Janine Ashley

Janine Ashley is a Chicago-based theatre artist, storyteller, and narrative coach who creates work under the banner Theatre for Hope and Healing. A trained folklorist and alumna of the Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship, she develops solo and ensemble projects exploring women's stories, trauma, religious culture, and mental health through character-driven narrative and applied theatre. Janine uses storytelling and performance as tools for healing, self-authorship, and social change, helping communities reclaim their voices and imagine more just futures. Her current work includes Mere Animal: A Vindication of Mary Wollstonecraft, a solo show about women's agency and public shaming.