Actor, Action Designer, Voice Over Artist
"Telling stories. That's what I love. Finding the heart and the important piece that needs to be shared, whether to bring joy or healing or adventure... yes, that's what I love"
Recent work - check out What's New with me
Fight and Movement director for the opening production of Romeo and Juliet at Cumbernauld’s Lanterhouse Theatre.
Directed by Kate Nelson
Costume Design by Ali Maclaurin
Lighting Design by George Tarbuck
Sound Design by Pippa Murphy
Video Design by Tim Reid
Romeo (Angus Taylor) and Paris (Rhys Anderson). Image by Robin Mitchell.
Ipdip Theatre hit the big time with RenTV!
“Nature on your Doorstep” is a sensory and interactive workshop supported by Creative Scotland and Renfrewshire Leisure.
Storyteller and Puppeteer for “Deer Mother” development, an alternative holiday production celebrating Reindeer Folklore, held at the Scottish Storytelling centre and supported by the Puppet Animation Festival.
A brilliant week of devising, development, writing and puppetry with Bex Anson and Dav Bernard of Mhz
Staff member for the Social Distance Showdown 2.0, teaching movement and stage combat online around the world.
Newly elected Artistic Director of the International Order of the Sword and Pen and Program Director of the Paddy Crean International Workshop.
Read more here: www.theiosp.org www.paddycrean.com
“EmmaClaire Brightlyn serves up some cracking action sequences.” - Claire Wood, The Wee Review 2018 for Gagarin Way
“Suffice to say that the production’s fight director, EmmaClaire Brightlyn, has earned her paycheck.” - Matt Wolf, The New York Times 2018 for Ulster American
Photo credit: Dahlia Katz, also pictured Marty Stelnick
Thrilled to be nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in The Ugly Duckthing.
Writer and Designer Marty Stelnick was also nominated for Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Achievement in Design (Puppetry)
Voice Over for Lexus UX - national commercial 2019
Voice Over for Royale - national commercial 2018
Have a listen to my Commercial Voice Reel.
My work in the news: Ulster American
New York Times Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award Scotsman Fringe First Award
The official trailer for Anna and the Apocalypse. I worked as Fight Arranger on this exciting zombie musical!
Recently nominated for Scottish BAFTA Award for Best Actress Ella Hunt and Best Scottish Feature Film!
Wide release by MGM Orion on November 30, 2018.
Premiered at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas Sept 21 - 28,2017 and at the Sitges Festival in Barcelona, Oct 5 - 15, 2017
Oresteia: This Restless House
*** Remounted for the Edinburgh International Festival ***
Aug 22 - 27, 2017
The award winning trilogy by Zinnie Harris, adapted from Aeschylus' The Oresteia. Produced by The Citizen's Theatre and The National Theatre of Scotland, I worked as Fight Director on this production.
I played the roles of Apemantus and the Senator in Timon of Athens, adapted and directed by Jennifer Dick.
* * * * - "the suspicious philosopher Apemantus is played by fine Canadian actor EmmaClaire Brightlyn, a gender shift which (like Brightlyn's playing of an Athenian senator) is simultaneously modern and timeless... memorable playing by Cooper and Brightlyn." The Sunday Herald - Mark Brown
* * * * - "[Timon's] interplay with Brightlyn as Apemantus is key here. While opposites attracted when Timon was a good time girl, her acquired misanthropy make the pair uncomfortable equals." The Herald - Neil Cooper
Becoming
“You think you know who I am, what I might become... ”
With the sunrise comes her final day, her final fight.
She chooses, and she may just prove you wrong.
Becoming is a mesmerizing one-act play about a Gladiatrix, written by Kathy McKean and produced by Shiny Productions.
Directed by Jennifer Dick
Performed by EmmaClaire Brightlyn
May 16 and 17, 2016 at Govanhill Baths, 6:30 nightly.
Reviews For EmmaClaire's Performance In Richard II, Bard In The Botanics 2015
* * * * "... bravely rethought version..." The Scotsman - Joyce McMillan
* * * * " fierce-eyed Lady Bolingbroke (EmmaClaire Brightlyn) is ... a steely warrior driven by honour, not anger. Revealing a tender heart, she makes you wish there had once been a great queen of that name." The Guardian - Mark Fisher
* * * * "... most daringly audacious of reinventions ... " The Herald - Neil Cooper