Current News
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The Food of Love
Martin's new production with the Tron Theatre Young Company is a new version of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, using spoken word poetry and song to explore what love means in 2023. Tickets are available to buy here. |
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Breath Cycle II
Martin is continuing to work on this unique participatory project bringing together singers and song writers to create the Covid Composers Song Book. You can find out more, listen to the songs and take part in the activities here. |
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new worlds
new worlds is the culmination of Martin's residency in Inverclyde as part of Culture Collective. Martin worked with New Scots from your Voice and has created a sound piece with Nichola Scrutton. You can listen here. |
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Through The Shortbread Tin: Development
Martin will be continuing his development of the project he began as part of the Gavin Wallace Fellowship with Playwright's Studio Scotland. He will be developing new ideas for spoken word and music alongside composer Oliver Searle, and singers Mairi Morrison, Kathleen MacInnes, Mischa MacPherson and Kim Carnie. |
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Retro/Future, Tron Young Company COP26
The resident Young Company from the Tron theatre will be presenting a brand new spoken word sound performance as part of the official programme for COP26. The piece has been devised by the company, with Martin O'Connor, and sound designer/composer Danny Krass. Launching the sound piece on the 12th November, the company will be discussing their creative journey, and their work with young activists form Colombia. This performance has been made in partnership with Letters to the Earth and Una. |
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Culture Collective: Inverclyde Artist in Residence Martin is delighted to have been appointed Artist in Residence with Inverclyde Council, as part of the Culture Collective Programme. He will be working in Inverclyde on a new socially-engaged poetry and writing project, inspired by the industrial past and heritage of the area. |
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Glasgow Life Creative Communities: Phase 3 Martin is delighted to continue his work in Pollokshields as part of the city-wide Artist Residencies Initiative. Martin will be working in Pollokshields West, on a Gaelic poetry trail, connected to the history of the houses and place names in Pollokshields. More information on Martin's previous Creative Communities Residency can be found here. |
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Scottish Opera: Breath Cycle
A new project designed to benefit those suffering from a range of conditions affecting lung health, in particular Long Covid. A team of musicians from the Company will work with participants during a series of relaxed weekly sessions, introducing them to fun and stimulating songs, vocal exercises and breathing techniques. In addition to the singing sessions, Martin will be leading song writing workshops alongside former Scottish Opera composer-in-residence Gareth Williams. The songs that come out of these workshops will be arranged and recorded to create a free digital resource for individuals, choirs and singing groups worldwide, called ‘The Covid Composers Songbook’, as a positive musical legacy of the past 18 months. For more information, visit www.scottishopera.org.uk/join-in/breath-cycle/ |
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Gossip From The Forest - 2021 Development
Magnetic North is developing a new performance project based on the book Gossip from the Forest by Sara Maitland. The book explores the strong connections between folk tales and forests, and investigates our forest-dwelling roots. The adaptation will use live music (particularly traditional/folk) and storytelling. The company worked together for two weeks in September 2021. The team working with Magnetic North’s Artistic Director Nicholas Bone is writer Martin O’Connor, songwriter Kirsty Law and three performers: Biff Smith, Kirsty Eila McIntyre and Claire Eliza Willoughby. You can read more about the project in two blog posts by Nicholas Bone here and here. Gossip |
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The Pollokshields Pantoum
Created as part of Glasgow Life's Creative Communities Artist Residencies. The Pollokshields Pantoum is now available to read. You will soon be able to pick up a copy in Pollokshields Library and in some shops and organisations throughout the area. Link here to the main project page. |
Previous News
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Scottish Youth Theatre: 2020 Stories Part Two
These short films, written by members of Scottish Youth Theatre, are now available to view online. Martin served as mentor to four of the young writers and you can watch all of the videos here. |
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February 2021
Martin is delighted to be taking up the role of Progression Associate with Toonspeak Young People's Theatre, creating a programme of opportunities and support for young people consisting of creative work experience, careers coaching, mentorships and personal development. |
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Jan - June 2021: Glasgow's Creative Communities Artist in Residence
An ongoing Glasgow-wide initiative placing 23 artists and organisations into the 23 Wards of Scotland's largest city. Martin will be the Artist in Residence for Ward 6 - Pollokshields, and will be working on the creation of an epic community Pantoum (a poem with repeated lines throughout) created by residents in the many languages of the area. More info on the artists and the project here. |
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Dec 2020 / Jan 2021: National Theatre of Scotland Writer in Residence
As part of his residency, Martin will be working on two new development projects. In early December Martin will be in a rehearsal room for the first time this year with collaborator Moira Anne McAuslan to creatively explore the relationships between Gaelic, Scots and British Sign Language. Then in January 2021, Martin will be working on a new piece of writing inspired by his research so far. |
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Scottish Youth Theatre: 2020 Stories Part Two
Martin is delighted to be working with Scottish Youth Theatre on their new development project with young writers. Twenty writers were invited to create brand new pieces of performance for one actor. Martin will be mentoring four writers throughout the project to be filmed and shared early 2021. More information, and a video from the first iteration of the project can be found here. |
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Tron Theatre Young Company 2020
Martin is returning to work with the in-house ensemble of 18-25 year olds, made up of brand new participants. All taking place online for the time being, the new cohort will be exploring new themes and ways of working, before beginning work on a brand new piece of theatre for 2021. For previous Young Company projects see here. |
