Christine Scarry

A Dublin native, now resident in Kilkenny, Christine is a professional theatre director and one of Ireland’s leading vocal coaches, with particular interest in vocal health and science. She is Artistic Director of Red Alchemy Theatre Company, Voice Studio and Musical Director of the female vocal sextet, Alchemy She has over twenty-five years’ experience crafting and training voices to create maximum impact, enhance connection and transform vocal presence.

A founding member of the first ever musical theatre degree course in Ireland, Christine lectured in voice, acting and music theatre history, and she continues to be active as a guest lecturer and masterclass facilitator. In her private vocal practice, she has a proven track record in contributing to the success of actors and singers: her clients are currently playing leading roles on Broadway, the West End, and major Irish venues including The Abbey and The Gate Theatre. The Red Alchemy Voice Scholarship is offered annually, by audition, and is open to applicants from all over Ireland.

As a theatre director and producer, she has worked with national and international casts

on a range of outstanding productions at home and abroad, and has directed work to critical and commercial acclaim in New York City as well as in professional theatres all over Ireland. She now brings her experience and skillset to the business arena via The

Voice Industry. By applying her clear and practical vocal techniques, she assists business

leaders as their ‘secret weapon’ in developing a more compelling, confident and authoritative presence in the workplace!

Her vocal group, Alchemy, have recently streamed their live concert as part of the Government’s Live Music Performance initiative and performed the sell-out Winter Song at The Sugar Club, Dublin, A Night at the Museum in the Medieval Mile Museum, Sounds of Summer at The Set Theatre, Christmas by Candlelight at St. Canice’s Cathedral. Alchemy provided the entertainment for the Vótáil 100 celebrations at Dublin Castle, and were special guests at the Dublin Bowie Festival. Their début album is now available on iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music. Christine directed the new musical drama, Find Your Way Home, at New York’s Symphony Space, Broadway, following a short US Tour. She produced and directed the critically acclaimed Vincent – A Play by Leonard Nimoy (National Tour), Listen To My Heart (National Tour), The Lonesome West (National Tour) and Ritual For Dolls (Mill Theatre, Dublin) – all for Red Alchemy Theatre Company. For Autumn/Winter 2020 Christine is bringing major Broadway and West End stars to Kilkenny in the concert series Leading Lights: An Intimate Audience with Alex Sharpe

and An Intimate Audience with Killian Donnelly at the Watergate Theatre.

Other recent productions include Sondheim’s Assassins (The Helix), La Bohème as part of Opera In The Park (Merrion Square for Dublin City Council), Bugsy Malone (Olympia Theatre), Annie (Olympia Theatre and Cork Opera House), Find Your Way Home (Civic Theatre, Dublin), ESB Madsoc’s 30 th Anniversary Celebration and Mad About Musicals (both National Concert Hall), The June Rodgers Show (Dublin and Cork), Al Porter’s Take It From Me (Bewley’s Café Theatre), An Evening with John Bucchino (Cobalt Café), Moonlight and Music - with Rebecca Storm and Peter Corry (Solstice Arts Centre), Frozen Solid! and Beauty and the Beast (The Watergate). Christine directed the Pantomime season at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin from 2005 until 2013.

Other credits are Michael Collins – A Musical Drama, Jason Robert Brown’s Parade, The Full Monty and Sweeney Todd (all at Watergate Theatre), Ragtime (The Premier, Thurles), Sondheim’s Putting It Together (Pavilion Theatre), Kander & Ebb’s Cabaret, Rent, One Voice, A Little Light Music (all at The Helix Theatre), The Addams Family, Chicago the Musical, Irish première of The Producers, Sondheim’s Follies (both at National Opera House, Wexford), Irish première of High School Musical (The Forum, Waterford), West Side Story (Solstice Arts Centre), Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Millbank Theatre) and Into The Woods (Draíocht & Theatre Royal, Waterford).

Originally an actor/singer, Christine worked professionally at theatres and concert venues all over Ireland, playing widely diverse roles in both plays and musicals. She has played opposite international musical theatre stars such as John Barrowman, David Kernan, Millicent Martin, Dave Willetts and Lorna Luft – daughter of singing legend, Judy Garland, has frequently broadcast live concert performances for RTE, and toured Ireland and the USA in cabaret.

Her many tv/radio credits include appearances on The Late Late Show, The Gerry Ryan Show, Theatre Nights (all for RTE) and Friday Night Is Music Night (BBC). After an absence of almost fifteen years, Christine returned to the stage in 2019, playing the role of Emsy in A New Fish at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.

The global pandemic inspired Christine to create and produce a series of online music concerts – Sing For Life - performed by her vocal students – which raised almost €15,000 for the Irish Cancer Society. During this time she also created an online community initiative (Christine’s Sofa Sessions) – particularly designed to encourage the older members of our community to participate in thrice weekly online group sing-along sessions.

In previous years Christine welcomed US Emmy Award-winner and Tony Nominee, Liz Callaway, to deliver a memorable performance workshop in Dublin, and has invited Broadway composer John Bucchino to present a masterclass of his work to a selection of Ireland’s music theatre performers; she collaborates with both on an ongoing basis.

Earlier this year, she hosted and accompanied a live Performance Masterclass with Killian Donnelly onstage at the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny. Christine originally trained in voice and piano at the Conservatory of Music & Drama and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and she holds a first-class MA in Theatre Studies (Directing) from Dublin City University. She is currently undertaking a postgraduate Cultural and Creative Entrepreneurship programme at Trinity College, Dublin – the perfect umbrella title for her life’s enterprises – and is simultaneously progressing her vocal science education.

She is a member of both AOTOS and the British Voice Association, and is delighted to be serving a second year with the inspiring ladies of the Network Kilkenny committee. A great dog lover, Christine and her golden retriever, George - as a Visiting Team for Irish Therapy Dogs - spend time every week with the service users at the Department

of Psychiatry in St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny.