Reviews of Writing Practices

“it is a patchwork of emotions and experiences, variously angry and entertaining, incorporating everything from soliloquies by lesbian pirates to lessons in LGBT+ language to instant responses to the Westminster’s blocking of Holyrood’s gender reform bill. It makes an intimate and insightful hour of audio.”

- The Stage, Review of Queer There and Everywhere

“The deep and authentic Irish roots, the ever so complicated mother-daughter relationship - these were really exciting. One of my favourite moments was at the end when the protagonist was talking about all her experiences in the room she had lived in - that was so beautiful and highly relatable.”

- Review and Feedback of the women who cried for a year (and counting) at Stagebase 2024

Reviews of Faciliatior and Community Work

“Mary has been excellent to work with. She is extremely conscientious and aware of the young people and their needs. She displayed an ability to respond to the room appropriately and work positively with the full team. She was very flexible in her approach, which meant that when plans changed or more support was needed in one area, she quickly responded and adapted to the plan and space. This support and intuition helped the young people and project to thrive.”

— Tash Marks - Facilitator and Creative Practitioner

“I found today’s Tarot workshop to be really intuitive. The informative slideshow of Tarot itself and how the cards work. I appreciated the welcoming environment when it came to sharing each others work. Overall it was a very enjoyable workshop and creative outlet. The mix of tarot and writing was perfect. I left feeling very inspired and happy :) Thanks Mary

- Participant at Tea and Tarot at New Deli Theatre 2024

Reviews of Performance

“Mary is an incredible diverse artist. A talented and a very skilful writer. A bold and a very charismatic performer, always ready to take up new challenges whether it’s acting, singing, dancing or devouring food on stage! (Check out her incredible performance in ‘ PLEASURE CHAPTERS: No More Salad!’). She’s a great team player and it’s a real pleasure to work with her.“

- Natalia Meksa - Dancer and choreographer

As an undergraduate, I was actively involved with a wide range of community and university societies such as Clonmel Junction Festival, Cahir Pantomime Society, UCC Dramat, UCC Musical Theatre Society and UCC Orchestral Society. Throughout, I gained invaluable experience in directing, sound design, acting, stage management, administration, social media marketing and theatre production.

During this time, I began my facilitation journey, working as a facilitator and collaborator with Stagecraft Youth Theatre, Facture Youth Theatre, Cahir Majorettes, Excel Youth Theatre and Cahir Youth Choir, all based in Ireland. In 2016, I was appointed young critic with Youth Theatre Ireland. In 2019, I also served as musical director and assistant director with Youth Theatre Ireland’s Symposium in collaboration with UCC Youth Theatre. In 2020, I directed Legally Blonde with University College Cork’s Musical Theatre Society with the production earning a nomination from The Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS).

My dissertation focused on intergenerational theatre and was entitled Bridging or Widening the Divide: How has COVID-19 Shifted Intergenerational Work in Terms of Creativity, Agency, and Connection in the UK and Ireland. Guided by theory, this work was informed by my own experience in intergenerational theatre. In addition to working with All Change, I designed and implemented my own intergenerational project with Nenagh Youth Theatre and Nenagh Manor Silverstream Nursing Home, which explored the notion of place through creative collaboration, storytelling, and devising. The project was delivered remotely from London through online workshops with both groups who were unable to meet in person.

Examples of my practice during this time include:

• Company Three and Birmingham Young Rep: When This is All Over .

• Dr Nicola Abraham and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Student Knowledge Exchange, where I helped facilitate bespoke workshops in digital practice through music, storytelling and virtual reality in both hospital and care home settings.

2024

Makaton training

National Youth Theatre - Inclusion Collective 2024 - This is a six month learning experience from the National Youth Theatre on how to expand your current practice to become more inclusive.

2023

Speech Bubbles Training - Learning the tools from Speech Bubbles in how best to support young people in drama.

Little Angel Introduction to Puppetry course - 10 week course on how to use and make your own puppets!

2022

Dementia Friend- Training in assisting people in the community with Dementia

Place2Be - PD-certified Mental Health Champions Foundation programme aims to enhance professionals’ understanding of children’s mental health and introduce approaches that foster positive wellbeing.

2021

Kazzum Arts - Training with Trauma-Informed Practices with young people.

Tender - OCN Level 2 in Peer Mentoring and Facilitation

European Commission - Youthpass - Digital Youth Work course completed

Dream Arts - Parenting with PACE. - A DDP informed approach to parenting children who have experienced developmental trauma

2020

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - Tier 2 Dementia Training Day for Registered Staff

British Sign - Introducing British Sign Language course completed

2018

Dublin Institute of Technology - As part of a scholarship with DIT. I had the opportunity to train in Opera Voice Performance.

2017

London College of Music - Dip. LCM in Music Theatre Performance

2021

My undergraduate research study, ‘Arts for all— soft skills development in music and drama education’ was published in Undergraduate Research in Theatre: A Guide for Students with Michelle Hayford (Routledge 2021)

Awarded an Honorary Life Membership from University College Cork and UCC Musical Theatre Society from the society for my work as a director for Legally Blonde and committee member from 2016-2021

Legally Blonde was also the winner of the Best Creative Event at UCC STARS awards 2021.

2020

Legally Blonde was nominated in the 2020 AIMS (Association of Irish Musical Societies)

2017

Semi Finalist in National Competition, The Soloist with the Cross-Border Orchestra

2016

Winner of Tipperary Enterprise Trade Board Talent Search Finals Senior Category