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Theatre Gu Leòr: Rudeigin Ri Ràdh / Something To Say
Martin is thrilled to be part of a new development programme aiming to amplify Gaelic voices (and disabled voices - a parallel project run by Birds of Paradise). Over two months, Martin will be attending workshops and advice sessions with experts in radio and Gaelic language to create a new piece of radio drama. Some of these will be commissioned by Theatre Gu Leòr and recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. Martin's piece, Èirigh will explore the impact of climate change on a small Scottish island, and on one man who means to save his family by building an Ark. |
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Autumn 2020: Twelve Development
Martin has been funded by Creative Scotland to carry out an interim version of his new project Twelve , which he began at Platform at the start of the year and was postponed because of COVID-19 restrictions. Martin will be writing a new version of the script, and will reconvene with participants and Platform when it is safe to do so. |
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2020: Gossip From The Forest - New writing commission with Magnetic North Theatre
Magnetic North is developing a new performance project based on the book Gossip from the Forest by Sara Maitland. The book explores the strong connections between folk tales and forests, and investigates our forest-dwelling roots. The adaptation will use live music (particularly traditional/folk) and storytelling. The company were due to begin development in March, but have rescheduled work until later in the year. The team working with Magnetic North’s Artistic Director Nicholas Bone is writer Martin O’Connor, songwriter Kirsty Law and three performers: Biff Smith, Kirsty Eila McIntyre and Claire Eliza Willoughby. You can read more about the project in two blog posts by Nicholas Bone here and here. |
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January - April 2020: Writer in Residence with National Theatre of Scotland
Martin has been invited to work with The National Theatre of Scotland as Writer in Residence. From the beginning of 2020 Martin will be exploring Scotland's three minority languages - Scots, Gaelic and British Sign Language. To begin, Martin will be hosting conversations between speakers and users of each language and will be making new work in response. In November 2019, Martin was asked to respond to the 2020 Season, and created What's the Point in Myths? which mentions the upcoming productions as well as asking questions about the ownership of stories, legends and cultural history. |
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February 2020: Bothy Project Martin successfully applied for a Self-Directed residency, and will be spending a week at Inshriach Bothy, near Aviemore. Martin will be further developing Through the Shortbread Tin, his project he created as part of the Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship in 2018. Martin will also be visiting Culloden, Kingussie and Ruthven - all major inspirations in the creation of the Ossian stories and poems. |
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March - April 2020: Twelve - A new writing and participatory project Martin has recently been funded by Creative Scotland to begin developing a new project with Platform and to create a men's writing group in Glasgow's East End. Twelve takes its inspiration from the stories of the 12 Apostles, and will look at contemporary lived experiences of employment and religion, through the Scots language. |
2019
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October 2019: Through the Shortbread Tin: An Ossianic Journey at The National Museums
A new work in progress created from Martin's time as the Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow (see below). Inspired by the poems of Ossian and by the story of James Macpherson, the performance explores the relevance – past and present – of these epic tales in a funny and contemporary way. performed with Mairi Morrison, Mischa Macpherson and Kathleen Macinnes. Music composed by Oliver Searle. 11th October 2019, 7pm. Tickets available here. |
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April 2018: The Mark of the Beast run completed Martin would like to extend a massive thank you to everyone involved in his latest performance, including Platform and the Scottish Storytelling Centre. The updated page with new photos and reviews can be found here. |
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Turntable on tour
After a successful run at the Fringe as part of 2017's Made in Scotland Showcase, Turntable sets off on tour around the country. Starting in Glasgow as part of Platform's Outskirts festival, the show then visits East Renfrewshire, Greenock, Inverurie, St Andrews and New Galloway. We're also performing our first international date at the Here and Now Festival in Mannheim, Germany All the details can be found on Red Bridge Arts page here |
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April 2018: Martin O'Connor selected as Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow at Playwright's Studio Scotland Martin is delighted to announce that he has been selected for the 2018 Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship, hosted by Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland, in partnership with the Royal Lyceum Theatre. Responding to this year’s theme, ‘Epic’, Martin will start work on a contemporary long-form performance poem written in Gaelic, Scots and English, inspired by the tales of the famous Ossian poems, the purported poet ‘discovered’ by James Macpherson 1790, and written by Macpherson himself. More here on the Creative Scotland site. |
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July 2019: Creative Writer at Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice Martin has recently taken the post of Creative Writer at Glasgow's Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice. He will be working with patients on creating their own pieces of writing, such as short stories, poems and biographical work, and will be working towards creating events and participatory projects that can enhance the arts provision for the hospice. Martin previously held the post as Writer in Residence with Children's Hospices Across Scotland which you can read about here and here. |
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October 2019: All The Time in the World, Tron Theatre Young Company
The resident young company at the Tron are working hard on their new production. All the Time in the World looks at what happens when someone you love goes missing for no apparent reason, and takes a closer look at how we perceive time moving, how we wait for something to happen and the gulf between presence and absence. Performances are on 24th, 25th and 26th October. Tickets available here. |
2018
Some info on upcoming projects this year:
An Audience With...Book and Film Launch
Martin is currently putting the finishing touches to the publication of An Audience With...a book of conversations about dance with dancers from Janice Parker's latest work. The book and accompanying film by Martin Clark will launch at the end of February at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. More info here.
