MY STORY

Everything You Need to Know

I am a theatre director, creative producer, vocal coach and educator, with over 25 years' experience across the cultural, corporate and education sectors.

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As a theatre director and performer, I've worked with national and international casts on a wide range of productions at home and abroad, and have directed work to critical and commercial acclaim in New York City as well as in theatres all over Ireland.  I'm Artistic Director of Red Alchemy Theatre Company and Voice Studio, Musical Director of the female vocal sextet, Alchemy and, last year, was honoured to be appointed Writer in Residence at the Watergate Theatre.

In 2022 I founded The Sondheim Festival - the first festival in Ireland to celebrate the life and work of the legendary Stephen Sondheim, and the latest addition to Kilkenny’s cultural calendar.

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My private studio clients have played leading roles on Broadway, the West End, and at major Irish venues including The Abbey and The Gate Theatres.  As an original faculty member of the first ever musical theatre degree course in Ireland, I lectured in voice, acting and music theatre history, and I continue to be active as a guest lecturer and masterclass facilitator.

My extensive experience in directing and training for stage provides the basis for my range of Corporate Services - engagement, wellbeing, and DB&I performance & voice programmes.  Our Virtual Voices programme has been successfully delivered to Women At Indeed and Glanbia, amongst others, and the Clear Speaking programme offers speaking, accent and clarity solutions to both native and non-native English speakers. Applying our clear, practical vocal and performance techniques promotes confidence and belonging in the workplace, and empowers people at all levels to become more compelling and authentic in their communication – a skill which is increasingly in demand.

Directing credits include Find Your Way Home (Symphony Space, NYC),  Vincent – A Play by Leonard Nimoy (National Tour), Listen To My Heart (National Tour), The Lonesome West (National Tour), Ritual For Dolls (Mill Theatre, Dublin), and Light, Dark & Diverse (Watergate), Assassins, Cabaret, Rent,  A Little Light Music (The Helix), Michael Collins, Parade, The Full Monty, Sweeney Todd (Watergate), La Bohème (Opera In The Park for Dublin City Council), Putting It Together (Pavilion), The Producers, Follies (National Opera House), West Side Story (Solstice), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Millbank), Into The Woods (Draíocht), Bugsy Malone (Olympia), Annie (Olympia/Cork Opera House), Mad About Musicals (NCH), June Rodgers Show, Moonlight and Music with Rebecca Storm and Peter Corry (Solstice) and Steppin’ Out (Cork Opera House), plus almost ten years as director of the pantomime season at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.

My early training was in Voice and Piano at the Conservatory of Music & Drama and the Royal Irish Academy of Music; I hold a first-class MA in Theatre Studies (Directing) from Dublin City University, and a Postgraduate Distinction in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship from Trinity College, Dublin.  I’m an authorised instructor at Vocology in Practice - a global network of voice experts who are at the forefront of Vocal Health, Science and Pedagogy - and have completed specialised Singing for Lung Health and accredited Vocal Health First Responder training.  I continue to progress my vocal health and science education, and I’m a member of AOTOS, the British Voice Association, Network Ireland (Kilkenny), and the Stephen Sondheim Society. 

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Originally from Dublin, I live in the beautiful medieval city of Kilkenny with my husband, the artist John O’Donoghue, our gorgeous golden retriever puppy, Ziggy, and two crazy rescue cats, Dot and Clarence!