Michele O’Brien is an actor, an award-winning story teller, and early years practitioner.
“Michele O’Brien was the only choice, as we knew she would deliver imaginatively, theatrically and brilliantly” Elspeth McBain, Chief Executive, Lighthouse Poole July 2020.
As Associate Artist at Forest Forge Theatre Company Michele devised and developed her latest touring Arts Council England funded production The Ark and Dove, Directed by Lucy Phillips and written by David Howarth. Michele has also toured with their subsidiary company Bumblefly Theatre. Michele’s many Arts Council funded projects include":
The Spice Box written and devised with Amy Rose Mothers and Daughters: I’m Glad I Asked’ written with Katarina Radeva ‘LAND’ commissioned by the National Trust to interpret their 10 year LON strategy and devised with Director Amy Rose.
As Co-Director of Valise Noire Storytelling Theatre Co. Michele has delivered many National Heritage Lottery Funded projects. Believing in the importance of interpreting heritage through the Arts, she wants to make sure that the under-represented voice of women in history is recorded and shared. These projects include: Poppy Fields 1914-18 and Cargo with Hazel Evans, Sensing Helen with Tam Gilbert, The Ark and Dove with Colin Phillimore and currently Women of Words-Dorset with Alice Flynn.
Michele has also appeared in films made by State of Play Arts to commemorate the 1914-18 WW1 centenary: Aftermath, Tommy’s Girls. As an Early Years practitioner inspired by the work of Reggio Emilia and Vivian Gussin-Paley, Michele is part of Babigloo Music for Babies using the techniques of Dr. Edwin Gordon and Professor Paulo Lamiero.
Other companies that Michele has worked with are: Circo Atayde in Mexico, BBC Radio 4, Cocaine by Max Hillman with Rhys Ifans and Robert Pugh and Produced by Kristine Landon-Smith, Quick Silver Theatre Co. Permutt and Hadley, Genius Productions, The Grove Theatre Co. and English Teaching Theatre Co.
Poole Tourism Palm Award Winner - Granny Cousins Ghost Walk of Old Poole Town!
Poole with its rich history is one of the most haunted places in Dorset. Step behind the quay, down lanes and through narrow alleyways - you never know who you might meet!
Granny Cousins Ghost Walks of Old Poole Town offer entertaining and informative ghost walks around the nooks and crannies of Poole's historic Old Town.
Be prepared for anything!
Now in its 21st Year.
We invite you to dress up - wear your Halloween Costume of choice, carry your lantern and join in the fun!
Meet outside Scaplen's Court Museum, Sarum Street, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1BP
"Take a deep breath" and feel the goodness. An exciting performance/storytelling walk capturing the origins of Bournemouth as a spa town. Professional story teller Michele O'Brien, the crinoline lady, creates an intreging and curious walk mingling fact and fiction and a small dose of fantasy.
Audience Comments
"I just had to write and tell the organizers how wonderful this was - moving, funny, heart-wrenching...the audience was totally engrossed and I know from their comments afterwards, that they all felt this was an experience of exceptional quality! Thank you to Michele and to the organisers for their foresight in including this in the program.""Congratulations again for your new show. We really enjoyed it and found it provocative and challenging in a good way. The script was well crafted and your acting was top notch as ever - the swift mood swings carried a lot of dramatic punch and were very touching at times. The first image of you above us waving was great, and the ending was effective too - left you a bit shocked that we shouldn't be letting you go off by yourself - but some audience members also said they were worried you had left us somewhere unknown - also interesting!"
A mysterious Spice Box has been washed up and captured. What is its story? Full of Eastern promise its many drawers hold cinnamon, nutmeg and peppercorns as well as tales of pillaging pirate ships and kidnappings. Stunning puppets tell of the daring voyage to bring back spices at a time when Spices were more valuable than gold.
The Spice Box has also enchanted audiences at the Bristol Festival of Puppetry, Poole Street Festival and Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival.
Available to book now!
Duration 40 minutes. All ages
'Really engaging and creative.'
Caroline Peacock, Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival
'Beautiful quality - so well made, you held the crowd each time you performed.' Poole Street Festival.
'The Spice Box is an engaging piece that takes you to faraway places, performed with humour and conviction by the talented Michele O'Brien'
Helen Donaldson, Lighthouse Centre for the Arts, Poole.
'Brilliant', Activate Performing Arts
'Fantastic, Wonderful, Unique, Captivating, Innovative performance'.
Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival
Acted and Devised by Michele O'Brien
Directed by Amy Rose (Bocadalupa)
Spice Box and Puppets by Chris Pirie (Green Ginger)
Puppets by Teresa Grimaldi
'The Respectables' a promenade performance of two flamboyant Georgian residents. A Riotous Promenade Performance of Georgian Opulence and Excess
'The Respectables' will promenade around the Town offering an accessible and interactive experience for unassuming visitors. On their perambulation they will purvey:
titbits of sweetmeats and fancies (factoids about the Georgians)
enchant the public with displays of fanciful dancing
make regular and desperate demands for coffee: "Once alcohol was the thing, but now coffee is the fashion" Carlo Goldoni's play 'The Coffee House'
a 'tete a tete' bench for romantic whisperings
flourishes of handkerchieves and of course-the Georgian semaphore of fan flirting.
He is addicted to the Coffee House but doesn't understand what a 'Skinny Latte' is and she is a militant member of the Keepers of the Liberty of Venus (Anti-Coffee House movement).
Performed with Colin Phillimore, Directed by Alice Flynn
The Institute of Laughter - A pop up two person street performance. Let the Giggle Doctors from The Institute of Laughter diagnose the problem - mainly not enough laughter, issuing giggle forfeits, testing the most giggles on the Giggleometor and finding out what kind of laugh suits you. What makes a giggler giggle? Clowning and playing will be part of the show along with a song or two.
Performed and devised with Colin Phillimore
If you require further information regarding bookings for Schools or Festivals please email me
This funny, tender heart-felt, one woman (and a puppet) show is drawn from workshops with women of all ages and Michele’s own lived experiences with her 91-year-old Mother, Gena.
We often hear people say, “If only I asked!” when
a parent is no longer with us and Michele was determined to take the many opportunities she had to share with her Mother, to change that. In doing so she has created a deeply personal, but truly relatable piece of storytelling theatre that explore the joys, the frustrations, the shared memories, and the love that bind generations together. A universal tale for all to enjoy.
I’m Glad I Asked is written by Michele O’Brien – an actress, award-winning storyteller, arts practitioner, and associate artist at Forest Forge Theatre, and directed by Katherina Radeva (Two Destinations Language). The puppet is created and built by Teresa Grimaldi. Puppet consultant on the production is Amy Rose (Green Ginger). Original music by Mark O’Brien (CBSO).
I’m Glad I Asked was created through funding from Arts Council England. Its successful pilot run of shows were staged at The Lighthouse in Poole, Lyric in Bridport and as part of the programme of the Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival. In 2022/23, the show will be available for touring across the UK.
“It made me think differently about my relationship with my Mother. It is scary working out how to connect with each other and what it will be like when she gets older”
AUDIENCE MEMBER COMMENT
“I must say I was impressed by the way you managed to convey the many and varied emotions that we feel throughout our lives that we feel as daughters.”
PERFORMANCE DATES
5th October 2024
https://playhouseharlow.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873644101
THE ARK AND THE DOVE.
It's been great working on the Isle of Wight as part of a National Heritage Lottery Fund commission from the Isle of Wight Literary Festival.With Estelle Baker from the IOW Heritage Service, Colin Phillimore (Creative) and Elspeth Giddens from IOWLF we worked in four local schools over four weeks:Barton Junior School St. Francis Junior SchoolSt. Helens Junior SchoolSt. Mary’s Junior SchoolWe wanted to facilitate sharing this project with as many schools and public learning facilities as possible and develop an Education Pack. This ensures an ongoing legacy of The Ark and Dove project with the progress of the project and final outcomes informing maritime heritage and linking to next year's #Mayflower400 commemoration.
POPPY FIELDS
THE GIRL AND THE SHOES
A contemporary piece of storytelling, combining the skills of a visual artist with those of a storyteller to create a unique show that will capture imaginations by exploring what happens when you put a magical shoes made by an extraordinary shoemaker.
Babigloo is a creative world of colour, movement, music and touch.
