About

Biography

Aidan J Crowley was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1976 and raised in Co. Cork. He has been a professional actor and singer for over twenty years with numerous credits to his name. He is an award winning actor, singer and filmmaker, writing/directing many short films and has been working on his feature film, a triptych called The Scowling Dusk, as actor/writer/director/producer for a number of years. There are additional film projects in the works such as the supernatural western, NewtonCorrigan. He is known for his independence in filmmaking and preferring to shoot using old-fashioned in-camera methods, whilst creating his own particular stylistic design and acting on his films and in cinematography, puppetry, stop-motion and make-ups, logos and publicity. As an actor he is known for his research, immersing himself into the role and changing his appearance for every part. Crowley continues an eclectic workload including his music and voice (see below) and his own songwriting. There are boutique publishing projects such as AtlanticSanctuary and WhenTimeWasAPlayfulChild, the poetry of his late friend Tom O’Connor.

In early 2022 Crowley directed and produced and appeared in a web-series, Valdís, which has received multiple awards and official selection on the independent festival/award circuit.

Crowley writes all of his films and characters in the same ‘universe’ that contain three unusual places he calls Kloxalis, YomiKamta and Târamül and the workings of a mysterious group called the Nexcoyomeh. This universe is an alternative to Earth. Preferring to work with the same troupe of actors on all his projects if schedules allow. Crowley considers this an old fashioned acting company as in the theatre.

For his work on Valdís (2022) he was the winner of the Diamond Award for Best Actor and Silver Award for Best Director at the Mindfield Film Festival, Best Actor at the World Film Carnival in Singapore and Best Actor at the Royal Wolf Film Awards.

Training

Initially training as a professional actor at Mountview Theatre School in London (graduating 1998), winning both theStage newspaper three year acting and musical theatre scholarship and the Mountview singing scholarship. After more than twenty years in the business he has played over eighty different roles in various guises to date. Essentially a character actor, he usually never looks the same as the part requires and prefers to go as far as he can with ‘transformation’ in acting. He has been described as a Method actor although this is not necessarily accurate. Crowley also studied acting at the Cork Arts and Theatre Club, the Phoenix Contemporary Theatre School, the Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin, two seasons at the Manchester Youth Theatre (NYT), Shakespeare at RADA and with the Actors Company at the London Centre for Theatre Studies. He began studying for a Master’s Degree in Shakespeare at Royal Holloway (University of London) but had to leave due to being offered a theatre tour.

montage of aidan

Selected Credits

Throughout 2013 Crowley produced his one man show entitled We Are Dust & Shadow as part of the Solo Festival at the Lord Stanley Theatre and subsequently at the Baron’s Court Theatre. This performance won the award for Most Original Act at the 2013 Solo Festival in London. Prior to returning to the role of Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinafore tour in 2014 he appeared as The Fool in theEclipse at the Union Theatre, which he also produced. Selected Theatre credits include: Blossom, Bellowes u/s and Postman in Doctor Dolittle UK Tour, Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinafore, Valene in The Lonesome West, Louis in Chelinot, George in Private Exposure, Kreutchmar in The Surgeon & the Nurse, Toennesen in The Pillars of Society, Mick Connor in Comedians, Rev. Hale in The Crucible, Pastor Manders in Ghosts, Soldier in Bacchai, Ghoul in The Rocky Horror Show, Raynor in Black Coffee, Det. Sgt. Penny in The Hollow, Sandy Tyrell in Hay Fever, Allwit in A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, Solyony in Three Sisters, Bill in Popcorn, Constable in Wait Until Dark, John in Oleanna, Roy Cohn in Angels in America Part 1, Angelo in Measure for Measure, Richard Mulcahy in Frongoch, Rakitin in A Month in the Country, Whitney in The Stonewater Rapture, Bandit/Johnstone in The Hard Man, Peter Kien in The Windmill, Gold in The Wild Party, Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, The Commissioner in Lysistrata. Film/Television/Commercial includes: Tenor in Conn-X Greece, Patient in The Psychiatrist RaboBank Ireland, Dandy in Badger or Bust trailer, Husband in Halifax Ireland, Travolta in Daddy Cool, The Man in Old Friend, Fish in Lee’s Sitcom, Addict in Discovery Theme Parks, Dave in Fruice, Rebel in Nobby’s Nuts, Crazy Hair in Manpower. Voiceover/Radio includes: Time Warner, Cartoon Network, Thresher’s, guest newspaper reviewer on BBC London 94.9fm.

