as the Witch in Macbeth alongside two other actors wearing period style peasant clothing with a palette of brown, greys and cream. They are all on their knees looking up the sky. Karina is central and reachers her arms out wide shouting to the sky.

In rehearsals! Leeds Playhouse

  • Macbeth rehearsal at Leeds Playhouse, February 6, 2024 © Mike Pinches, All Rights Reserved

Rehearsals are underway for Macbeth at Leeds Playhouse. I’m having a great time with this fantastic company. Here I am rehearsing as the witch, stood tall with my back arched and arms raised above my head, my fingers are spindling forward. Accessibility is at the heart of the production and I can’t wait to share it with you. Catch us in Leeds from March the 5th!

Get your tickets HERE

Macbeth Returns! 5th-23rd March 2024

  • Cast Announcement Image, headshots of 11 actors including Karina sit above the title Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

I’m delighted to be joining the cast of Macbeth at Leeds Playhouse directed by Amy Leach. Catch me as the witch/gentlewoman from the 5th-23rd March

I had the pleasure of working with Amy in the premiere of this ‘triumphant’ (The Guardian) production in 2022 and I look forward to working on this bold, unique and creatively accessible show on the Quarry stage again.

All performances feature creatively integrated audio description.  For more information and tickets, click here

Where Do I Sit? Zimbabwe

An aerial shot of Karina with Tamba Africa Social Circus standing on bright red gym mats. The group of 12 look up to the camera with smiling faces

What a way to end 2023, in Zimbabwe with Tamba Africa Social Circus! The first part of our Unlimited Arts International Awards saw us fly to Africa and work with artists, performers and young people in a series of workshops and campfire sessions to begin our co-creation of the production Where Do I sit? We explored creative writing, rigging, storytelling and of course, aerial circus. This was truly an enriching experience and I learnt a lot. I look forward to Shambala in 2024 to continue our development of this piece.

  • Karina with a group of Zimbabwean students in a white walled classroom. All of the people are smiling and showing peace and love signs in Zimbabwean sign language

Voiceover – I Dream in Colour

The left side of the image shows a close up on a woman’s face, just half of her face is show. Her eyes are closed and shadowy light is projected on to her skin. Next to this, a black white photo of a woman speaking into a microphone and pointed to her head. She wears glasses, a denim jacket, white t-shirt and her long blonde hair is down.

It was great to collaborate with EXTANT again, this time as a VoiceOver artist. I loved recording I Dream in Colour by Jasmin Thien. A one-woman play exploring memory, loss, and the intersection between disability and culture, drawn from Jasmin’s experiences growing up fighting eye cancer and eventually blindness

Holes on ITV Backstage!

Check out our feature on ITV Backstage for Holes at Eisteddfod

https://www.itv.com/walesprogrammes/articles/backstage-at-the-eisteddfod-episode-1

Karina on ITV Backstage. Karina performs a back bend in an aerial hoop in the middle of the woods. She wears an orange leotard, black shorts and her blonde hair is in a bun. In the top right hand corner is the ITV News logo.

Funny HaHa – Book Publication coming soon!

I love being a part of Little Cog’s Funny Haha disabled women’s comedy writers room. I recently wrote work for A Night of Radical Acts performed at The Arc Stockton. I was very excited to learn that our next work will be published! The book will be themed on  All The Women I Could Have Been. Find out more here

Funny HAHA Disabled Women’s Comedy writers room – headshot of the eight writers including Karina Jones, Porcelain Delaney, Conor Flaherty, Tanya Akron, Vici Wreford-Sinnott, Lynne McFarlance, India Robertson and Julie Mack McNamara

Where do I sit? – Unlimited International Award

I am delighted to announce we have been awarded an Unlimited International Award to develop and perform in the circus production WHERE DO I SIT? with Tamba Africa Social Circus. This will be performed in Zimbabwe in 2023 and Shambala in 2024. Find out more on my Aerialist Page.

  • Members of Tamba Africa Social Circus company performing. A woman and two men gaze out front with big smiles on their faces, arms stretched out in front of them. Behind sit drummers. Everyone has various patterns painted on their face in white, red and blue.

Holes

Commissioned by Articulture and the Wales Outdoor Arts Consortium. I loved touring Wales this summer with Holes, an aerial circus piece I created and performed in. Find out more on my Aerialist Page.

A brown aerial hoop floating in front of a large green hill. Crouched inside the hoop are two performers Karina and Amy wearing bright orange and doc martins. Performers Karin and Daisy both hold the hoop with one hand and the other arm stretches out in front pointing.

New Aerial Showreel!

Delighted to share my new aerial showreel with you

Five Star reviews for Much Ado About Nothing!

