ROOTS TEAM
Meet the ROOTS team.
EILEEN MCCLORY
Lead Artist/Choreographer
She was the recipient of the Arts Council Northern Ireland Major Individual Award Artist 2022, the highest value honour bestowed on artists in Northern Ireland, the inaugural Belfast City Council Artist Bursary 2021, and Belfast International Arts Festival Artist in Residence 2020/22. Eileen has led a diverse range of choreographic commissions, including Quotidian: Word on the Street BIND 2021 (dance film), Maiden Voyage Dance Company’s Epilogue 2021(film installation) and BRINK 2020, The Playhouse Derry’s TURF 2018, and Tinderbox Theatre Company’s CUCK 2017. As the creative director of Off the Rails Dance, Eileen has choreographed and produced GUTTER 2023, The Dutiful Wife 2016, and S(3)nsored 2011. Completed an MA in Contemporary Performance Practice from Ulster University with Distinction.
ANDY MCCORMAC
Garden Designer/landscaper
Andy McCormick co-founded Sow Grateful in 2020 as a sustainable, regenerative, seasonal cut flower farm. It has since evolved and expanded to be part of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan and taken on award winning residential development landscaping projects with a pollinator and native tree planting focus. The focus is always looking into building better soil, plant health and wildlife habitat whilst creating spaces for people to enjoy and engage with and feel connected to nature.
MARIA MCMANUS
Poet/Writer
Maria McManus is a poet. Her most recent collection is Available Light (Arlen House). Librettos include Wretches and Ellipses, both with the composer Keith Acheson and Tierra Sallada with Argentinian composer Martin Devek. Poetry, dance and film collaborations are BIND, Epilogue and TURF all of which are collaborations with choreographer Eileen McClory and filmmaker Conan McIvor and composer Katie Richardson (BIND). Published in IMPERMANENCE (CCI/No Alibis), The Irish Times, The New Frontier (New Island) & broadcast on RTE and the BBC. Founded the literary arts production company Quotidian with the poet Deirdre Cartmill.
UNA HICKEY
Costume Designer
Úna Hickey is a Costume Designer from Belfast. She completed a degree in Performance Costume at Edinburgh College of Art in 2006. Since then she has worked in costume for theatre (The Lyric, Prime Cut), film (HBO, Ramona Productions), and dance (Maiden Voyage, Quotidian Productions), both at home and abroad.
SARAH FLAVELLE
Dencer
Sarah is a dance artist from Belfast. Sarah graduated from The Institute of the Arts Barcelona with a First Class BA (Hons) Dance. She continued training at DART Studios Professional Training Intensive in Berlin. Sarah has performed in projects with Nossetssik Dance Company, Maiden Voyage Dance and at Shawbrook Dance Company Space with Róisín Whelan Dance.
HELENA BEREEN
Voice Actor
Trained at the Gaiety School of Acting and the National Theatre School of Canada.
Theatre includes Now For The North (The MAC, Belfast), Lovers: Winners and Losers (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), All My Sons (Arts Theatre, Belfast), Hamlet (Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo), Woman and Scarecrow (Old Museum Arts Centre, Belfast), Brothers in Arms (Waterfront Hall, Belfast) and Family Plot (Brian Friel Theatre).
Film includes Hunger, The Shore, A Year of Greater Love, The Devil’s Doorway and I Am Belfast. Television includes Glenroe, Fair City, The Clinic, Mo and Millie Inbetween. Radio includes From Donegal with Love.
JAMES DORAN
Voice Actor
James has been working as an actor since the mid 1980s.
As you can imagine James’ credits are extensive. An accomplished stage actor he has appeared in many productions including:‘The Chronicles of Long Kesh’, ‘Titanic’, ‘Gibraltar Strait’ and most recently ‘Carson and The Lady’ at the Lyric. His film/television credits include ‘Game Of Thrones,’ ‘Best, A Mother’s Son,’ and ‘The Prisoner.’ Theatre critic Michael Quinn wrote a review of James’ performance in ‘Carson and The Lady’ Quinn noted that the production featured a ‘typically charismatic performance by James Doran as Edward Carson’ And ‘Under the radar, Doran has become one of Northern Ireland’s most compelling actors and here he brings nuanced stature and substance to a controversial figure with utter conviction and a lightly-worn but engaging gravitas.’