The Mark of the Beast
Martin is delighted to announce that his new one man show will be staged at Platform and the Edinburgh Storytelling Centre in April. In collaboration with Nichola Scrutton and the North East Recovery Community, this spoken word performance looks at the place of alcohol in Glaswegian lives. It's been in development for a while - more info here, and tickets on sale here.
Turntable on tour
2018 sees the return of Turntable which premiered at last year's Fringe. Dates are still being confirmed but we're looking forward to being part of Outskirts at Platform in April. More info here.
Some info on upcoming projects this year:
An Audience With...Book and Film Launch
Martin is currently putting the finishing touches to the publication of An Audience With...a book of conversations about dance with dancers from Janice Parker's latest work. The book and accompanying film by Martin Clark will launch at the end of February at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. More info here.
The Mark of the Beast
Martin is delighted to announce that his new one man show will be staged at Platform and the Edinburgh Storytelling Centre in April. In collaboration with Nichola Scrutton and the North East Recovery Community, this spoken word performance looks at the place of alcohol in Glaswegian lives. It's been in development for a while - more info here, and tickets on sale here.
Turntable on tour
2018 sees the return of Turntable which premiered at last year's Fringe. Dates are still being confirmed but we're looking forward to being part of Outskirts at Platform in April. More info here.
Togail Nàisean / Building a Nation
September will see Martin begin rehearsals for his new solo spoken word performance in English, Scots and Gaelic, Togail Nàisean / Building a Nation, produced by Glasgow Life and supported by National Theatre of Scotland. The piece explores marginalised Scottish languages as well as the erosion of rural and industrial languages through the lens of Glasgow shipbuilding and current attitudes towards voice, dialect and class.
Martin will be collaborating again with sound artist Nichola Scrutton.
The show will tour to Lewis, North and South Uist, Skye, Mull, Glasgow and Edinburgh. For more information and to book tickets please visit the Togail Nàisean/Building a Nation page.
September will see Martin begin rehearsals for his new solo spoken word performance in English, Scots and Gaelic, Togail Nàisean / Building a Nation, produced by Glasgow Life and supported by National Theatre of Scotland. The piece explores marginalised Scottish languages as well as the erosion of rural and industrial languages through the lens of Glasgow shipbuilding and current attitudes towards voice, dialect and class.
Martin will be collaborating again with sound artist Nichola Scrutton.
The show will tour to Lewis, North and South Uist, Skye, Mull, Glasgow and Edinburgh. For more information and to book tickets please visit the Togail Nàisean/Building a Nation page.
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Turntable at the Edinburgh Fringe 2017
Martin is delighted to announce that a new performance version of the pop up record shop and workshop, Turntable|Edinburgh, will be staged at the Scottish Storytelling Centre at the Fringe, running from 14th-20th August at 5.30pm. The show is part of the Made in Scotland Showcase. Tickets and info can be found here, and the dedicated webpage for the show here. |
Submarine Time Machine
Martin has been working the latest production from National Theatre Scotland Learn - opening Friday 23rd June 7pm. More details can be found here.
New for 2017:
April - June:
Paines Plough: Come to Where I'm From
Martin will be performing new work at Glasgow's Tron Theatre in May alongside three of the city’s finest playwrights, Linda McLean, Gary McNair and Anita Vettesse, as part of Paines Plough's celebrated nationwide project.
Since 2010 writers from across the UK have returned to their home towns to pen plays about the places that shaped them. At theatres from Bristol to Belfast, Cardiff to Coventry and Nottingham to Newcastle, these plays have been performed by the playwrights themselves, coming home to tell their tale. Together they create a theatrical tapestry of the nation – a playwright’s guide to Great Britain.
You can listen to more than 120 playwrights read their plays on the COME TO WHERE I'M FROM app, free to download from the App Store.
Mayfesto at the Tron Theatre: A Little Life
Martin will be presenting a new rehearsed reading at the Tron's Mayfesto season. A Little Life gathers collected material from his Writer in Residence post with The Children's Hospice association, Scotland. Supported by a Tom McGrath Maverick Award.
Tickets and more info can be found here: http://www.tron.co.uk/event/a-little-life/
National Theatre of Scotland: Submarine Time Machine
Martin has begun development for a new NTS Learn project which will see him act as dramaturg for a series of performances staged at National Theatre of Scotland's new base at Rockvilla:
The unlikely final mission of a World War II midget submarine provides the inspiration for the National Theatre of Scotland’s first participatory production since moving into its new base at Rockvilla on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow. From April 2017, local participants from Speirs Locks to Firhill Basin will work alongside National Theatre of Scotland artists to explore the truth and myth around the Submarine’s last journey. They will create a truly immersive theatre experience, with audiences invited to step aboard for a series of performance sailings down the canal.
Performances scheduled for week beginning 19th June.
Janice Parker Projects: An Audience With...
Working with Janice, two professional dancers and a publisher, Martin will be creating a new publication to complement Janice's residency in The Empire Rooms at Edinburgh's Festivals Theatre. Martin has collected conversation-based material around the personal histories of the dancers, and their experience of working on the project. This will accompany the live performances in October.
October:
Glasgow Life supported by National Theatre of Scotland: Togail Naisean / Building a Nation
Martin will be touring his new performance Building a Nation throughout the autumn, which is a development of his work in progress shown at the Glad Cafe in November 2016. The piece explores the marginalised Scottish languages of Scots and Gaelic against a backdrop of rapid industrial expansion in Glasgow, and is a collaboration with sound artist Nic Scrutton.
Dates and venues TBC.
