Maria MacDonell

Maria (Mar- eye- yah) tells all kinds of tales in all kinds of places from classroom to castle, theatre to library. Her stories may be old or brand new. They may come from very near or from way back in human imagination. She looks for the absurd, the sad, the mythical and magic. She seeks out stillness as much as movement, and finds meaning in silence as well as speech. She can fill a large space or a small corner, always recognising ways to travel together with audience and participants to new places and feelings. Sometimes she uses simple props and music (flute).

Maria has experience in historical research, performance, journalism, screen writing, play writing, arts organising, museum curation and education. She is strongly committed to encouraging creativity in everyone. Through her charity Angus Arts she has run festivals and events, offering a wide range of arts experiences indoors and out. Since 2008 she has explored Creative Arts and Drama with adults and young people with learning disabilities at Dundee and Angus College. Maria is an enthusiastic and experienced workshop leader and facilitator, helping people of all ages and abilities to find and share the limitless stories we have in each of us.

(Photo credit: Roddy Simpson)