COAIMHE MCGEE
Stage Management
Caoimhe is a freelance theatre maker from Donegal and a graduate of the Drama BA and Arts Management MA at Queen’s University, Belfast. She has been working professionally as a stage manager since 2019, and has more recently ventured into writing, directing and dramaturgy. Caoimhe is one of Theatre and Dance NI’s INVEST artists 23/24, exploring dance dramaturgy under the mentorship of Sharon Clarke from the Akram Khan Dance Company.
HANNAH MULLANS
Executive Producer
Hannah has twenty years experience in a variety of producing and curatorial roles. She has worked as a freelance Creative Producer with clients such as The Civic Theatre, Dublin and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. She was Creative Producer for the award winning ANU Productions and WilllFredd Theatre before leaving to work for VISUAL, Carlow and The Courthouse, Tinahealy.
In 2023 she was awarded her second bursary from Arts Council, Ireland’s YPCE department to continue her research into the development of work for young audiences. She has recently founded her consultancy and production company PLAYGROUND Productions which produces work for young audiences and advises arts organisations.
SIOBHAN BARBOUR
Operations Manager
Siobhán spent 15 years as a stage and production manager, including work for the Royal Court, Old Vic, National Theatre of Scotland, and the Lyric Theatre (Belfast), in addition to regular international touring. She still dabbles in arts and events while she completes her training as an integrative counsellor and therapist.
ISAAC GIBSON
Sound Designer/composer
Isaac Gibson is an award-winning Northern Irish DJ, producer, and sound designer. Recently, he obtained his PhD from Queen's University Belfast specialising in Music Technology & Sonic Arts. In recent years, he has composed the music and sound for numerous short films and theatrical productions showcased at various institutions across Europe.
CLARA KERR
Dancer/ Outreach coordinator
Clara is a County Down based Dance Artist who graduated LIPA, with a 1st class BA (Hons) Dance. Recent work includes ‘Line of Life’ an interactive projection and dance piece commissioned by Maiden Voyage Dance. Clara has also performed extensively including the West End and National tour of ‘Fairytale of New York’ and has most recently founded Seen Dance Company, a new energetic company based in Northern Ireland.
ED MITCHELL
Dancer
Ed is from Suffolk and graduated from Northern School Of Contemporary Dance in 2020 before touring with Verve 21, working with Caroline Finn, Botis Seva, Barnaby Booth, and Matthew Robinson. Other credits include work with Avant Garde, Bullyache, Northern Rascals, Gecko Theatre, and Tim Walker. He recently premiered a duet with Hannes Langolf, and his own solo piece at Resolution Festival 2023. Ed also teaches improvisational classes across the UK.
RUBY CAMPBELL
Voice Actor
Ruby trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Theatre includes: Deidre in Sylvan (Tinderbox Theatre), Tilly in Rough Girls (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Marilyn Monroe in The Broads (Strand Arts), Bridget in Translations (Lyric Theatre, Belfast & Rage Theatre, Mumbai), Ciara in Driving Home for Christmas (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Alice in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Mag in Lovers: Winners and Losers (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Splish Splash (Oily Cart), u/s Shena Carney in The Ferryman (Gielgud Theatre, West End/Sonia Friedman Productions), Margaret Barry in She Moved Through The Fair (Tron Theatre/Celtic Connections Festival), Clare in Girls and Dolls (Pint-Sized), Babble in Off Broadway Run (Replay Theatre), Beth in Lifeboat (Replay Theatre), Lady Windermere in Lady Windermere’s Fan (Bruiser Theatre).
LAURA HUGHES
Voice Actor
Laura is a graduate of Queen’s University, Belfast. Recent theatre credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Lyric Theatre Belfast), Department Store (Big Telly), Dear Arabella (Lyric Theatre Belfast), Women On The Verge of HRT (GBL Productions/Andrew’s Lane). Film and television credits include: In the Land of Saints and Sinners (Netflix), Blue Lights (BBC), As If There Were Trees (Black North Productions), Dalgliesh (New Pictures/Channel 5), Three Families, The Fall, The Woman in White, Line of Duty (BBC), A Deal’s a Deal, The Clinic (RTÉ), Frankenstein Chronicles (ITV), Good Vibrations (Revolution Films) Laura is a regular voice-over artist for radio, television and museum exhibitions.