Martin has been working the latest production from National Theatre Scotland Learn - opening Friday 23rd June 7pm. More details can be found here.
New for 2017:
April - June:
Paines Plough: Come to Where I'm From
Martin will be performing new work at Glasgow's Tron Theatre in May alongside three of the city’s finest playwrights, Linda McLean, Gary McNair and Anita Vettesse, as part of Paines Plough's celebrated nationwide project.
Since 2010 writers from across the UK have returned to their home towns to pen plays about the places that shaped them. At theatres from Bristol to Belfast, Cardiff to Coventry and Nottingham to Newcastle, these plays have been performed by the playwrights themselves, coming home to tell their tale. Together they create a theatrical tapestry of the nation – a playwright’s guide to Great Britain.
You can listen to more than 120 playwrights read their plays on the COME TO WHERE I'M FROM app, free to download from the App Store.
Mayfesto at the Tron Theatre: A Little Life
Martin will be presenting a new rehearsed reading at the Tron's Mayfesto season. A Little Life gathers collected material from his Writer in Residence post with The Children's Hospice association, Scotland. Supported by a Tom McGrath Maverick Award.
Tickets and more info can be found here: http://www.tron.co.uk/event/a-little-life/
National Theatre of Scotland: Submarine Time Machine
Martin has begun development for a new NTS Learn project which will see him act as dramaturg for a series of performances staged at National Theatre of Scotland's new base at Rockvilla:
The unlikely final mission of a World War II midget submarine provides the inspiration for the National Theatre of Scotland’s first participatory production since moving into its new base at Rockvilla on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow. From April 2017, local participants from Speirs Locks to Firhill Basin will work alongside National Theatre of Scotland artists to explore the truth and myth around the Submarine’s last journey. They will create a truly immersive theatre experience, with audiences invited to step aboard for a series of performance sailings down the canal.
Performances scheduled for week beginning 19th June.
Janice Parker Projects: An Audience With...
Working with Janice, two professional dancers and a publisher, Martin will be creating a new publication to complement Janice's residency in The Empire Rooms at Edinburgh's Festivals Theatre. Martin has collected conversation-based material around the personal histories of the dancers, and their experience of working on the project. This will accompany the live performances in October.
October:
Glasgow Life supported by National Theatre of Scotland: Togail Naisean / Building a Nation
Martin will be touring his new performance Building a Nation throughout the autumn, which is a development of his work in progress shown at the Glad Cafe in November 2016. The piece explores the marginalised Scottish languages of Scots and Gaelic against a backdrop of rapid industrial expansion in Glasgow, and is a collaboration with sound artist Nic Scrutton.
Dates and venues TBC.
Older News:
Janice Parker Projects: An Audience With...
Martin will continue to work with janice Parker throughout 2017 as part of her residency with Festival Theatre's Empire Rooms, and her work with two professional dancers. Martin will be supporting Janice in the textual output of the project, and working on conversation-based writing from the artists.
Tom McGrath/Saltire Society Maverick Award Winner
Martin is delighted to announce that he is one of the runner up awardees of the Tom McGrath Maverick Award in conjunction with the Saltire Society. Martin will use the fund early next year to reflect on his time and experience with The Children's Hopsice Association Scotland. Over one year, Martin visited two hospices, enagaging families and staff in new writing and converstaion activities. He hopes to use the material gathered create some new performances for 2017 and beyond.
SHEEP, Tron Theatre Young Company at Chrysalis Festival
The company's most recent performance has been invited to be restaged as part of The Chrysalis Festival at Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre in November. Produced by Youth Theatre Arts Scotland, the festival aims to showcase ambitious performance by young theatre-makers, promote critical debate and challenge perceptions of youth theatre.
More details on the festival here and details on the initial run at the Tron Theatre in October here.
Janice Parker Projects: An Audience With...
Martin will continue to work with janice Parker throughout 2017 as part of her residency with Festival Theatre's Empire Rooms, and her work with two professional dancers. Martin will be supporting Janice in the textual output of the project, and working on conversation-based writing from the artists.
Tom McGrath/Saltire Society Maverick Award Winner
Martin is delighted to announce that he is one of the runner up awardees of the Tom McGrath Maverick Award in conjunction with the Saltire Society. Martin will use the fund early next year to reflect on his time and experience with The Children's Hopsice Association Scotland. Over one year, Martin visited two hospices, enagaging families and staff in new writing and converstaion activities. He hopes to use the material gathered create some new performances for 2017 and beyond.
SHEEP, Tron Theatre Young Company at Chrysalis Festival
The company's most recent performance has been invited to be restaged as part of The Chrysalis Festival at Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre in November. Produced by Youth Theatre Arts Scotland, the festival aims to showcase ambitious performance by young theatre-makers, promote critical debate and challenge perceptions of youth theatre.
More details on the festival here and details on the initial run at the Tron Theatre in October here.
Togail Naisean/Building a Nation, The Glad Cafe, 4th and 5th October
Tickets are now on sale for Martin's latest work in progress, which draws on the Scots and Gaelic research carried out earlier this year.
A solo spoken word performance in English, Scots and Gaelic, which explores the industrial expansion of Glasgow alongside attitudes to tradition, cultural identity and marginalised voices. Included will be a soundscape of recorded conversations with people discussing personal relationships to their own voice and ways of speaking, which Martin has collected from around the country.
