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    Filomena Campus

    jazz vocalist - theatre director - academic

  • About Filomena

    “Her scatting is literally something else, a modernist in her approach” Jazz in Europe​

    Music

    Internationally renowned jazz vocalist/lyricist whose diverse influences range from modern literature, theatre and art to the culture of her native Sardinia. Campus has toured or collaborated with the UK's top jazz artists, including Orphy Robinson, Rowland Sutherland, Cleveland Watkiss, Steve Williamson, Huw Warren, Byron Wallen, Ruth Goller, Jean Toussaint, Kenny Wheeler, Evan Parker, Laura Cole, Nana Simopoulos, and the London Improvisers Orchestra, as well as with fellow Sardinian musicians Paolo Fresu, Gavino Murgia and Antonello Salis. Filomena has performed at many jazz festivals around the world, having played in the UK, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Morocco, Thailand, and Croatia amongst others. In 2010 she founded the Filomena Campus Quartet with whom she has released the CD Jester of Jazz and performs regularly at London jazz venues such as the PizzaExpress Jazz Club, Ronnie Scott's, Jazz Live at the Crypt and the Vortex. The Quartet created the international project, Italy VS England with the late Italian writer and performer Stefano Benni.

    The Quartet's new project Theatralia, will be recorded and launched in 2026.

    In 2014 Campus recorded the album Scaramouche with guitarist and composer Giorgio Serci, featuring the late Kenny Wheeler. 2013 saw Filomena launch her annual My Jazz Islands Festival, later renamed Theatralia Jazz Festival, in which she seeks to unite Italian and UK jazz musicians. Her acclaimed production of Monk Misterioso. A Journey into the Silence of Thelonious Monk, supported by the Arts Council England, has toured the UK and was sold out at the EFG London Jazz Festival in November 2017.

    Campus in 2023 received the honour of Cavaliera (Dame) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

    She was awarded Premio Navicella in 2015 and Premio Maria Carta in 2009,

    Theatre

    Filomena is the Artistic Director of Theatralia.

    Founded in London in 2003, Theatralia is an international collective of performers and artists who combine literature, physical theatre, performance art, and inventive digital art with live music. Since 2006 Theatralia productions have been sponsored by the Arts Council England. Theatralia's productions directed by Filomena include the acclaimed MONK Misterioso, Concert in F, To be Franca, Credevo Che, Italy VS England, U238, and Not in My Name.

    Filomena has worked, studied or collaborated with international theatre practitioners and historical figures such as Franca Rame, Dario Fo, Stefano Benni, Eugenio Barba, Roberta Carreri (Odin Teatret), Julia Varley, Marco Paolini, Marcello Magni (Complicite), Augusto Boal, Adrian Jackson, Judith Malina, Frank Millward (Lumiere and Son), Mei Bao Jiu (Bejing Opera).

    University

    Since 2003, Filomena (PhD, MA in Theatre Directing, First Class BA Hons) has worked as a visiting lecturer and freelance theatre director at UK universities, including the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, East 15 Acting School, Drama Studio London, University of Essex, Kingston University, and Bucks New University. In her work as an educator, Filomena has taught theatre directing, acting, devising and physical theatre, improvisation techniques, voice and movement, text analysis, and contextual studies. Additionally, Filomena gives theatre and vocal masterclasses and workshops on singing, acting, directing, and vocal improvisation.
    Filomena has recently completed her PhD, funded by the LAHP (London Arts and Humanities Partnership) and the AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council), at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. This Collaborative Doctoral Award, undertaken in partnership with the Archive Franca Rame–Dario Fo, is titled "Liberate Rame! Franca Rame and the Politics of Theatre-Making".


    Reviews and audience feedback

    "Going to a Filomena Campus concert is always a musical joy, but her most recent one went one step further: the close connection between the singer (with her amazing voice and vocal ability) and her band (all wonderful musicians) and their obvious delight at playing together spread out its magic over the audience as well, casting a warm glow, making us all feel a part of what was happening on stage. A truly memorable, life-enhancing experience". Nycol Dynes.
    "The Filomena Campus Quartet sets were the stuff of jazz dreams: virtuosic musicality from each and every member, innovative, complex and taut while swinging hard; and all of it suffused with joy. Triumph and glory". Candace Allen
    "A Filomena Campus performance is like spending an evening with a friend playing you all their favourite music. Jazz, Bossa Nova, Electronica, Canzone and spectacular improvisation; all flow from the stage with panache and emotion. She celebrates the cultural highlights of Britain and her native Sardinia. Highlight of the evening was an acapella soundscape with Filomena creating layers of vocal harmonies that entranced everyone". John Ingham
    "A captivating performer, Filomena combines classic jazz virtuosity with breathtaking innovation. Watching her perform is an unforgettable experience, and reminds you why—even in this digital era of easy access—there is no replacement for live music". Alessandra Rizzo
    "Filomena Campus incorporates the ritualistic vocal elements and improvisation of Commedia dell’Arte into and through vocal jazz. By utilizing different dialects and medieval tones, she was an electrifying performer who captured the audience through her blending of theatrical performance and vocal jazz (…) Her exquisite delivery evoked tremendous delight in the audience". Deniz Izar
    "On stage Campus is like a shaman of music" Ansa
    "Campus seemed to improvise from the heart, as if running fearlessly into the unknown, and taking the audience with her" LondonJazz