Recent credits include multiple roles in his own film productions: Valdís, The Haunting Of The Midshipman and The Scowling Dusk Trilogy.

Voice & Music

Crowley is an Heroic Tenor/RockVocalist and he has studied voice with many highly regarded vocal tutors over the years including: Susie Webster, Nathan Martin, Claire Groom, Phillip Tebb, Lynton Atkinson, Alexander Massey, Neil Howlett, Mary Hammond RAM, Roderick Earle RCM. His first experimental classical/crossover album was called Those Strange Elusive Tears with the gifted cellist Deryn Cullen. Aidan is also a singer/songwriter and created 593records to produce and release independently his own albums including Pilgrim Simpatico, The Byzantium Broadway, Omens Of Tempest, Draoícht/Lux and Invisible Spirit. Alternative/Vocals/Guitars, experiments in music exploring a hybrid style, aria, songwriting, folk/rock and classical voice. Crowley likes to experiment in his own unique, simple Guitar style, each song written with different/unusual tunings, whilst working with various effects systems and orchestrations. In 2022 Crowley is recording an EP of aria and contemporary song, The Dead Unsleeping Fires, with acclaimed pianist Gisela Meyer. His latest music projects are 悪霊 AKURYŌ a rock opera and a new songwriting album called In The Morphia Honeymoon.

Creative & Artist

In 2013 Crowley decided to take more control and focus on his own works, producing independent film and music projects whilst remaining freelance. To pursue and produce his own works as a musician, writer, publisher, producer, director and filmmaker. Aidan also has a keen interest for effective altruism especially life-changing paediatric surgery, different Cultures and Diversity and an intense dislike of racism and bigotry of any kind. Crowley, an actor, writer, producer, director, filmmaker, editor, cinematographer, tenor, songwriter, musician…obviously has many interests, with an eclectic variety of creative projects in operation at any one time. He has a multifaceted imagination with a great curiosity towards life. Crowley’s pursuits have taken him on adventures as varied as research into his great love of Shakespeare, Esoteric Philosophy and even in the medical world as a Corporal in the Irish Red Cross and in the operating room, training for a time in the NHS as an anaesthetic and surgical assistant. He was also a visiting Drama Tutor at Oxford University at the Oxford Summer Academy. He is a published writer, art collector and an artist in pastel/pencil. Aviation is also a very important escape from the world and he holds a Private Pilot’s Licence which he takes very seriously.

Aidan is notoriously reserved about his private life and lives in London and UK with his wife Bridie.

Biography ©2022 Robert MacEllister
 

Reviews

I watched your one man show the other day. It was certainly 'out there' and so many layers of meaning I still have no idea what it was about. But you played that challenging role so perfectly and your singing was stunning.

Aidan, what can I say, only you would bring opera and Shakespeare into a one man play. I loved it. You are a gifted actor.

We attended the recital in Queens's Park the other night. Just wanted to say we came along with some friends of…not expecting anything. You were extraordinary. Your voice is so emotional and powerful and I hate opera but you brought me to tears in a good way.

That was a brilliant and moving performance and some day the world will see what I see in your work.

I just wanted to comment that I am a great fan of your songwriting and excellent guitar playing. Underrated and understated. Closer and Distance I love.

…and Aidan Crowley as the superbly acted Dick Deadeye…

What you have done for Tom's poetry is much appreciated and the audiobook is very very good and suits his work.

Crowley played the role with depth and sensitivity.

…the energetic Aidan Crowley played the circus master with aplomb.

Aidan Crowley, in this world of kitsch, you are the courageous actor demanding something better.

At first I did not like what you were doing with Deadeye (this was in Buxton) but after a couple of scenes I understood it and I loved it. The finale 'He thinks he's won his Josephine' to the first act was the best I have ever heard it played. Bravo!

Hi there your Shakespeare recordings on Soundcloud are fantastic. Are you recording more?

Crowley is very charismatic in a gruesome kind of way.

Crowley has a tremendous voice, operatic in tone, a powerful presence onstage and I could not take my eyes from him when he appeared.

I have seen you in a number of roles at the Union and what impresses me most is how different you were in each. You remind me of a different Theatre.

You are a great actor. This is not meant to sound rude but you will come into your own with age so keep going.

