James Francis Crawley is a performance artist, director, producer and consultant working across theatre, festivals, live music, cabaret, film, documentary and podcasting.

“AstroZenica was born after I attended Ecole Philipe Gaulier in 2020/2021, the Master of Clown continuously directing me into performing as drag characters to improve the comedy and connection I was exploring with my audiences. He only ever referred to me as, “the homosexual,” and while the school is famed for its public humiliations of students, who fall on their swords a thousand times before finding success, he repeatedly reflected back to me the power of my “presence” when I stay true to my nature. Through writing, reflection, play and discovery I created AstroZenica as a character for a solo show exploring post-truth civilisation, ‘Astro’ ("from the stars) ‘Zenica’ (“the cure to end all human suffering”). Sitting at the top of a Pyramid scheme I worked to indoctrinate audiences into joining the cult so they too could become enlightened, through clown, stand up and improvised comedy.

One thing led to another and I became Artistic Director of The House of Savalon, gaining three rounds of Art’s Council Funding, as well as working with leading cultural institutions across Bristol and the South of England including: Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Bristol old Vic, Artspace Lifespace, Cambridge Junction and Hackney Showroom through various residency and funding opportunities.

I simultaneously worked as Executive Assistant to a HNWI, gaining experience in film, music and documentary; working alongside teams to find success across the global film festival circuit.