Órla Mc Govern is a performer, maker, teller and writer based in the West of Ireland. She is Artistic Director of Moth and Butterfly (a storytelling and performance collective). As a performer she has worked extensively in scripted and improvised theatre around the world, as well as working in film, tv and radio. Some recent screen appearances include Mrs Brady in ‘Lily’, Mrs Block in ‘Butterfly Love Song’ and Patricia Kelly in Len Collin’s multi-award winning ‘Sanctuary’. As an actor she trained and worked extensively in the US for many years and was a member of performance groups: Seattle goga, Seattle Neutrino Project, and Spolin Players Seattle, Edge Bainbridge, and appeared with Jet City Improv, Unexpected Productions, and many others in the US. In Irish Theatre she has worked at the likes of The Abbey Theatre, Red Kettle, Punchbag, Glasshouse and numerous others. In the US, with CHAC, NW Actors’ Studio, Baba Yaga, and Freehold Studio. She also works regularly as a voice talent. Órla is a global storyteller and tells at numerous venues including the Cape Clear Festival, World Storytelling Cafe Morocco, Yarnspinners Dublin, The Irish Festival of Oulu, Finland and Mermaid Arts, Bray.
She also provides creative workshops in Storytelling and Improvisation, facilitating numerous workshops for Corporate, Artistic, and Individual clients around the world. Órla’s plays have been produced around the world, and she particularly enjoys working with site specific and short duration theatre; having had work made on boats, in breweries and on top of giant sculptures. Recent work was staged at The Abbey Theatre, Dublin, Brigit’s Garden Galway, and in the Mick Lally Theatre Galway, as part of Cúirt with Fregoli Theatre Company. Órla is a member of the Ohana Project, and the ‘assistant’ to Mrs Nellie Murphy (Elderly Stateswoman) who has her own career entirely! She has written two books of folk tales: Wild Waves & Wishing Wells and Dublin Folk Tales For Children.
She is a trustee of Theatre 57 and a happy member of Interface.
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