Creative Background

Anna O’Brien graduted from The University of Birmingham with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Theatre Arts in 2003. She has six years of vocal training and performed with the National Youth Music Theatre from 1992-2000. Anna has 10 years voluntary experience in Youth Work and Children’s Work in the UK and abroad. She has a City & Guilds ‘Certificate in Delivering Learning’ and taught for a year with the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy. She was Artistic Coordinator for Bridge House, a hostel for recovering addicts, where she worked from 2003-2007 and where Annamation still run a project called Creative Space. In 2001 she and Anna Conomos began working at the Barber Institute telling the stories behind the masterpieces. When Susanna joined in the fun, Annamation was born.

Annamation’s Artistic Endeavors

 Storytelling in Museums & Art Galleries

       Resident Storytellers at Award Winning Gallery, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts; Schools Workshops, Family days, Open Days and Special Events since 2001

      Commissioned Storytelling Theatre piece for the St Phillip’s Cathedral Centenary Celebration based on renowned Burne-Jones and William Morris stained glass windows ‘Stories in Glass’ (June 05)

      Themed Storytelling Performances at Thinktank Science Museum (Feb & Oct 06,07,08,09,10), Soho House Museum (July08)and Birmingham Wildlife Trust Eco Park (Aug 07)

      Commissioned story performance and workshops with 6th formers as part of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery’s Visual Dialogues project in association with Tate London. (Nov 2006 and Jan 2007)

      Performance and Story making workshops Touring Exhibitions at Herbert Gallery, Coventry (June 07, August 10)

      Ongoing commissions of themed Storytelling (Egyptian,Viking, Roman) at Derby Museum (07 to present)

      2 commissions based on exhibitions at The Harley Gallery: ‘The Duchess of Curiosities’ and ‘William Cavendish; Passions and Defeats’ (Nov 07, May 08)

      MLA Olympic grant awarded to research, devise and deliver a Storytelling Event at the Weoley Castle Museum, Birmingham (September 08)

      2 commissions for Rugby Art Gallery to bring Craftwork to Life for Infant School Visits (Nov 08) and three famous Modern paintings to life for secondary schools and visitors (March 09)

      Storytelling based on childrens’ work at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists ( May 09)

 Storytelling in Schools and Libraries

       Design and Delivery of The Barber Institute of Fine Arts’ ArtReach! Programme touring Four Storytelling Theatre Shows into over 70 primary and secondary schools (Oct 05 to present)

      Tour of ‘A Tale of Two Victorians’ Storytelling Theatre Show to Primary and Special Needs Schools. (Oct 04, May 07)

      Storytelling for Warwickshire Library Service (ongoing) including a commissioned storytelling piece for Warwickshire Library Service event at Compton Verney Art Gallery (September 06)

      Tailor-made Storytelling Performances and Workshops for over a hundred Primary and Secondary Schools across England including Special Needs (Oct 05-present)

      Stories for under fives and young people for Birmingham Library Service including the Young Reader’s Festival (May 05 to present))

      Storytelling for Toddlers and Under Fives for Sure Start (Nov 06 – present)

      Tour of ‘Tongue & Groove’ Performance and Accompanying ‘Power of Words’ Workshop in Secondary Schools (March 08 to present)

      Ongoing Performances and Workshops for St Benedicts Infant School supported by Creative Partnerships

      Resident Artists at Rookery School Birmingham (April 09 – April 10)

      Tudor Tales for York Library’s Tudor Summer (Summer 09)

 Training and Workshops

       Project with Creative Partnerships and Book Communications working with a special needs school in Stechford (April 2005)

      Training young people for the Traditional Arts Team’s Young Storyteller of the Year Competition 07, 08 and 09 at Holy Trinity School, Birmingham, Thomas Adams School, Wem (with Mythstories Museum), William Brookes School, Much Wenlock; Belper School, Derbyshire, Selly Park Technology College and with students of The University of Birmingham (Jan-March, 07, 08, 09)

      Storytelling Workshops to celebrate Bicentenery of the Abolition of Slavery with 14 yr olds from Abraham Moss High School, Manchester (Dec 2006)

      Workshops for Professional Storytellers on ‘Group Telling’ for Society for Storytelling (March 2006)

      Training Workshops for Educational Staff in Art Galleries and Museums for Warwickshire County Council and

British InteractiveGroup (Nov 08, Feb 09)

      Storytelling and Presentation Skills Training for Children’s Workers and Youth Workers (Dec 08, Feb 09, May 09, June 09)

      Faciliatation of Intergenerational Storytelling Projects between Primary School Pupils and Age Concern Members in Weoley Castle (March 09)

      Workshops in partnership with The REP, Birmingham, for the tour of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’(Dec 08)

      Teacher Training at St Benedicts Infant School ‘How to use Drama, Movement and Song in the Classroom’(June 09)

      Design and Delivery of Creative Workshops and Presentation Event at Bridge House Project, working with Recovering Addicts (Summer 2007 to present)

 Storytelling at Festivals and Storytelling Events

       Performances in tents, woodlands and ancient buildings, on hilltops, around campfires, and in children’s hospitals for Beyond the Border Storytelling Festival (July 05), Society for Storytelling’s ‘Gathering’ (March 06),Leicester Storytelling Guild (Feb 06) Cheltenham Literature Festival (Oct 06, 08), Swindon Literature Festival (May 06, 07, 08), Isle of Wight Storytelling Festival (Nov 06, May 08), Lakeland Storytelling Festival (Sept 07), Festival at the Edge (July 08), Whitby Folk Week (August o8) and Live and Local rural touring (07-present)

      Tour to adult audiences in the Storytelling Café Network around the East & West Midlands (Oct 06)

      Christmas Storytelling with Asylum Seekers at the Midlands Arts Centre (Dec 06)

      Storytelling Events for Gardener’s World Fayre (July 06), Ugly Bug World (Nov 07), Kids West Midlands (May 08), Christian Aid Fundraising Event (June 08), Rugby Borough Summer Events (Aug 08)

      Tour of ‘Tongue & Groove’ to 20 venues in the UK, including ‘Festival at the Edge’ Birmingham Book Festival, Arts Alive Touring, Live and Local Touring, Nottinghamshire Village Ventures, Mythstories Museum and de Verhalenboot, Zwolle, Holland (March 08- March 09)