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Jess Esa

@jess.esa

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Writer, Actor & Movement Artist inspired by mask, mime, and butoh.
Welsh-Egyptian 🌈 💍 @roughrudesea
📍LA & UK Based

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thank you @vrcstudios for my new headshots and a super fun and comfortable experience all round!

I’m ready for your shows! Get in contact! :) taken in Los Angeles, California by @jess.esa

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a year ago

I turned 36 up in the mountains of Ojai and it was absolutely perfect. Thank you to my darling wife for planning this trip and making every moment of our life so dreamy @roughrudesea

Some highlights were olive oil tasting at @ojaioliveoil farm, browsing @bartsbooksojai, hiking the Ojai River Reserve, eating an outrageously good birthday dinner at @theduchess_official, and watching all the wildlife in total peace 🪶🍃 taken in Ojai, California by @jess.esa

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3 months ago

There’s no one doing it like Rosalía 🪽 🖤 taken in Los Angeles, California by @jess.esa

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4 months ago

So grateful to this group of people for their kindness, talent, and whimsy. The amount of hard work and love that went into this show from every single person just can’t be overstated.

Just for me personally, going from Dramaturg to Assistant Director, managing the press, socials, taking the photos, it’s just been the biggest journey. It’s not about awards but to take home an award as assistant director just feels incredible.

Until the next time, always Tricksters 🫶✨ taken in Los Angeles, California by @jess.esa

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4 months ago

So grateful and honoured to have spent the last few days studying Butoh with Hiroko Tamano, one of among the very first people to perform Ankoku Butoh or “the dance of darkness.”

I’ve been curious about Butoh for a while and this was such a special and transformative introduction to the art. I look forward to exploring more!

@philosophical_research_society
#butoh taken in The Philosophical Research Society by @jess.esa

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4 months ago

“Being off balance is what allows you to move forward!” Truly great advice for physical theatre, acting, and life.

Here are a few moments from the final afternoon after two wonderful weekends studying Neutral Mask and Mimodynamics with @ivano.conte_

The power of a great teacher who believes in you cannot be overstated, and I say this as a former teacher myself. I’m endlessly grateful for the progress I’ve made since meeting Ivano.

He’s back in LA in November, so keep an eye out for future workshops.

Until then, ciao friend! taken in Los Angeles, California by @jess.esa

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5 months ago

Was doing two shows back to back crazy? Was it the best experience ever, DEFINITELY!

So grateful to both @livingroomshakespeareco and @revelrytheatregroup for the opportunity to bring The Witches, Malcolm, Soothsayer and Octavius Caesar to life AND work with two casts of truly amazing people.

I love all my characters but diving into The Witches was really special, I made the mask and costume myself and spent hours watching and practicing butoh videos to find my movement and body quality. Just a labour of love through and through.

Similarly finding the right fabrics and colours for my soothsayer costume and spending time finding the beads and making the necklaces brought the whole thing to life for me.

Making something by hand for my costume is the final piece for me after doing the text and mental work that really helps me click in with a character, and always gives me a wonderful memento after.

I’m already excited for the next opportunities but I just know these two shows will always have such a special place in my heart.

Thank you and thank you! ❤️

And thank you to Colin from @archival.la for hosting our final Macbeth performance and capturing photos, and to @travelwithbrij for capturing Julius Caesar!! You’re both amazing! taken in Los Angeles, California by @jess.esa

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6 months ago

All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter 🧶

Thank you to everyone who came to our first three shows. Opening weekend was an incredible experience. Three more shows next weekend! Friday is sold out but you can still get tickets for Saturday in Pasadena or Sunday downtown!

#lathr #latheatre #shakespeare #livingroomshakespeare by @jess.esa

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8 months ago

Every reality holds many dimensions, each revealing a different story.　Though our worlds may differ, they unfold alongside one another, woven into the same vast tapestry of life.

We exist in the present, yet every moment holds the echoes of what has been and the whispers of what is yet to come.

The present is not a fleeting point in time, but a space where past, present, and future converge—where the memories of who we were, the awareness of who we are, and the possibilities of who we may become exist as one.

Performance:10/30,31 Time: 8:00pm
11/1 Time: 3:00 pm

Tickets: Bio

#ankokubutoh #butohgatheringla #santamonica #tamanohiroko taken in Electric Lodge by @jess.esa

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9 hours ago

My 2026 TBR with a few stragglers from 2025 still there and waiting and some wonderful new additions from @mcnallyeditions and @nyrbooks

Backlist classics and thoughtful books from indie presses are really doing it for me right now.

Chatting with people who’ve read them, far removed from the latest release hype machine is really where it’s at and I’m excited there’s clearly a growing number of people who feel the same.

Let me know if you’ve particularly enjoyed something so far this year. I just read The Hearing Trumpet by Leonarda Carrington and was completely inspired. by @jess.esa

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8 months ago

It’s hard to believe 2026 is here already! I had two wishes for this year, audition and be cast in a show, and that my green card would come through!

And incredibly both those things happened in March, so the rest of the year was just a wonderful unfolding surprise✨

After a couple of years unable to travel, I was able to go back to the UK and celebrate my birthday with all my beloved people there. Not long after I went to Canada for the first time and had an inspiring time at the Fringe festival. The security of having a green card is a relief I can’t even begin to put into words. 😮‍💨

And in terms of shows, I ended up in three! In fact, I don’t think a day went by this year when I wasn’t involved in a production in some capacity. I’m so grateful for every single person I’ve worked with this year and for the amazing teachers who’ve allowed me to develop my skills and helped me take up space. With two shows coming up in the new year, it’s just so cool to see all my hard work paying off.

I also spent a lot of time looking after my neighbour’s pug Frankie, snuggling my cats, and enjoying every moment with my beautiful and insanely talented wife! ☺️❤️ grateful! by @jess.esa

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10 months ago

Out of the 65 books I’ve read this year, here are the ones that made the biggest impact and I find myself thinking about a lot.

I can definitely see the trend, in myself, towards quieter, introspective novels this year which makes sense with how busy it’s been and how chaotic things feel out there in the world.

I don’t tend to read a lot of memoirs but it was nice to notice that both Conundrum and Apprentice were both written by Welsh, queer writers.

I’d love any recommendations for similar novels, or just something you really enjoyed :) taken in Los Angeles, California by @jess.esa

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10 months ago