Commedia of Errors Presents
I AM
Written by Clare McMahon
Directed by Benjamin Gould
Crying out to be pinched by Derry Girls! Alan in Belfast
A delightful cameo laying bare the tender life of a young girl.' Belfast Times
www.commediaoferrors.co.uk
Commedia of Erorrs Commedia of Errors is an independent theatre company based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. We create art that responds to, challenges and questions the changing times in which we live. It aims to grow, develop and inform audiences, beneficiaries and the arts sector and to broaden and deepen engagement by overcoming barriers to arts participation. Our company has three strands to our work which we focus on: theatre productions, work for older audiences and exploring new technologies within live performance. Past productions include, 'Shakesepeare's Women', 'That Scottish Play!' and most recently the smash-hit sell out production 'The Gap Year' with the Lyric Theatre. Selected as one of the British Theatre Guide's ''Northern Ireland Theatre Highlights of 2022.
I Am Maura
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Creating the World of Maura
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Creating the World of Maura
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Calla Hughes Nic Aoidh (she/her) 'Maura'
Calla trained at Italia Conti Academy of Dramatic Arts studying BA Hons Musical Theatre and graduated 2022.
She made her professional debut November 2022 as Gerda, in "The Snow Queen" composed and directed by Paul Boyd at Lyric Theatre, Belfast. She played Maura in I am Maura at the Belfast Children’s Festival March 202'3 before a li’mited run at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast. Recently she has been touring ‘Tribe’ for Replay Theatre Company. An immersive theatre project designed for autistic and neurodivergent children and young people. Film includes ‘The House That Was Not’ (YDB FilmsThe Sleep Experiment (Jackpot Films, 2022) Calla is delighted to be back working with Commedia of Errors.
Clare McMahon (she/her) Playwright Clare McMahon is a playwright and actor based in Belfast and is Co-Creative of Commedia of Errors. A graduate of the Lir Academy’s MFA Playwriting she is currently under commission with Kabosh Theatre & Commedia of Errors and is one of the Abbey Theatre’s Centenary development awardees. She recently made her main stage debut with ‘The Gap Year’ at the Lyric Theatre. This smash hit production was chosen as one of British Theatre Guides ‘NI Highlights of 2022’. Previous plays include, 'Shakespeare's Women' & 'Women Troubles' (cowritten). Clare was shortlisted writer for Fishamble New Play Company’s ‘Play for Ireland’ and is an alumni of the Lyric Theatre’s New Playwrights Programme. Her work has been selected for New York’s 1st Irish Origin Festival Vital Voices programme and she was a shortlisted writer for the Zodiak Kids Award with CBBC. As an actor Clare trained at Royal Central School of Speech & Drama and has worked in theatres across the UK & Ireland including the West End. Her work at home includes; The Lyric, The Mac, Tinderbox, Bruiser and Cahoots. Television credits include playing Fanny in 'The Woman in White' (BBC1) and Carlo in 'Agatha The Truth of Murder' (Netflix). I Am Maura 4
Benjamin Gould (he/him) Director
Benjamin founded Commedia of Errors in 2014 and is Artistic Director of the Company. He holds a BA (Hons) Drama (1st Class) from Liverpool Hope University, and an MA Professional Acting from Alra, London. His productions have toured across Ireland, the UK, Italy and the USA. He won the 2019 John Fernald Award for Emerging Directors in UK and Ireland and is a multiple Arts Council Northern Ireland and British Council Award winner. Recent credits as director / producer include: "The Gap Year" (Lyric Theatre), "Lily" (VR Film), "The Gap Year" (1st Irish Festival, New York), "I Am Maura" (Lyric Theatre and NI Tour), "That Scottish Play!" (Lyric Theatre and NI Tour), "Women Troubles" (CQAF), "Shakespeare’s Women" (CQAF, Lyric Theatre and National Tour), "The Tain" (Milan, Italy and tour of Ireland) and "Romeo and Juliet" (Hen & Chickens, London). As Assistant / Associate Director: "Three Sisters" (SITI Company, Singapore International Arts Festival), "Molly Sweeney" (Goodman Theatre Chicago), "Sweeney Todd" (NI Opera / Lyric Theatre), "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" (Terra Nova).
Stuart Marshall (he/him) Set Designer Stuart has previously designed "That Scottish Play!" with Commedia of Errors, "The Gap Year" for The Lyric Theatre in association with Commedia of Errors and mostly recently "The Snow Queen" at the Lyric Theatre. His many other designs for the Lyric include: "The Crucible", "Dancing at Lughnasa", "Of Mice and Men", "Little Shop of Horrors", "A Night in November", "Our Country’s Good", "A Whistle in the Dark", "Charlotte’s Web", "The Hypochondriac", "The Absence of Women", "Translations", "Death of a Salesman", "Light Shining in Buckinghamshire", "Brendan at the Chelsea", "Peter Pan", "The Ladykillers", "Sadie", "The Heresy of Love" and "Educating Rita".
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Conal Clapper (he/him) Lighting Designer Conal is an artist and filmmaker from Cork, who has found a new home in Northern Ireland. His theatrical credits include "Assembly Required" (dir. Conal Clapper, Lyric Theatre), “Ruby!” (dir. Colm Doran, Lyric Theatre), Date Show: After Dark (dir. Colm Doran & Anna Leckey, Bullit Hotel), "Sink or Swim" (dir. Conal Clapper, Accidental Theatre), “Gulliver’s Travels" (dir. Des Kennedy, Lyric Theatre) and “Stick.Lip” (dir. Ro Owens, Queens Street Studios). He is delighted to see 'I Am Maura' return to the stage as part of the Belfast Children's Festival.
Caitlín Hunter she/her Stage Manager From Belfast, Caitlín graduated from Ulster University with a BA in Drama in 2017 and has been working as a Stage Manager ever since with a variety of theatre companies. Regularly working with Kabosh Theatre, previous work includes: Reunion, Silent Trade, Not On Our Watch, The Shedding of Skin, Callings, Green and Blue, Those you pass on the Street, Before you go, Queer Ceili at the Mary Forsythe and The Box. Along with Kabosh her recent work includes Brassneck Theatre Company: Project Children and Conversation with Angels; Greenshoot: In the Name of the Son; GBL Productions: Aladdin Pantomime and Cinderella Pantomime; Bright Umbrella: Macbeth; Maiden Voyage: Morf; The Lyric: Young Playwrights.
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Sophie Thompson she/her Deputy Stage Manager 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, c21 Theatre Company, David Hull Promotions, Kabosh Theatre Company, Maiden Voyage Dance, NI Opera, Replay Theatre Company, 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.
Special Thanks To Chris Grant
Siobhan Kelly
Rose Coogan
Geoff Hatt
Eibhlin De Barra
Gillian Pencavel
Accidental Theatre
Lyric Theatre
Southbank Playhouse
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www.commediaoferrors.co.uk