Jack Rooke

Jack Rooke is an English comedian and writer from Watford. His work often explores issues surrounding grief and loss, using humour and documentary film to explore the awkwardness of death. His debut BBC Three series Happy Man was broadcast in April 2017, a documentary exploring alternative solutions to the male mental health crisis, which was nominated for Best Factual in the iTalkTelly Awards 2017 and earned Rooke a place on the BBC New Talent Hotlist 2017. He also received Broadcast magazine's TV Writing Hot Shot 2017.

His debut show Good Grief[1][2][3] which played at the Soho Theatre, earnt Rooke a nomination for Best Show by an Emerging Artist in the Total Theatre Awards 2015 and a mention in The New York Times’ Top Theatre highlights of the Edinburgh Festival 2015.[4] The show protested[5] against government proposals to cut Widowed Parents Allowance, a basic weekly welfare payment for bereaved families in Britain. In collaboration with the Childhood Bereavement Network, the show aimed to raise awareness of these cuts.

Good Grief headlined Soho Theatre's first ever #SohoRising[6] season, aiming to showcase the best ‘emerging companies, young people and brave new writing.' BBC Comedy commissioned Good Grief for a Radio 4 adaptation, broadcast in March 2017.

His second show Happy Hour was commissioned by Soho Theatre and premiered at the Edinburgh Festival 2017 to critical acclaim and a nomination for The Scotsman's first ever Mental Health Arts award.

He is an ambassador for male suicide prevention charity CALM and deputy edited their free lifestyle publication The CALMzine from 2013–2015. He picked up the 2016 Mind Media award for Best Publication.

References
  1. "Gay Times - Good Grief review". Gay Times Magazine.
  2. "Broadway Baby - Good Grief review". Broadway Baby.
  3. "Scotsman - Good Grief review". The Scotsman.
  4. "New York Times Theatre Edinburgh Highlights 2015". The New York Times.
  5. "Childhood Bereavement Network - Benefit Reform Recommendations" (PDF). Childhood Bereavement Network UK.
  6. "Soho Theatre announces first ever #SohoRising season". Soho Theatre.
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