Creative Learning and Participation
Martin is currently a part-time drama tutor at Cardonald College in Glasgow where he specialises in Supported Learning, working with adults and young people with various learning difficulties and additional support needs. He has also provided creative learning and education projects for the Tron Theatre, The Arches and TAG as well as local authorities South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire and Glasgow City Councils.
As well as this Martin is studying for a MA in Education (Equality and Diversity) and developing his artistic practice within the field of disability and inclusion.
See below for a few examples of his work.
As well as this Martin is studying for a MA in Education (Equality and Diversity) and developing his artistic practice within the field of disability and inclusion.
See below for a few examples of his work.
Scottish Opera
Classical Twists - Tbilisi, Georgia
In March 2011 Martin travelled to Tbilisi in Georgia to work as a drama specialist with Scottish Opera and Tbilisi State Opera to develop their education programme.
A series of workshops and meetings with Georgian artists and primary teachers were held over the 7 days to demonstrate Scottish Opera’s successful model for using opera as a tool for learning in schools, ending with the teachers themselves putting on a performance.
Linked to Scotland’s A Curriculum for Excellence - which places creativity at the centre of learning and teaching - the aim of the project is to show how opera can be used to enhance a child’s learning across a wide range of subjects, to provide opportunities for artists and teachers to share their skills and to raise the profile of opera as a rich and relevant art form within the Georgian community.
Theatre Royal Research and Development
Scottish opera appointed Martin as writer/theatre maker and Iain Piercy as filmmaker/illustrator to engage with community and organisations in the North of Glasgow in relation to the imminent redevelopment and extension of the Theatre Royal in the city centre. The project set out to ask key questions regarding the groups' relationship with the theatre in particular and their vioews on theatre in general in Glasgow. The aim was to collect stories and information through creative visual and writing activities to share thoughts about theatre-going, aloow open dialogue and reflect on memories and experience.
Residency with CHAS at Rachel House
In March 2011, four members of the Opera education team visited Rachel House childrens' Hospice and encouraged children, staff and families staying during the week to join in with creative learning activities. "Stories From Rachel House" used a range of expressive art mediums to tell the personal stories of the families and staff who spend time there, culminating in a short presentation and the beginning of a record of work that can be added to by future visitors.
In March 2011 Martin travelled to Tbilisi in Georgia to work as a drama specialist with Scottish Opera and Tbilisi State Opera to develop their education programme.
A series of workshops and meetings with Georgian artists and primary teachers were held over the 7 days to demonstrate Scottish Opera’s successful model for using opera as a tool for learning in schools, ending with the teachers themselves putting on a performance.
Linked to Scotland’s A Curriculum for Excellence - which places creativity at the centre of learning and teaching - the aim of the project is to show how opera can be used to enhance a child’s learning across a wide range of subjects, to provide opportunities for artists and teachers to share their skills and to raise the profile of opera as a rich and relevant art form within the Georgian community.
Theatre Royal Research and Development
Scottish opera appointed Martin as writer/theatre maker and Iain Piercy as filmmaker/illustrator to engage with community and organisations in the North of Glasgow in relation to the imminent redevelopment and extension of the Theatre Royal in the city centre. The project set out to ask key questions regarding the groups' relationship with the theatre in particular and their vioews on theatre in general in Glasgow. The aim was to collect stories and information through creative visual and writing activities to share thoughts about theatre-going, aloow open dialogue and reflect on memories and experience.
Residency with CHAS at Rachel House
In March 2011, four members of the Opera education team visited Rachel House childrens' Hospice and encouraged children, staff and families staying during the week to join in with creative learning activities. "Stories From Rachel House" used a range of expressive art mediums to tell the personal stories of the families and staff who spend time there, culminating in a short presentation and the beginning of a record of work that can be added to by future visitors.
The Farmer's Cheese
Composed by Oliver Searle
Performed by Symposia with Martin O'Connor and Clare McGarry
Commissioned by Med-El UK and performed in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton, Halifax, Swansea, London, with visits to Pretoria and Johannesburg (South Africa) and Chicago and Boston (USA).
Oliver Searle's Farmer's Cheese is a brilliant children's musical specially composed for young people with cochlear implants.
Animals galore, missing cheese and mayhem at the farm in Oliver Searle's musical adaptation of "The Farmer's Cheese" written by Geoff Plant (Hearing Rehabilitation Foundation). Family entertainment, especially written for hearing impaired children, sponsored by MED-EL UK Limited.
For further education and rehabilitation exercises from Geoff Plant have a look here
Performed by Symposia with Martin O'Connor and Clare McGarry
Commissioned by Med-El UK and performed in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton, Halifax, Swansea, London, with visits to Pretoria and Johannesburg (South Africa) and Chicago and Boston (USA).
Oliver Searle's Farmer's Cheese is a brilliant children's musical specially composed for young people with cochlear implants.
Animals galore, missing cheese and mayhem at the farm in Oliver Searle's musical adaptation of "The Farmer's Cheese" written by Geoff Plant (Hearing Rehabilitation Foundation). Family entertainment, especially written for hearing impaired children, sponsored by MED-EL UK Limited.
For further education and rehabilitation exercises from Geoff Plant have a look here
Giant Children's Cabaret
Glasgaow based arts organisation Giantworked with children from local after school services engaging them in a series of Cabaret masterclasseswith professional artists: BAFTA Award-winning composer Andrew Cruickshank, formidable stand-up comic Viv Gee, theatre-maker Martin O'Connor and circus specialists Theatre Modo.
The result was a range of acts performed by the young people alongside the professionals at the Victorian bar in the Tron Theatre.
Watch some highlights here.
The result was a range of acts performed by the young people alongside the professionals at the Victorian bar in the Tron Theatre.
Watch some highlights here.
