Welcome to my website, designed hopefully to give any viewer an overview of the variety of work I am doing. Whether you want to learn more about my work in Theatre, the street circus performances as Jitterbug Jackson, the music, the songs or the writing, development and teaching there should hopefully be a Page that provides the info you need. Thank you for taking the time to have a look and I hope you find something of interest and enjoy the journey. Scroll down for regular updates on what I’m doing Right Here, Right Now!
Please contact me for any more information you might require.
Hugh x
First up, a promo film by Victoria Vettese ( A Cinematic Life ) for my solo show, I Used to Dream of Rocket Ships. For more information and bookings please click on Contact Me and get in touch. A big thank you for the support of Brassneck Youth, Conway Mill and Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
A couple of quick links:
For information on all of Hugh's work as Jitterbug Jackson. From the street to theatre to the television screen!
For information on all of Hugh's work as a lyricist, librettist and songwriter and with links to various projects.
Right Here, Right Now
I write this in October 2023 after a very busy year and a half in which I have completely neglected to update this website. Since then I was again appointed by Beat Carnival as the Creative Performance Director for Belfast’s St. Patricks’s Day 2023 Pageant, Voices of Belfast. As part of the activities building up to what was a very successful parade Beat Carnival asked myself and filmmaker Will McConnell to make five short film documentaries looking at some highlights of the Belfast music scene over the years. For more info on the amazing work by Beat subscribe to their Youtube Page and follow them on all the usual media platforms.
I have also continued developing new work with Muirne Bloomer and all the amazing community of Darndale, on the Creative Places Darndale project for Dublin City Council. In particular I directed and created the soundtrack for a three video response to a poem by local wordsmith Amber Kidd. For more info check out ( www.creativeplacesdarndale.ie ) and all the usual socials.
I’ve also been working away with Grasshopper ( www.grasshopper.ie ) and Curious Broadcast ( www.curiousbroadcast.com ) on Season 2 of our podcast radio show commissioned by RTE Junior, The Science of Sense. Coming Soon!
I have really focused in on my Jitterbug Jackson show this year as well and it has been a wonderful summer and now autumn will also see the reemergence of a show I wrote last year, Trees of our Taine, for a festival in Artane, Dublin. Keep an eye on my Instagram for details.
MADE IN DARNDALE TRILOGY
Made in Darndale is a film that was created in 3 parts to accompany Amber Kidd’s commissioned triptych poem ‘Made in Darndale’. The work is directed and given soundtrack by Hugh W. Brown, with cinematography by Cathy Dunne and narration by John Cummins and Neili Conroy. This extraordinary collaboration was specially crafted for the Dare to be Darndale cabaret in May 2023, captivating audiences with its heartfelt spoken word performed by Kilbarrack’s own Neili Conroy. Amber Kidd, a talented, young writer from Dublin 17 has established herself as a prominent figure in the vibrant literary scene of London. Since a young age, Amber’s passion for writing has driven her creative endeavours. She honed her skills further by earning a BA in English from Dublin City University, where she gained valuable insights into the power of language and storytelling. Amber’s work delves into thought-provoking themes surrounding class dynamics in North Dublin. Through her writing, she fearlessly explores the intricate layers of societal divisions, shedding light on the lived experiences and aspirations of individuals within the community. Amber’s unique perspective and eloquent prose elevate the conversation, encouraging dialogue and understanding among readers and viewers alike.
INSIDE THE BELLY OF A DRAGON
Inside the Belly of a Dragon follows the remarkable voyage of discovery and recovery for Northern Irish Actor and Clown, Hugh W Brown.
Arriving in Cambodia broken hearted and disenchanted with life as a performer, the Clown embarks on a journey through this beautiful Kingdom of Wonder and is slowly lifted from his gloom by the breathtaking landscapes and his various encounters with the local communities and the remarkable artists and individuals who live within them.
Filmed entirely on location in the Kingdom of Cambodia by Ian Wiggins and with a sumptuous soundtrack to complement the wonder of the landscape and its people, this delightful film is a celebration of a country that is on its own journey of discovery and recovery.
“Inside the Belly of a Dragon is mystical, moving and gentle” IRA HAL SEIDENSTEIN, PHD