Inspired by climate conversations, performance marker Shanna May Breen creates multi-platform artworks to carbonate change. 

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Previous works have seen her plant a micro native forest in her hometown to devise a performance about trees - Root, Dublin Theatre Festival 2021, compose a “plastic pilgrimage” on board a coastal train - Mould Into Shape, Dublin Fringe Festival 2019 and build a miniature mega city live on stage with her mum - Superstructure, The Peacock 2019. In 2018 Shanna was awarded the Dublin Fringe Festival Next Stage Wild Card Award for The Sound of Phoenix, a travelling soundscape of Phoenix Park on board a 1920s bus. 

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Most recently, Shanna curated and produced GULL, a site-specific city project dedicated to the Dublin (sea)gulls - a co-commission by the Abbey Theatre and Dublin Fringe Festival 2022. The project featured the work of five multidisciplinary artists, a Currach rower and an Ornithologist. GULL was developed alongside the Pan Pan International Mentorship Programme 2022. 

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Shanna is currently crafting a walking project with collaborator Wayne Jordan. The duo will walk from West Cork to North Donegal to devise a new performance - Walkscape, Arts Council of Ireland 2023/24. 

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This summer, Shanna was selected by the Irish Theatre Institute as a Six in the Attic participant and was also appointed as an advisory board member of Athrach. 

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Shanna recently graduated with a Diploma in Climate Entrepreneurship from Trinity College Dublin. In 2014, Shanna was scholarshiped to complete an MA in Advanced Theatre Practice and Scenography at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. In 2011, she graduated with a BA in Contemporary Devised Theatre from Dartington College of Arts. 

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Shanna also mentors artists, teaches workshops and has been developing a solo climate start-up with Enterprise Ireland at Dundalk Institute of Technology. 

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