Five gold stars in a row

I am currently touring the UK playing Antonia in Much Ado About Nothing with Sheffield Theatres and Ramps on the Moon. We have received some fantastic reviews including 5 stars from The Guardian amongst others! We are performing until 12th November. Check out our venue dates and book tickets HERE

Karina on stage performing in Much Ado About Nothing. She wears a light pink, collared dress and her long blonde hair is in a plait to the side. She is stood in profile looking intently at on other actor on stage. She has one hand in a tight fist by her side and the other held up just below in a loose fist, almost as if she is snapping her fingers. Beind there is a large pane of glass with a wooden frame.

#Theatre for Change

A panel of seven people giving a talk in front of an audience. The room is a black box theatre space . Karina Jones is sat as part of the panel wearing a bright red jumper, black jeans and black boots. Her long blonder hair is down and has a leopard print scarf on her lap.

Whilst performing at Leeds Playhouse I had the opportunity to join the Ramps on the Moon Symposium for the #Theatre for Change movement. access and inclusion within the theatre industry. It was an honour to be part of this event all about access and inclusion within the theatre industry.

Much Ado About Nothing

I am absolutely delighted to be joining the cast of Much Ado About Nothing with Sheffield Theatres and Ramps on the Moon. I will be playing Antonia from September in Sheffield before embarking on a UK tour until November. For more information on the production and tour venues, please follow this LINK to The Ramps on the Moon website.

  • Image Description – Headshot photographs of 18 actors on a bright pink background. Text reads – Much Ado About Nothing, Sheffield Theatres Fri 9th-Sat 24th September
  • Image Description – Karina in a rehearsal studio wearing her blonde hair in a bun and an orange ‘Sheffield theatres’ lanyard. She is holding a small black box.

    Extant Pathways

    I have thoroughly enjoyed taking the Directors and Writers Pathway courses with Extant. I am currently developing skills, experience and creating my own work. I also will be showcasing some of my writing with Extant at The Cockpit Theatre in June!

    Extant logo, Bold purple lettering of the word EXTANT on a white background .

    The Secretaries – Young Vic, Audio Description

    I had a wonderful time working as an audio description consultant with the Young Vic Theatre for their production of ‘The Secretaries’. Find out more about the show here

    • Young Vic Logo, black text on a white background with slogan, It’s a big world in here

    Flying Fantastic – Audio Description

    I have loved working with Flying Fantastic and providing audio description for a range of different projects. I worked with a new company and piece of circus for five weeks throughout April and May looking at accessibility and creative audio description. So excited to see where they all go next!

    • Flying Fantastic logo, a dark blue square with flying fantastic written in dark blue inside two white boxes on top of each other. In between the white boxes are light blue shapes creating a banner effect.

    RIGA Circus Conference 2022

    I had a great time at the Riga International Circus Conference. I was invited to Latvia to deliver a talk on audio description in Circus and the live arts, a highly rewarding experience!

    • Riga Circus Logo, red and white circus big top image on a red background with Rigas Circus beneath in bold white lettering
    😃

    I loved getting to discuss accessible work and sharing ideas!

    Macbeth – Leeds Playhouse 2022

    I’m so proud of ‘Macbeth’ at the Leeds Playhouse. The production has BSL and audio description built into the show itself and has been receiving great reviews. I’m really enjoying the show so come and catch us if you can, playing until 19th March.

    Watch the production trailer of Macbeth
    Leeds Playhouse – Macbeth Dress Rehearsal featuring Karina as a witch 26/02/2022 Photographer – Kirsten McTernan
    The cast of Macbeth at the the Leeds Playhouse.

    I am delighted to be joining the cast of Macbeth with Leeds Playhouse. We are currently in rehearsals and I will be playing the role of Witch/Gentlewoman from February 26th- March 19th

    • Headshots of the eleven cast members of Macbeth at Leeds Playhouse, including Karina

    Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend!

    I have so enjoyed creating and performing my new aerial piece directed by Edward Lee Swift and choreographed by Megan Price.

    Aerial Photoshoot

    I am delighted to share my latest aerial shoot with the fabulous KEP Photo. Check out the full album on my Aerialist page.

    Curtain Up!

    Performing with Theatre Clwyd in Curtain Up! August 2021

    Photo by Brian Roberts. Karina pictured on stage wearing a grey shirt, hooped earring and has her blonde hair in a pony tail. She is linking arms with a man in a shirt and tie. Karina is holding her hand up to her chest and is looking at the man with a cheeky grin.
    Curtain Up Poster. Red stage curtains with a sign at the top saying ‘Curtain Up’. The letters of the sign are gold with bright light bulbs inside. Underneath the sign there is a man knelt on the floor pulling up the curtain to have a look. He is wearing a grey hoodie and blue jeans and we can just see the back of his head as the rest is looking under the curtain.
    Photo by Brian Roberts. Karina is on stage wearing a grey shirt, grey knitted cardigan and blue jeans. She is clutching her hands together at her stomach and has a concerned look on her face.

    It was great to get back to the theatre and perform with Theatre Clwyd this summer. I played three different roles in three short plays directed by Tamara Harvey.

    New Voice reel!

