ABOUT

Valise Noire Storytelling Theatre

Founded in 2011, Michele O'Brien and Hazel Evans present Valise Noire, bringing performance and visual art together creating new fairytales, shows and workshops.

Valise Noire is a storytelling theatre company who create, tell and interpret stories though oral and visual forms. It is a newly formed 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.

Michele and Hazel have previously collaborated to produce 'The Girl and the Shoes’ and 'Killer Heels', modern fairy tales that have enthralled audiences young and old.


Michele and Hazel's co-creation with Valise Noire sits along side their ongoing individual professional practices as artists and performers.

Michele combines experience in theatre, dance, storytelling, pre-school, choreography and directing. She brings history to life through characters that educate and challenge audiences. Michele has produced commissioned theatre pieces including the Arts Council funded ‘Spice Box’ . She is an Associate Artist for Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival performing ‘Journey to the Hell of a Woman’.

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 Residence Artist at Lighthouse Poole 2011 - 2015, commissioned artist for InsideOut 2014 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.

Michele O'Brien | Award Winning Storyteller | www.micheleobrien.co.uk
Hazel Evans | Resident Artist Lighthouse Poole | www.hazelevans.co.uk