SOPHIE THOMPSON
Assistant Stage Management
Sophie graduated in 2015 from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, in Theatre and Performance Technology. Throughout her Stage Management career she has worked with various Theatre companies and Theatres throughout Northern Ireland such as Lyric Theatre, The Mac, Theatre at The Mill, Cahoots NI, Commedia of Errors, c21 Theatre Company, David Hull Promotions, Kabosh Theatre Company, Maiden Voyage Dance, NI Opera, Replay Theatre Company, Six Dance Collective, Terra Nova Productions and Tinderbox Theatre Company. She has also worked in TV as the Stage Manager for ‘Give My Head Peace’ for the BBC. She is delighted to be working for OTR for the first time on Roots.
SANDY CUTHBERT
Project Producer/Project Manager
Sandy has over 40 years of experience within the dance industry. Creative Arts BA (Hons), Post Graduate LCDS, PGCE, MA in Dance and Somatic Well Being, RSME. Professional Dancer (Diversions, NDCW, In Transit Dance, Maiden Voyage Dance, Off The Rails Dance). Dance lecturer for 22 years. Other roles include: Artistic Director (In-Transit), Choreographer, Movement Director, Company Manager (MVD), Engagement Coordinator (MVD), CostumeDesign (BAFTA) and Somatic Movement educator / facilitator. Sandy is a qualified garden
designer and has recently rekindled a passion as a textile artist.
HANNA SLATTNE
Dramaturgy
Hanna Slättne is a freelance dramaturg, researcher, theatre-maker and facilitator based in Northern Ireland. She works across dance and theatre performance, XR and immersive audio as a maker and dramaturg across the UK and Ireland. In 2016 she received the Kenneth Tynan Award for Excellence in Dramaturgy. Website: hannaslattne.com
KERRIE HANNA
Glass Artist
Kerrie Hanna is a multi-disciplinary visual artist based in Vault Artist Studios in Belfast. Her work explores the human experience through a distinctive figurative style across illustration, stained glass and street art. Hanna's practice is often informed by co-design and community engagement with a strong focus on projects centred on peace building and mental health and wellbeing.
ROSIE MULLAN
Dancer
Rosie has been a core member of the dance community of Northern Ireland since 2013 performing with Maiden Voyage Dance, OTR and OD Works. This year she will have her debut performance with Irish Modern Dance Theatre as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival. Her creative joy is held in physical theatre. She is in the early stages of creating first solo piece ‘Obedient Lamb’ depicting the nuances of rural Irish living.
HARRY WILSON
Dancer
Harry is originally from Yorkshire but currently based in London. He trained at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance where he worked with choreographers such as Sir Richard Alston, Christopher Bruce CBE, and Richard Chappell. Since graduating, Harry has worked as a freelance dancer for companies and choreographers such as Yorke Dance Project, Susan Kempster, BalletFolk, and New Creations Collective.
RICHARD CLEMENTS
Voice Actor
Richard Clements is an actor/musician/writer from N Ireland known for The Fall, Traces and The Frankenstein Chronicles. His stage work includes "Jimmy's Hall" and "Let the right one in" for the Abbey, "Spoiling" at the Traverse and numerous productions for the Lyric in Belfast. His one man show "How to Bury a Dead Mule" was staged at the Lyric in September 2022. The show has been nominated for Best New Play at the UK Theatre Awards. Richard is also an accomplished songwriter and recently released the EP "Solitaire". He is also an established voiceover artist.
GEORGIOS VAROUTSOS
Tech Support
Georgios Varoutsos is a sonic artist and researcher from Montreal, Canada. He completed his
PhD at Queen’s University Belfast with SARC: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Sound and Music. He received a Master’s in Research in Arts & amp; Humanities with a concentration in Sonic Arts from Queen’s University Belfast, passing with distinction. Additionally, he earned a BFA with Distinction in Electroacoustic Studies and a BA in Anthropology from Concordia University in Montreal. Georgios bridges past and present history through sound and other mediums, offering audiences a variety of perspectives and lenses through his artistic endeavours. As an artist, he explores his practice through an extensive range of audio and audio-visual projects, which have been presented globally through concerts, soundwalks, soundmaps,installations, exhibitions, and presentations.
ANITA GIBNEY
PR & Marketing
Anita has been a publicist and event manager since 1990. She has vast experience of the Irish music industry, including events at Botanic Gardens, Ormeau Park, SSE Arena, Waterfront & Ulster Halls, Slane Castle, Croke Park and Aviva Stadium. More recently, she has been publicising dance and theatre events at the Lyric Theatre, The Mac, and Crescent Arts Centre.