Coileanadh aon-ghuthach labhairte ann am Beurla, Albais agus Gàidhlig, a tha a’ rannsachadh an leudachaidh air saoghal gnìomhachais Ghlaschu còmhla ri seasamhan a thaobh traidisean, dearbh-aithne chultarach agus guthan air an iomall. An lùib sin bidh cruth-fuaim de chòmhraidhean clàraichte le daoine a’ deasbad air dàimhean pearsanta a rèir an guth fhèin agus an dòighean labhairt, a tha Martin air a chruinneachadh bho mun cuairt na dùthcha.
Presented by Glasgow Life in partnership with the Glad Café.
Air a thaisbeanadh le Glaschu Beò ann an com-pàirteachas Glad Café.
Tickets and more information available here.
Tickets are now on sale for Martin's latest work in progress, which draws on the Scots and Gaelic research carried out earlier this year.
A solo spoken word performance in English, Scots and Gaelic, which explores the industrial expansion of Glasgow alongside attitudes to tradition, cultural identity and marginalised voices. Included will be a soundscape of recorded conversations with people discussing personal relationships to their own voice and ways of speaking, which Martin has collected from around the country.
Coileanadh aon-ghuthach labhairte ann am Beurla, Albais agus Gàidhlig, a tha a’ rannsachadh an leudachaidh air saoghal gnìomhachais Ghlaschu còmhla ri seasamhan a thaobh traidisean, dearbh-aithne chultarach agus guthan air an iomall. An lùib sin bidh cruth-fuaim de chòmhraidhean clàraichte le daoine a’ deasbad air dàimhean pearsanta a rèir an guth fhèin agus an dòighean labhairt, a tha Martin air a chruinneachadh bho mun cuairt na dùthcha.
Presented by Glasgow Life in partnership with the Glad Café.
Air a thaisbeanadh le Glaschu Beò ann an com-pàirteachas Glad Café.
Tickets and more information available here.
SHEEP, Tron Theatre Young Company, 4th-6th February 2016, Tron Theatre
After working together for a year, the current young company will stage their new show SHEEP, written by Martin O'Connor and the company, and directed by Martin with assistant director Deborah McArthur and movement director Janis Claxton.
Details and tickets here.
Culmination of Writer in Residence post, Firefly Arts
Martin will be ending his residency with the West Lothian Youth Theatre by working with a range of participants form Firefly’s regular performance groups to develop ideas for an original piece of writing.
Based on ideas surrounding language and the power of words, 100 Words in Your Ear aims to put our spoken words centre stage and under the microscope. Through recorded conversations and discussions as well as writing and improvisation activities we’ll explore the impact of our words on other people and ask if what we say is always what we mean.
Building a Nation
In March and April 2016, Martin will be carrying out some research in Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, and other areas of linguistic interest to document Scots and Gaelic voices for a work in progress performance later in the year. Martin will be recording conversations centred around 'The Story of Your Voice' - exploring the cultural, traditional and geographical influences that shape our ways of talking. This research phase is supported by the National Theatre of Scotland.
Writer in Residence, Children's Hospice Association
Martin is delighted to have secured funding for a year to carry out a writer in residency post across two hospices, recording conversations with families, staff and young people to document their personal narratives, which will culminate in a sound installation and publication.
The Mark of the Beast Development
Martin is continuing the development and writing of this piece by working with the North East Recovery Community (NERC) in early 2016, culminating in a sound installation at Platform at the end of March. Martin is working with Theology collaborator Nichola Scrutton to collect and record stories of alcohol and addiction from participants which will form the basis of the installation and provide the soundtrack to his spoken word pieces for the final performance later in the year.
After working together for a year, the current young company will stage their new show SHEEP, written by Martin O'Connor and the company, and directed by Martin with assistant director Deborah McArthur and movement director Janis Claxton.
Details and tickets here.
Culmination of Writer in Residence post, Firefly Arts
Martin will be ending his residency with the West Lothian Youth Theatre by working with a range of participants form Firefly’s regular performance groups to develop ideas for an original piece of writing.
Based on ideas surrounding language and the power of words, 100 Words in Your Ear aims to put our spoken words centre stage and under the microscope. Through recorded conversations and discussions as well as writing and improvisation activities we’ll explore the impact of our words on other people and ask if what we say is always what we mean.
Building a Nation
In March and April 2016, Martin will be carrying out some research in Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, and other areas of linguistic interest to document Scots and Gaelic voices for a work in progress performance later in the year. Martin will be recording conversations centred around 'The Story of Your Voice' - exploring the cultural, traditional and geographical influences that shape our ways of talking. This research phase is supported by the National Theatre of Scotland.
Writer in Residence, Children's Hospice Association
Martin is delighted to have secured funding for a year to carry out a writer in residency post across two hospices, recording conversations with families, staff and young people to document their personal narratives, which will culminate in a sound installation and publication.
The Mark of the Beast Development
Martin is continuing the development and writing of this piece by working with the North East Recovery Community (NERC) in early 2016, culminating in a sound installation at Platform at the end of March. Martin is working with Theology collaborator Nichola Scrutton to collect and record stories of alcohol and addiction from participants which will form the basis of the installation and provide the soundtrack to his spoken word pieces for the final performance later in the year.
team_effort.pdfHeadspace at the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival
Martin will be performing a new version of his current spoken word show The Mark of the Beast at the Headspace event at Platform on Sunday October 25th.
Details here.
Turntable in development and throughout the country
Martin will be working with musician MJ McCarthy, producer Alice McGrath and designer Rachel O'Neill to develop a new performance and participatory piece exploring our changing relationship with music throughout our lives. The project has already been staged as workshops, as a pop up interactive piece and will be part of the programme for this year's Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival in October.
For more info have a look at the new Turntable page.
Early Years Opera Development with Music Cooperative
In August Martin will be working with musicians from Scottish Opera's Orchestra, Music Cooperative Scotland. Based at Platform and funded by a Creative Scotland Open Fund, Martin will be exploring new methods in interactive performance with four musicians, composer Oliver Searle, singer Daniela Hathaway and designer Rachel O'Neill. There will be a showing of work at Platform's Play Cafes on the 2nd and 9th September.
Some press info here
Martin will also be directing Scottish Opera's young company Connect during their annual summer school.
Outskirts Festival at Platform, Glasgow
As part of a performance and music festival at Platform, Martin will be staging a work in progress of his latest spoken word project The Mark of the Beast. He will also be hosting Turntable, an ever-evolving participatory music and conversation project created with MJ McCarthy and Rachel O'Neill.
Details here.
Writing Retreat at Invererne
Martin has recently returned from a weeks' residency in Invererne, near Forres. The week was inspired by the Floodplain on which the house sits, and was the home to 11 writers and artists who shared their practice and worked on new ideas. Martin took the theme of the Floodplain to continue his research into the changing landscape of Glasgow from an pre-industrial backwater, to the powerhouse of the Empire, to a post-industrial blank canvas. While there, Martin began work on a new series of spoken word pieces entitled Building a Nation which looks at this ever-changing landscape through the development of language from Scots to modern Glaswegian. More details coming soon.
Tron Theatre, Rosshall Academy and Sense Over Sectarianism February - March 2015
As part of the Football Colours Allowed season at the Tron, Martin has been working with S3 pulls from Rosshall Academy to create new scripts on the theme of sectarianism in Glasgow. The work will be performed in a schools version of the Tron's successful Progressive Playwrights model which sees scenes performed by professional actors, followed by a Q&A.
Tron Theatre Young Company 2015/16
Martin has begun work with the new intake of the Tron Theatre's resident young adult company. They will be making a scratch performance for the Football Colours Allowed season, and will shortly begin devising, writing and rehearsing for their new show in early 2016.
Firefly Writer in Residence 2015
Martin is delighted to be the writer in residence with Firefly Arts. Martin will be delivering dramaturgical advice and script development on their forthcoming productions, and will be working closely with the company on their new youth arts programme A Word in your Ear, which aims to explore the politics of language, narrative and expression through a series of workshops, community projects and performances.
Continuing Professional Development, Rachel House and Scottish Opera, November 2014-January 2015
Martin has recently returned from another residency at Rachel House Children's Hospice where he delivered workshops in creative writing, poetry and performance for the staff and families, along with the team at Scottish Opera who also delivered sessions on set design and choral singing.
Crossing the Lines, The Playwright's Studio Scotland and the Arches, Monday 17th November 2014
Martin will be creating a new contemporary version of Lope de Vega's classic Spanish play Fuente Ovejuna.
Crossing The Lines is a scratch-style event facilitated by The Arches and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland in which artists of all kinds perform their versions of contemporary plays, before moving to the bar for feedback and discussion facilitated by Rob Drummond. Pushing the boundaries of the theatrical experience, whilst firmly focusing on text, this occasional performance evening sees artists of any genre taking a piece of contemporary playwriting and illuminating it within a live setting, before moving to audience feedback and discussion.
https://www.facebook.com/events/555685194566999/
Converse, collaboration with Kate V Robertson, live from 8th November various locations
Martin is currently working on a new sound piece with visual artists Kate V Robertson for her Culture 20for14 commission. His piece, working title Roar, as well as the pieces from other artists, will be installed in various locations throughout the city of Glasgow.
Mark of the Beast
Following on from his development with Team Effort!, Martin is creating a new spoken word performance based on Glasgow's relationship with alcohol and religion, and looks to the Book of Revelations for inspiration. Details coming soon.
Rally and Broad, The Commonwealth Slam, Tron Theatre Glasgow, Tue 29th and Wed 30th July
Martin will be competing in his first ever poetry slam this month.
In association with the Commonwealth Games and the Tron Theatre. Doors open 9.15, tickets £5. Tickets can be purchased from the Tron Box Office on the night, or in advance from HERE
For your delectation & delight, Rally & Broad will be bringing a new form of competition to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow: POETRY. In a unique 2 night event, twelve of Scotland’s finest poets, performers, spoken word artists will be BRINGING IT to the main auditorium at the Tron Theatre. On the first night, twelve poets enter, four poets leave. On the second night, the audience will have the deciding vote on which of the four poets has created the most wonderful, explosive, honest, passionate, heartbreaking, hilarious* sets for the evening. Your presence is required. There has been nothing like this before.
All Back to Bowie's - Spoken Word event at Stand in the Square, Edinburgh Fringe
David Bowie said ‘Scotland, stay with us’. At the Fringe, a group of Scottish artists take him up on his kind invitation. So pull up a futon, it’s all back to Bowie’s for an #indyref mix of politics, poetry, polemic and pop. Different guests every day make for an hour of gentle thought and hard day-dreaming. If you’re obsessed with indy, undecided, federalist curious, or polymorphously politically perverse, David Bowie’s yurt of thought is the place for you. (Created by David Greig, Swimmer One, Cora Bissett, Karine Polwart, Peter Arnott and more). Martin will be appearing on Friday 1st August at 12.20pm with special guests Janice Galloway and Hanna McGill.
Tickets here
David Leddy, Horizontal Collaboration, Sunday 3rd August, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe
Performed daily by new actors, always reading blind. Intense drama where sex, power and politics meet emotion, seduction and destruction. From multi award-winning writer/director David Leddy, ‘leading theatrical innovator’ (Times), ‘Fringe institution’ (Independent), 'genius' (Scotsman). Four lamps, four laptops. Four UN lawyers present explosive transcripts from Judith K, an African warlord’s wife. After her husband’s assassination, Judith becomes leader. She takes her people on a treacherous path towards peace… or does she? Lawyers turn down lamps one by one, then laptops, until we’re left in darkness.
Tickets here
Grinagog Theatre: The Pokey Hat - on tour now.
The Pokey Hat is a new touring performance for the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay. Performing in various local authorities throughout the country, the show tours in a custom made ice cream, telling real stories of the people form Glasgow's East End. Details here.
Anamchara - Songs of Friendship - Theatre Royal 25th, 26th, 27th July.
Martin has acted as dramaturg on a new Opera commission for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He will co-direct the show at the Theatre Royal in July 2014.
Scottish Opera’s new family opera is based on themes of friendship and the ties that bind people together, whatever their age and wherever they make their home. Anamchara – Songs of Friendship is written by acclaimed Scottish novelist Alexander McCall Smith and composer Pippa Murphy.
The multi-cultural cast of over 100 performers includes young professional singers and musicians from Scotland, India, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, Scottish Opera’s Connect Chorus and Orchestra, and a community choir made up of children, adults and students from Commonwealth countries, living and working in Glasgow. Details here.
Team Effort!
Martin is now part of a group of theatre makers, visual artists and musicians based at the Southside Studios in Glasgow. We are currently developing our work as individuals and as a group. We have created IF events - informal evenings of entertainment, risk-taking and creativity at our secret garden in the middle of Govanhill, and have collaborated with venues such as Stereo/The Old Hairdressers, Tramway (Rip It Up), The Citizens (Boombox) and the Glad Cafe.
During his time with Team Effort, Martin will be developing a new spoken word performance based on Glasgow's relationship with alcohol,looking at moral virtue, temperance and punishment.
Team Effort Website and Artist's Blogs
Recent work includes Rip it Up at Tramway (Herald article here and review here
) and residencies at Stereo, The Old Hairdressers and Glad Cafe
Martin will be performing a new version of his current spoken word show The Mark of the Beast at the Headspace event at Platform on Sunday October 25th.
Details here.
Turntable in development and throughout the country
Martin will be working with musician MJ McCarthy, producer Alice McGrath and designer Rachel O'Neill to develop a new performance and participatory piece exploring our changing relationship with music throughout our lives. The project has already been staged as workshops, as a pop up interactive piece and will be part of the programme for this year's Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival in October.
For more info have a look at the new Turntable page.
Early Years Opera Development with Music Cooperative
In August Martin will be working with musicians from Scottish Opera's Orchestra, Music Cooperative Scotland. Based at Platform and funded by a Creative Scotland Open Fund, Martin will be exploring new methods in interactive performance with four musicians, composer Oliver Searle, singer Daniela Hathaway and designer Rachel O'Neill. There will be a showing of work at Platform's Play Cafes on the 2nd and 9th September.
Some press info here
Martin will also be directing Scottish Opera's young company Connect during their annual summer school.
Outskirts Festival at Platform, Glasgow
As part of a performance and music festival at Platform, Martin will be staging a work in progress of his latest spoken word project The Mark of the Beast. He will also be hosting Turntable, an ever-evolving participatory music and conversation project created with MJ McCarthy and Rachel O'Neill.
Details here.
Writing Retreat at Invererne
Martin has recently returned from a weeks' residency in Invererne, near Forres. The week was inspired by the Floodplain on which the house sits, and was the home to 11 writers and artists who shared their practice and worked on new ideas. Martin took the theme of the Floodplain to continue his research into the changing landscape of Glasgow from an pre-industrial backwater, to the powerhouse of the Empire, to a post-industrial blank canvas. While there, Martin began work on a new series of spoken word pieces entitled Building a Nation which looks at this ever-changing landscape through the development of language from Scots to modern Glaswegian. More details coming soon.
Tron Theatre, Rosshall Academy and Sense Over Sectarianism February - March 2015
As part of the Football Colours Allowed season at the Tron, Martin has been working with S3 pulls from Rosshall Academy to create new scripts on the theme of sectarianism in Glasgow. The work will be performed in a schools version of the Tron's successful Progressive Playwrights model which sees scenes performed by professional actors, followed by a Q&A.
Tron Theatre Young Company 2015/16
Martin has begun work with the new intake of the Tron Theatre's resident young adult company. They will be making a scratch performance for the Football Colours Allowed season, and will shortly begin devising, writing and rehearsing for their new show in early 2016.
Firefly Writer in Residence 2015
Martin is delighted to be the writer in residence with Firefly Arts. Martin will be delivering dramaturgical advice and script development on their forthcoming productions, and will be working closely with the company on their new youth arts programme A Word in your Ear, which aims to explore the politics of language, narrative and expression through a series of workshops, community projects and performances.
Continuing Professional Development, Rachel House and Scottish Opera, November 2014-January 2015
Martin has recently returned from another residency at Rachel House Children's Hospice where he delivered workshops in creative writing, poetry and performance for the staff and families, along with the team at Scottish Opera who also delivered sessions on set design and choral singing.
Crossing the Lines, The Playwright's Studio Scotland and the Arches, Monday 17th November 2014
Martin will be creating a new contemporary version of Lope de Vega's classic Spanish play Fuente Ovejuna.
Crossing The Lines is a scratch-style event facilitated by The Arches and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland in which artists of all kinds perform their versions of contemporary plays, before moving to the bar for feedback and discussion facilitated by Rob Drummond. Pushing the boundaries of the theatrical experience, whilst firmly focusing on text, this occasional performance evening sees artists of any genre taking a piece of contemporary playwriting and illuminating it within a live setting, before moving to audience feedback and discussion.
https://www.facebook.com/events/555685194566999/
Converse, collaboration with Kate V Robertson, live from 8th November various locations
Martin is currently working on a new sound piece with visual artists Kate V Robertson for her Culture 20for14 commission. His piece, working title Roar, as well as the pieces from other artists, will be installed in various locations throughout the city of Glasgow.
Mark of the Beast
Following on from his development with Team Effort!, Martin is creating a new spoken word performance based on Glasgow's relationship with alcohol and religion, and looks to the Book of Revelations for inspiration. Details coming soon.
Rally and Broad, The Commonwealth Slam, Tron Theatre Glasgow, Tue 29th and Wed 30th July
Martin will be competing in his first ever poetry slam this month.
In association with the Commonwealth Games and the Tron Theatre. Doors open 9.15, tickets £5. Tickets can be purchased from the Tron Box Office on the night, or in advance from HERE
For your delectation & delight, Rally & Broad will be bringing a new form of competition to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow: POETRY. In a unique 2 night event, twelve of Scotland’s finest poets, performers, spoken word artists will be BRINGING IT to the main auditorium at the Tron Theatre. On the first night, twelve poets enter, four poets leave. On the second night, the audience will have the deciding vote on which of the four poets has created the most wonderful, explosive, honest, passionate, heartbreaking, hilarious* sets for the evening. Your presence is required. There has been nothing like this before.
All Back to Bowie's - Spoken Word event at Stand in the Square, Edinburgh Fringe
David Bowie said ‘Scotland, stay with us’. At the Fringe, a group of Scottish artists take him up on his kind invitation. So pull up a futon, it’s all back to Bowie’s for an #indyref mix of politics, poetry, polemic and pop. Different guests every day make for an hour of gentle thought and hard day-dreaming. If you’re obsessed with indy, undecided, federalist curious, or polymorphously politically perverse, David Bowie’s yurt of thought is the place for you. (Created by David Greig, Swimmer One, Cora Bissett, Karine Polwart, Peter Arnott and more). Martin will be appearing on Friday 1st August at 12.20pm with special guests Janice Galloway and Hanna McGill.
Tickets here
David Leddy, Horizontal Collaboration, Sunday 3rd August, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe
Performed daily by new actors, always reading blind. Intense drama where sex, power and politics meet emotion, seduction and destruction. From multi award-winning writer/director David Leddy, ‘leading theatrical innovator’ (Times), ‘Fringe institution’ (Independent), 'genius' (Scotsman). Four lamps, four laptops. Four UN lawyers present explosive transcripts from Judith K, an African warlord’s wife. After her husband’s assassination, Judith becomes leader. She takes her people on a treacherous path towards peace… or does she? Lawyers turn down lamps one by one, then laptops, until we’re left in darkness.
Tickets here
Grinagog Theatre: The Pokey Hat - on tour now.
The Pokey Hat is a new touring performance for the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay. Performing in various local authorities throughout the country, the show tours in a custom made ice cream, telling real stories of the people form Glasgow's East End. Details here.
Anamchara - Songs of Friendship - Theatre Royal 25th, 26th, 27th July.
Martin has acted as dramaturg on a new Opera commission for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He will co-direct the show at the Theatre Royal in July 2014.
Scottish Opera’s new family opera is based on themes of friendship and the ties that bind people together, whatever their age and wherever they make their home. Anamchara – Songs of Friendship is written by acclaimed Scottish novelist Alexander McCall Smith and composer Pippa Murphy.
The multi-cultural cast of over 100 performers includes young professional singers and musicians from Scotland, India, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, Scottish Opera’s Connect Chorus and Orchestra, and a community choir made up of children, adults and students from Commonwealth countries, living and working in Glasgow. Details here.
Team Effort!
Martin is now part of a group of theatre makers, visual artists and musicians based at the Southside Studios in Glasgow. We are currently developing our work as individuals and as a group. We have created IF events - informal evenings of entertainment, risk-taking and creativity at our secret garden in the middle of Govanhill, and have collaborated with venues such as Stereo/The Old Hairdressers, Tramway (Rip It Up), The Citizens (Boombox) and the Glad Cafe.
During his time with Team Effort, Martin will be developing a new spoken word performance based on Glasgow's relationship with alcohol,looking at moral virtue, temperance and punishment.
Team Effort Website and Artist's Blogs
Recent work includes Rip it Up at Tramway (Herald article here and review here
) and residencies at Stereo, The Old Hairdressers and Glad Cafe