Bairbre Ní Chaoimh
Bairbre has worked extensively as a freelance actor on stage, screen, radio and television, performing in Ireland, England, Scotland, America, Japan and Australia. She is also a theatre director and has received several awards and nominations for her work, including a MAMA award and the Irish Times Judges’ Special Award in 2008.
She was an Associate Artist at The Abbey Theatre for three years and Artistic Director of Calypso Productions.
Bairbre's most recent acting credits include the role of Maura Laverty in MAURA LAVERTY - THIS WAS YOUR LIFE directed by Joan Sheehy, Aunt Bee in MY AUNT BEE directed by Lara Campbell, Anta in An Taibhdhearc's production of THE HEN NIGHT EPIPHANY directed by Lara Campbell, Barry McStay's OUR ISLAND directed by Maisie Lee for Mirari Productions, the short film BODIES directed by B. Welby Delimere, Mrs Savage in the TV series SCÚP directed by Declan Recks and THIRTEEN for ANU Productions, which won the Irish Times Judges’ Special Award for 2013.
Having made her debut at The Abbey Theatre in GALILEO, she performed in many plays there including; THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, THE KING OF FRIDAY'S MEN, THE SANTUARY LAMP, ULYSSES IN NIGHT-TOWN, THE SHAUGHRAUN, DRAMA AT INISH, THE FAR OFF HILLS, CANDIDE, DEORAÍOCHT, SCÉAL SCÉALAÍ AND CÚIRT AN MHEANOÍCHE.
Appearances at The Gate Theatre include; PRIVATE LIVES, A MIDSUMMERS' NIGHTS DREAM, THE RIVALS and SALOMÉ. She also performed in COME AND GO as part of the Gate’s Beckett Festival, which toured to London, New York and Melbourne.
She played in Druid Theatre Company’s production of THE SHAUGHRAUN, and their acclaimed version of THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD (which toured internationally) and received Best Actor nominations for both performances. She acted in THE WHISPERERS and I CAN'T GET STARTED for Rough Magic, and in WUTHERING HEIGHTS, LEGENDS and WOMEN IN ARMS for Storytellers.
Favourite roles for other companies include Pauline in LAUNDRY (Irish Times Best Production award for ANU in 2012), Laura in THE GLASS MENAGERIE, Honey in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, The Sweet Girl in LA RONDE and Praskovya in A PLACE WITH THE PIGS for Focus Theatre.
Film and tv credits include; WASHED UP LOVE, ANGELA'S ASHES, VAL FALVEY T.D., ARISTOCRATS, CORP AGUS ANAM, PADDYWHACKERY, FALLING FOR A DANCER, FAIR CITY, THE REAL CHARLOTTE, GLENROE, HAMLET AND HER SISTERS, THE IRISH RM, LES PONEYS SAUVAGES, FRANKY STARLIGHT and AIFRIC.
Favourite productions she directed include; ACT WITHOUT WORD II, PLAY and COME AND GO for The Gate (part of their international award winning Beckett Festival), MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS, THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA for Calypso, and the multi award winning Catalpa by Donal O’ Kelly.
Bairbre has recently directed RETREAT by Geoff Power at the New Theatre, and STAGS AND HENS by Willie Russel also at the New Theatre. She has co-written a full-length play called STOLEN CHILD with Yvonne Quinn, and adapted Oscar Wilde’s THE BIRTHDAY OF THE INFANTA for the stage. She co-created an immersive multimedia piece called HAND ME DOWN THE MOON with visual artist Aideen Barry.
She is also a qualified speech and drama teacher (London College of Music) and drama facilitator.
Bairbre is based in Dublin.