…wisely played him with an Irish lilting accent despite the setting and it worked well.

Aidan your problem is that you do not know how good you actually are.

Crowley's tenor carries easily. I suspect he will grow into his voice with age and become a rare breed indeed.

Valene was played to great comic effect by Aidan Crowley, his bitterness towards his brother simmering underneath every word.

Your guitar playing is not like most and this is as it should be. It is called talent Aidan and do not change a thing about it.

...and Toennesen was the wonderful Aidan Crowley with subtext and emotion, perfect diction and stillness.

Crowley was really good as the antagonist here. Playing opposite such a strong actress he held his own.

…the role demands intelligent playing and craft and Crowley delivers.

Just to say you gave a fantastic performance as Connor, very natural. It is a difficult play and you stood out as usual.

Hello Aidan, I have played that role and it is not easy. You made it effortless and poignant.

You were so good we had no idea you were the villain until the revelation.

Aidan Crowley was hilarious as Sandy, a young actor to watch.

Crowley was particularly moving as the Texan with a confused and broken heart.

This young Irishman is going to be a great actor.

Crowley will be called an overnight success one day. This will be unjust to his superb ability and hard work.

I wanted to say I attended the reading on Friday and you played Kreutchmar perfectly. He was so evil you made my skin crawl.

It was particularly good to hear the Irish Gaelic spoken onscreen (a perfectly cast and powerful Aidan Crowley).

Dear Aidan, I was at the Romeo the other night and you were excellent as Mercutio. There was pathos in your performance. But you are so young!?

Creative Team

Toks Adebanjo
Kate Griffiths
Joe Golby [SwordMaster & Aerial Photography]
James Olley [Company Art Director & Conceptual Artist]
Deryn Cullen
Virtual Jungle
Gisela Meyer
Tania Pires

Quotes

Actors should play roles - every single role I have ever played from youth theatre to drama school and to the present day - these are all characters to play - they all look different - they all feel different - even though they are expressions of me of course - but this is the point. That is how I was trained and that is how I play any part. I had a very good director called Terry Meech in Mountview and he said one of the great freedoms of being an actor was you could walk out of the theatre into the evening and not a soul knows who you are or who you just played on the stage. That is exactly right.

I learned a very long time ago that some people will love what I do and others will hate what I do. But I am in the genuine and enviable position that I don't care what anyone thinks of my work. I work on my projects because I want to express them. I have no need to impress anyone whatsoever. From experience I know this is a little unusual for my business. But I think I am a very lucky. There is tremendous freedom in that or then again maybe there is a gruesome human purity to that.

It is vital never to lose sight of your own unique Vision as an artist. The temptation of following the crowd, doing things the usual way just because 'that is how it has always been done', fame, fortune, making money, Hollywoodland dreams is strong. But this is not the path of an Artist. Don't fall for the hollow sheen of fame. You have to preserve your unique methodology whether you are an actor, filmmaker, dancer, singer, painter et al. There is only one of you in the entire universe, so why edit your expression to please others....be absolutely authentic to yourself, be the Renegade and the prosperity follows. Then your work and creative life will have value to the most important person in the equation...YOU.

There are wonderful people in this business and there are horrible people in this business. No different to any other walk of life. I have worked with stellar gifted creatives and less than stellar unpleasant people. I have had good representation and downright thieves. There have been beautiful memories and abusive. Some people have said bad things about me personally without even asking my opinion. I have seen it all. Nothing surprises me in life or the arts. Thankfully the world is a better place and much less tolerant of the horrible. I feel a duty in my work to make sure my team are respected at all times and that they like working with me. There is no place for negativity here. If you are an unpleasant person don't work with me, I will let you know.

I suspect Artists, Creatives, that we are all damaged in some way. We have all of us experienced unusual challenges within ourselves or family discord in our youth and instead of this fading away it remains shouting at us from inside. As a result we do not play the same music in our minds as the normal Joe working hard nine to five. Our work is an expression of our own unique Vision in life. It is not so much we want to show you our deepest darkest emotions, but it is more that have to express this feeling from inside us. We have no choice in the matter. If we go against this we hurt greatly so we have learned to express it without censorship nor care of what anyone thinks. That is I think the life of the Artist. We cannot help it.

Get in touch

To contact Aidan please email Toks Adebanjo using the email link below or via Social Media

Email me!