Lisa's Profile

Lisa May is the Artistic Director and Founder of Bruiser Theatre Company. In 1997, Lisa believed there was an opportunity in the market for a new, innovative touring company in Northern Ireland. The aim was to produce consistently high quality theatre, with the flexibility to specialise in outreach and education where applicable.

Lisa coined Bruiser's artistic policy of "minimal set for maximum impact." and has directed all of Bruiser's previous productions bar “Two” which was directed by Karl Wallace, in which she appeared. Also a freelance director, Lisa has directed numerous productions for other companies including Seamus Keenan’s “Flight” for the Derry Playhouse, an outreach devised piece for “Charlotte’s Web” at the Lyric Theatre, “Don’t Send me Flowers” at OMAC (suicide awareness play) and most recently “The Gift of the Gab” for Stage Beyond (adults with learning difficulties).

Lisa's style of direction focuses on the actors' ability to engage the audience, without relying on elaborate sets, costume and lighting. The actor is the central mechanism of performance, and Bruiser's choice of scripts allows exploration of the essential dynamics of theatre: the actor, the audience and the space.

Lisa is also a freelance actress, a trained playworker, workshop facilitator and consultant. Over the last ten years she has worked with many arts organisations including UAYD, Shakespeare Schools Festival, Sound Inventors, Queen’s University and OMAC in varied and exciting drama-based projects.

Lisa co-ordinates all of Bruiser’s education and outreach programmes and is committed to making theatre accessible to all. This is evident in Bruiser’s new education strands of ‘Teacher Training’, ‘Professional Development for Young People’ (theatre schools) and additional Curriculum Support projects such as the Bruiser ‘Swot Club’ and ‘Roadshows’. Lisa has pioneered the new education partnership between Bruiser and OMAC, and believes this “winning combination” of company and venue will have a greater impact on long-term planning and sustainability, whilst increasing the provision and quality of future educational projects.