headshots by andy catlin
photo by Alan Finlayson
Hello, I'm Maria (Mar-eye-yah), I'm an actor, a writer and a storyteller.
I have played in small scale touring and large theatres (eg Bristol Old Vic and Watford Palace), and have enjoyed many creative adventures along the way: having a large family, writing screenplays, researching and writing television documentaries, writing for newspapers, television presenting, running an arts charity, curating a museum, exploring the arts with adults with learning difficulties, creating site specific theatre experiences and storytelling. I studied Medieval history at university and love all things historical.
Miss Lindsay’s Secret
Unfortunately, due to the covid-19 outbreak, the planned Edinburgh Fringe 2020 performances at The Scottish Storytelling Centre can no longer go ahead.
Updates on future performances will be published here.
actor & writer
Miss Lindsay’s Secret
written and performed by myself with musician Georgina MacDonell Finlayson and actor Alan Finlayson.
Concealed for over a century the intimate tale of a Scottish seamstress is revealed in a lively and moving theatre piece which binds the heady Klondike gold rush to the gentle hills of Glenesk.
“absolutely stupendous”
“exceptional”
“incredibly well written”
“beautifully paced”
“a superb piece of theatre”
“this is what theatre is about”
Miss Lindsay's Love In Lockdown
This Summer I made a film Miss Lindsay's Love in Lockdown (16 mins). Shot entirely in Glenesk and The Glenesk Folk Museum, it enhances the themes of the play and helps to keep it alive.
You can see it here: Miss Lindsay's Love In Lockdown
The Not So Ugly Duckling
Currently in development with playwright and performer Jo Clifford, a theatrical poem about life in all its chaotic joyous glory.
Extract from
The Not So Ugly Duckling
Extracts from The Motorist
Showreel
storyteller
Dagba’s Forest Tales
A children’s show created and performed with Harriet Grindley, using live music, song and stunning images revealed within a Japanese Kamishibai storytelling box, brought to children and families in all kinds of settings on the back of a yellow bicycle.
For our kamishibai adventures see… talesoutofthebox.home.blog
We Three Stories
Adult storytelling with Bob Mitchell and Harriet Grindley.
wethreestories.wordpress.com
contact & cv
acting agent & showreel
Stiven Christie Management
+44 (0) 131 228 4040
stivenchristie.co.uk
storytelling
tracscotland.org/storytellers/maria-macdonnell
scottish book trust author
scottishbooktrust.com/authors/maria-macdonell
