Actor, Action Designer, Voice Over Artist, Poet
"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"
Conversational and honest, The First Bit is an emotional reflection on early motherhood. This collection is often funny, evening in its struggle, and resonates with the relentlessness that comes with having a baby.
Here is a collection bursting with a mother’s passion and overwhelm, joys and terrors, in lives fully lived and coming-to-be in a swirl of loving minutiae. - Dr Samuel Tongue.
Fans of Hollie McNish, Maria Ferguson, and Harry Baker will find a new favourite in Brightlyn, and any new parent will hopefully find the pamphlet and empathetic friend. - Dr Katie Ailes, Loud Poets.
Simply put, The First Bit is a collection akin to being compressed in a soft burrito of love, with all of its mess honesty. - Spencer Mason, Chair of City of Poets.
My first book of poetry is being published by Art Riot Press!
1984
Adapted by Chris Hannan, Directed by Dominic Hill
Produced by Citizens Theatre, Dundee Rep Theatre and Lyceum Theatre
Scottish Book Trust New Writer Award 2026 - Spoken Word
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
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)
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
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