Babigloo is a non-verbal music and arts programme that has music and babies 0-12 months as the focus.
You might say, you can't work with babies that young?! Well you can!
Our themed sessions build on babies sensory perceptions.
We use music, sound, baby conversation and listening skills to tune into babies amazing ability to hear changes of volume, pitch, vibration, rhythm and tone.
Babies and parents just love it.
Babigloo Music for Babies was developed by Jenny Gordon with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, SAMP music school in Portugal, Michele O'Brien, Sam Mason and Colin Phillimore. The workshop programmes explore the seasons through the family cultures of countries surrounding the Arctic circle. The approach we use is a non verbal, music led and based on the music education theories pioneered by the American Professor Edwin E. Gordon. Following on from our research and training with Professor Paulo Lameiro in SAMP music school Portugal and funded by Arts Council England's - International Artists Development Fund.
We've worked in Children's Centres, Libraries, Community Venues, Festivals and many one-off events to babies aged 0-12 months.
STORYTELLING
August 15, 2020
Street Theatre Storyteller Michele O'Brien is a character actor who creates visual performances, which take the listener on a journey into their own imagination. Michele O'Brien is UK based and can travel internationally. Michele O'Brien created Poole's award-winning Granny Cousins Ghost Walk and The Spice Box.
Michele O'Brien is an experienced Drama Practitioner interested in working in the Early Years sector with story-telling.
I am so proud to have been funded by the Arts Council England to produce a new show based on the gripping story of The Ark and Dove - two…
Written on Monday, 13 January 2020 13:17
JOURNEY TO THE HELL OF A WOMAN
"Take a deep breathe" and feel the goodness. An exciting performance/storytelling walk capturing the origins of Bournemouth as a spa town. Professional story teller Michele O'Brien, the crinoline lady, creates an intreging and curious walk mingling fact and fiction and a small dose of fantasy.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
"I just had to write and tell the organizers how wonderful this was - moving, funny, heart-wrenching...the audience was totally engrossed and I know from their comments afterwards, that they all felt this was an experience of exceptional quality! Thank you to Michele and to the organisers for their foresight in including this in the program."
"Congratulations again for your new show. We really enjoyed it and found it provocative and challenging in a good way. The script was well crafted and your acting was top notch as ever - the swift mood swings carried a lot of dramatic punch and were very touching at times. The first image of you above us waving was great, and the ending was effective too - left you a bit shocked that we shouldn't be letting you go off by yourself - but some audience members also said they were worried you had left us somewhere unknown - also interesting!"
The Ark and Dove
The gripping story of The Ark and Dove incorporates so many different themes and it just wasn't possible to do justice to all these with students over four weeks. Some of the class teachers did cover issues that looked at the illnesses brought by the travellers/colonist and how this dessimated the Native American peoples; the exploitation of tobacco and other natural rersources 'in the name of the King'.
We tried to focus the students on the fact that at first the travellers were welcomed and hosted by the Piscataway peoples and the Tayak (or Chief) told them:
"This is just what I want, we will share one table".
If you would like us to come to your school, theatre, or community organisation to share and perform The Ark and Dove please get in contact with us via this website or email me at: michele.ob@ntlworld.com" style="color: rgb(206, 53, 18);"> michele.ob@ntlworld.com
Sharing Heritage
The Ark and Dove is a great opportunity to share with audiences the heritage of Cowes and the Isle of Wight in the nation's maritime history.
Over four weeks students had the opportunity to hear the story of The Ark and Dove from 1633, as recorded by Father White, a catholic priest exiled because of religious prejudice. They explored objects and artefacts and recorded 'What they thought?' 'What they knew?' and 'What they wondered?' about them.
They started work on a short script telling the story of leaving Cowes to arriving in Chesapeake Bay and sailing up the Potomac River to meet and live alongside the Piscataway nation.
Over 200 people (students, family and teachers) saw the students presentations and this was just part of the legacy.........I'll be bringing The Ark and Dove show to venues on the Isle of Wight and south coast in February 2020.......but that's for another Blog.
Thanks to everyone including the school staff who made us so welcome and to Illustrator Hazel Evans who developed an amazing image for the project emcompassing many of the images that represent the gripping tale of The Ark and Dove: