Conor O’Kane
Conor is a neurodivergent LGBTQ+ actor, director, multidisciplinary artist and vocal coach, originally from County Derry in Northern Ireland. He trained for three years at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and is part of the National Youth Film School.
As an actor, he has worked extensively in theatre, musical theatre, T.V. and film locally and internationally. He was Off West End Award-nominated (Best Male in a Musical, 2017) for Miss Nightingale (The Vaults, London); played Fr Tom O’Gara and John Hume respectively in The White Handkerchief and Hume: Beyond Belief - the first two critically acclaimed instalments of the Derry Playhouse’s Peacebuilding Trilogy; starred alongside Siobhan McSweeney in The Freedom of the City (Arts Over Borders' FrielFest); originated the titular role of Chezzie in Oscar-nominee Dave Duggan’s Chezzie’s Chance; and featured in the first national tour and original cast recording of In The Midst of Plenty.
Film and T.V. credits include: The Talk (Winner of ‘Best In Show’ - Boston Wicked Queer Film Festival & Winner of ‘Audience Award’ - Clones International Film Festival) Death of The Primate (Winner of ‘Best Short’ - Nottingham International Film Festival); Trespasses (currently in production for Channel 4 / Wildgaze Films)
He is a co-artistic director and co-founder of GOLEM!, a queer, neurodivergent and female led company specialising in repurposing and reimagining original texts. GOLEM!’s genesis began when Conor was programmed by Alexandra Spencer-Jones to create a production for Action To The Word’s site specific Shakespeare Festival, Catford-Upon-Avon in the Broadway Theatre Catford. He sourced the creative team to produce Macbeths, which transferred successfully to The Hope Theatre. GOLEM! has since produced several highly acclaimed plays including I Know You Of Old, (which played at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Dell in Stratford Upon Avon), Tomorrow Creeps (an immersive horror piece developed for London’s Vault Festival), and Is He Earnest? (A time-bending verbatim-based disco-infused story about Oscar Wilde. After initial workshops at the Clapham Omnibus Theatre, this latter piece was developed further at Coventry University, with Conor serving as movement director.)
In 2023 he succeeded Kieran Griffiths as co-director of The Playhouse Music Theatre Company - an incredibly successful initiative commissioned by The Playhouse in Derry to offer free local performance training and an introduction to the professional industry. This work involved the development of a year long programme of training oriented projects and productions through 2023 to 2024.
Other credits as a director/creative include: Frankenstein/Goblin Market/Romeo & Mohammed (Sinew Productions) Anything Is Possible If You Think About It Hard Enough (Waterloo East Theatre); Little Shop of Horrors (The Playhouse); HOLE (Old Red Lion); The Human Voice (The White Bear); KIN (Lion & Unicorn)
Other developmental work includes: A Kept Man (a brand new queer musical by writer and director Matthew Bugg currently in development) and Faust and Maggy (workshopped at the RADA Studios in 2021 with acclaimed international opera director Jonathan Moore.); Refuge (a co-production with Theatre Royal Bury St. Edmunds and Dance East, written by Danusia Iwaszko and women from BSE’s Women’s Refuge as a community outreach and artistic therapy project to help process the trauma of abuse).
Session: Becoming an Actor Musician
A course for students who love Musical Theatre, have a passion for all things singing, acting and movement and play a musical instrument. Working with an industry Musical Director and an industry Director/Movement Director, students will be put through their paces learning about the ever exciting and increasingly popular world of Actor Musician shows.
During the week students will:
- have the chance to create and be a part of a fresh and unique musical theatre experience.
- explore material from the incredible Tony Award winning Once the musical as well as the brilliant horror comedy rock musical Little Shop of Horrors, in addition to other musical material.
- delve deep into the world of the musical score.
- feel the excitement of ensemble whilst recreating the score from the different instruments in the room.
- bring the score to life on this quadruple threat course, incorporating acting, singing, movement and playing an instrument.
- build performance skills and confidence in this wide range of performance disciplines working with likeminded and committed peers in a collaborative and inspiring process.
Please Note: For their own comfort during the week, students will need to be either a confident music reader OR be confident at learning and playing by ear for this course and be fairly proficient on your chosen instrument/instruments. ANY instrument(s) are welcome. The tutors have vast knowledge and experience in music and theatre and come with a nurturing, organic and high energy discipline that will ensure a positive and liberating opportunity to explore a world where performance and musicianship collide.