Valise Noire Storytelling Theatre


Founded in 2011, Michele O'Brien, Hazel Evans and Alice Flynn present Valise Noire 

Bringing performance and visual art together turning stories into shows, exhibitions and workshops

Valise Noire is a storytelling theatre company who create, tell and interpret stories though oral and visual forms. It is an organisation born from a collaboration to explore the ways in which stories are collected and communicated, exploring cultural and heritage topics. Working with communities, the public and schools, outcomes of projects are workshops, exhibitions and performances, often in outdoor site specific locations.

Michele and Hazel have previously collaborated to produce ' CARGO' an interactive street performace procession for the European Maritime Festival, 'The Girl and the Shoes’ and 'Killer Heels', modern fairy tales and Poppy Fields a poignant World War One Heritage site specific piece; projects that have enthralled audiences young and old.

In 2019 Valise Noire expanded to welcome scipt writer and director Alice Flynn and are excited about this new collaboration and look forward to creating new pieces of theatre shortly.

The co-creation of Valise Noire Storytelling Theatre sits along side 

the individual professional practices as artists and performers of Michele, Hazel and Alice.

Michele combines experience in theatre, dance, storytelling, pre-school, choreography and directing to weave a rich tapestry of skills that can be used to meet the bespoke needs of the theatre industry, education requirements and community groups.. She brings history to life through characters that educate and challenge audiences. Michele produces commissioned theatre pieces including the Arts Council funded ‘Spice Box’ and 'Mothers and Daughters'. She is Associate Artist for Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival performing ‘Journey to the Hell of a Woman’, 'The Shoe Shop' with Valise Noire and her latest show 'Mothers and Daughters'.

Hazel's multidisciplinary practice involves illustration, performance, sound, writing and installation which she uses to create exhibitions with award winning installations, site specific work and performances which explore the interior and exterior landscapes of the body and soul. Hazel has been Associate Artist at Lighthouse Poole for five years, commissioned artist for InsideOut festival of performaing arts and her experience includes working as a performance artist for Lieux Publics France at Marseille City of Culture, Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival, as well as artistic director, university lecturer and workshop leader.

Alice  joined Valise Noire as a co-director in 2019. She is a writer, theatre-maker and performer with over fourteenyears’ experience working within the arts and arts for wellbeingindustries. Alice’swork ranges from bespoke commissions, historical interpretations,site-specific pieces and storytelling to large scale festivalperformances and outdoor performance. She is an experiencedfacilitator and is co-founder of Dorset-based Portal: New WritingCollective, an initiative created to foster writing talent in theregion and is part of Lighthouse Poole’s New Voices ArtsDevelopment Programme. Alice’s work has featured in BEAF festival,Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival and Colourfest.

Michele O'Brien  |  www.micheleobrien.co.uk

Hazel Evans  |  www.hazelevans.co.uk

Alice Flynn |  www.alice-flynn.com


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