ADELE SMYTH-KENNEDY
Adele Smyth-Kennedy is a Northern Irish-born actor based in Belfast and London. Her most recent screen credits include Stephen Frears’ Florence Foster Jenkins, starring Meryl Streep, appearing alongside Hugh Grant, and in Stefan Ruzowitzky’s Patient Zero, appearing with Stanley Tucci. Both films are scheduled for release this year. Adele also played the lead in Eileen Treacy’s Short Film, Four Walls, in 2015, and has worked as a Stand-In for Emilia Clarke on Game of Thrones for the past two years. Theatre credits include Crave, at the Crescent Arts Centre, and This Is Our Youth at the Brian Friel Theatre, Belfast. Her training took place at Belfast Metropolitan College and at Queen’s University. Adele is represented by Phillip Young at Independent Agency, Belfast. Turtle is her first show with PUNCHEDcanvas.
CLARE McMAHON
Clare McMahon trained at Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. She made her West End debut in The Cripple of Inishmaan, played Hermia in the Almeida, and last year played Kitty in Unhome by outstanding local playwright Jimmy McAleavey. Clare loves new writing and is delighted to be premiering Turtle. She lives in Belfast and is represented by Independent Artists. Turtle is her first show for PUNCHEDcanvas.
NUALA DAVIES
A recent graduate of Queen's University Belfast, some of Nuala Davies previous theatre credits include The Jazzabelles (Nicholas Boyle), Lucy and The Dream Catcher (C21), Operation Blitzed (Big Telly), Dido and Aeneas (Queen's University), Vernon God Little (Queen's University), Belfast by Moonlight (Kabosh) alongside recently appearing in short film The Monday Club (Stay Beautiful Films) as part of the Belfast Film Festival. Having trained vocally Nuala has obtained grades with the London College of music in musical theatre performance as well as a grades in classical performance. You will also see her performing in the cabaret and burlesque scene in productions such as Pigeon and Plums and Tease-o-rama, as well as in her 1960s garage rock and roll band. Nuala produces her own acting showcase Clatter O' Actors, facilitating space for upcoming actors into the professional industry in Belfast.
JAMES JOHNSON
James studied at Queen's University Belfast. His previous plays include Choking the Butterfly for Tinderbox, The Pugilist for PUNCHEDcanvas, After the Bell Jar for Green Room and The Audition for Bakehouse Theatre. His work has featured at the Los Angeles, Edinburgh Fringe and The MAC's Pick 'n' Mix Festivals. James' work has been nominated for BBC/Stewart Parker and Nanette Lovell Awards and has been performed in Nigeria, Australia, Kosovo, Malta, New York, Greece, Bulgaria and throughout the UK and Ireland. His play Choking the Butterfly will make its Canadian Premiere at the Storefront Theatre in May. Turtle is his third script for PUNCHEDcanvas. Other work includes a short adaptation of Gogol's The Overcoat for The Bruiser/MAC Graduate Academy and the PUNCHEDcanvas short film Pretty Beasts. Turtle is his directional debut for the company.