Jon Ivay

Jon Ivay (born 1966) is an English writer, director, actor, and producer.

Early years

Ivay was born on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England, and grew up near the town of Blandford Forum. He studied at the Oxford School of Drama and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Career

Early in his career, Ivay formed a theatrical production company (ITF Productions Ltd) with two friends. Over a seven-year period between 1997 and 2003 they produced over thirty national touring productions working with some of Britain’s best known theatres and promising directors. Whilst with ITF, he wrote the stage plays Inside the Firm (Edinburgh Festival and the Queens theatre Hornchurch) which told the story of Tony Lambrianou’s involvement with the Kray Twins and Freebird (Bristol Old Vic, Cockpit London, Pleasance - Edinburgh Festival and tour) a motorcycle based comedy.

After leaving ITF, Ivay adapted and directed the screen version of Freebird. Working with the producers and production team from the British movies Layer Cake and Kick-Ass. Freebird was shot in London, Hay-on- Wye, Brecon Wales and Los Angeles. The film starred Phil Daniels, Gary Stretch and Geoff Bell. Supporting cast included Peter Bowles, Arthur Brown (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown) and Laila Rouass. The film was released in cinemas across the UK in spring 2008. The film's London premiere was at the Empire, Leicester Square. Freebird's American premiere was at the Sunset 5 Movie Theater on Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles on the 27th of October 2008.