    Listen now to my new commercial voice reel created with Reel Recordings

    Cartoon image of headphones next to a blue box with the text Listen Now. Click below to play.

    Portrait and Landscape

    Vertical Dance Bursary with Kate Lawrence

    Portrait and Landscape Logo. The words ‘Portrait and Landscape’ are written in bold letters against a white background. Inside the letters are snippets of images. In the letters of ‘Portrait’ we see vivid green grass, green trees and a clear blue sky. The rest of the letters show photographs of various images such as a dancer in a red dress, performers on harnesses, some upside down, and neon lights.

    I am very excited to receive a bursary to work with Kate Lawrence Vertical Dance on their ‘Portrait and Landscape’ programme. I will be exploring the art form of vertical dance to enhance and further my aerial practise. I look forward to these bi-monthly events with a variety of exciting practitioners.

    Wise Children Theatre Company

    Writing for Live Performance Course

    I was thrilled to be selected for the ‘Writing for Live Performance’ Course with Wise Children. I will work with Joel Horwood and Yolanda Mercy on this two week course in March to continue to develop my script writing skills and develop a new idea. Can’t wait!

    Extant Pathways

    Pathways Writers Course 2021

    I am really enjoying being on the Extant Pathways Writing Course. Extant run artist development programmes for blind and visually impaired artists and I am using this course to work on my script writing skills to create my own work later this year. You can learn more about Extant and Pathways here

    Jerwood Arts Announcement

    Live Work Fund Awardee 2021

    I am absolutely delighted to be received the Jerwood Arts Live Work Fund Award 2021. This grant will support my aerial practise allowing me to develop new skills and new work. It also enables me to carry out research into creative audio description for physical art such as circus and aerial work.

    Live Work Fund Logo in bold white lettering, featured on top of an image of women wearing Orange sports kits doing the butterfly stretch on the floor.

    Find out more about the Live Work Fund here

    Talking Bodies

    Writing commission with Hot Coals Productions

    I was delighted to be commissioned by Hot Coals Productions to develop a short film script I was shortlisted as a writer for the development stage of their ‘Talking Bodies’ project and my first short film ‘Blind Date’. This was filmed, performed by Amy Forrest and we had an online sharing in February 2021. I am looking forward to developing this script further and seeing where it goes next. Watch this space!

    Unlimited Micro Commission

    My new performance ‘Aerial Sicilienne’

    In the lockdown of 2020 I was commissioned by Unlimited Arts to create an audio described aerial piece. I have been training on my garden aerial rig over Zoom and I’m delighted to share my finished digital performance with you. Please enjoy AERIAL SICILIENNE

    Aerial Sicilienne – My lockdown aerial performance!

    Vocal Coaching

    Bomb Happy Audio Play by Everwitch Theatre

    I have enjoyed keeping busy with my vocal coaching in 2020. One really exciting project I was involved in is the very moving Audio Play ‘Bomb Happy’ by Everwitch Theatre. The trailer is below. To listen to the whole play and for more info on my voice coaching please check out my Vocal Coaching page.

    Making RSC History!

    Playing my understudy role of Jaques…

    Karina Jones In The Stage, March 2020

    I have recently finished being part of the rep company for the Royal Shakespeare Company. I started working with the RSC in 2018 and have been performing in ‘As You Like It’ and ‘Measure for Measure’ since then. We played a season in Stratford-Upon-Avon, The Lowry, Salford, The Barbican Theatre, London and then a UK tour. I finished the tour playing my Understudy role of Jaques in ‘As You Like It’, being the first visually impaired actor to go on as an Understudy for the Royal Shakespeare Company! You can read more about it in The Stage 

    Please see my Gallery for production photos

    In rehearsals with the RSC, November 2018

    More RSC News

    Hear my recent interview with BBC Radio 4 about my work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.  Listen here  

    Interview with BBC Radio 4 July 2019
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0006m40
    RSC Rep company

    RSC Rep Company- Delighted to announce that I am part of the RSC’s rep company 2019/2020. I am currently performing As You Like It and Measure for Measure in Stratford-upon-Avon. Following the season in Stratford we will  perform at The Lowry, Salford and The Barbican, London before embarking on a UK tour in 2020! See the website below for dates and how to buy tickets…

    Votes for Women

    I’ve been nominated!

    I have been nominated for the Votes for Women celebration by Shaun Prendergast. Incredibly grateful to be nominated alongside a whole list of fantastic women! Check out out the post here- 

    Clore Fellowship

    Becoming a leader of Theatre

    I have been selected for The Clore Fellowship 2018/2019! I am one of twenty four fellow selected and will be working to become a leader of Theatre with the Arts Council. I am delighted to become a fellow and for the exciting year ahead. To read all about it please visit – https://www.cloreleadership.org/who-are-the-clore-15.aspx

    Clore Fellows 2018 at the September Residental Course

    Author Teo-Alfie-DaisyPosted on November 30, 2016Edit