Sarah Kinlen

Sarah is an Irish artist currently based in Brixton, London, with a base in Dublin. She has a wealth of experience behind her. She is an extremely versatile actor, songwriter and writer. She has a background in visual art (sculpture) and holds an M.A. (Hons. Grade 1) in Dramatherapy. Both of these disciplines, and a natural curiosity, inform her work. She continues to make work that is transformative for the viewer/listener/audience member. Currently based in Brixton London, with a base in Dublin

NEWS

She is about to play the lead in SHUTTERS a new play by Rena Brannan, directed by Tom Latter at Clapham Omnibus theatre, London.

FILM

Recent acting credits include FEATURE FILMS: HERSELF directed by Phyllida Loyd (MAMMA MIA and THE IRON LADY), THE CURED (starring Elliot Page) by David Freyne for Tilted Pictures. In post production are GOD’S CREATURES starring Emily Watson and Paul Mescal, STRANGER WITH A CAMERA by Oorlagh George, WHO WE LOVE a new Irish feature directed by Graham Cantwell.

SHORT FILMS include CATCALLS by Kate Dolan (an Irish Film Board short) which won the YDA (Young Directors Award) and also IN ORBIT by Katie McNeice, for which Sarah won BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR in the NORTH EUROPE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL awards in London in February 2020 and was nominated twice for the same award again in the SOUTH EUROPE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL in Valencia and in the EAST EUROPE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL in Warsaw. Sarah wrote and performed her own original song TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT in the film.

Sarah has starred in, co-written and co-prouced her own short film DO I KNOW YOU? with Barry J. Kinsella and director Rioghnach Ní Ghrioghair – an LGBTQ+ story about parenting and IVF. This short is currently doing the world festival circuit having won BEST IRISH SHORT at GAZE film festival screened at the LIGHTHOUSE CINEMA in Dublin, having also been NOMINATED for THE IRIS PRIZE (UK) and premiering at GALWAY FILM FLEADH. Funded by SCREEN IRELAND and BOW ST ACADEMY.

She is looking forward to working on Baz Black’s new film DUBLIN CRUST in March 2022.

TELEVISION

Recent television work included VIKINGS: VALHALLA a new NETFLIX spin-off series of the History Channel’s original show. For this Sarah learned Anglo-Saxon (Old English) for the part of an Anglo-Saxon woman. Sarah also played the part of Máire Ní Chinnéide in Irish language soap opera ROS NA RÚN for TG4 and a Doctor in the DOCU- DRAMA: CRASH SCENE INVESTIGATES for VIRGIN MEDIA.

THEATRE

Sarah’s career began and continues in theatre. Some of her recent work includes DEAR IRELAND CONTINUES at THE ABBEY THEATRE. Also at The Abbey (Peacock Stage) Sarah performed in SHAME by Pom Boyd and Sean Millar and a return run of this very successful show. In 2015/2016 she toured with BROKENTALKERS and JUNK ENSEMBLE in IT FOLDS (a multi-media piece) which played The Peacock, The Bristol Old Vic and the 2016 Edinburgh Festival. Previous to this at THE GATE theatre Sarah performed in hit show PRIDE AND PREJUDICE which toured to HONG KONG before being brought back to Dublin for another successful run. She’s also enjoyed working with other leading Irish companies including THISISPOPBABY in a rehearsed reading of CONVERSATIONS AFTER SEX by Mark O’Halloran directed by Tom Creed for DUBLIN THEATRE FESTIVAL, LANDMARK PRODUCTIONS, FISHAMBLE, BARABBAS, SECOND AGE, DUBLIN FRINGE FESTIVAL, THEN THIS THEATRE COMPANY , NB Theatre amongst many others.

In 2021 Sarah was awarded THE AGILITY AWARD from THE ARTS COUNCIL to further develop her own play THE LIFE OF SECRET NUNS with support from AXIS THEATRE BALLYMUN which was worked on under the FISHAMBLE’S NEW PLAY CLINIC with dramaturgy by Jennifer Jennings from THISISPOPBABY. Previously her own theatre making includes PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNGISH WOMAN which was also selected for Fishamble’s New Play Clinic mentorship programme. She also wrote BUSK directed by Maisie Lee for CORK MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL and THE THEATRE MACHINE TURNS YOU ON festival. Projects in development include CAN U NAME THIS? by Tara Derrington and Fiona Browne due to be performed in PROJECT ARTS CENTRE in 2022.

MUSIC VIDEOS with Kate Dolan include PILLOW QUEENS – GAY GIRLS , BITCH FALCON – OF HEART – nominated for a YDA.

VOICE OVERS

Sarah works as a voice artist with VOICE TALENT IRELAND https://voicetalentireland.ie/kinlen-sarah-2/

She was the voice of FEDELM with COYLE FILMS new a new animation in development about the Irish myth of Táin Bó Cualainge and a re-imagining of QUEEN MAEVE https://coylefilms.com/home/queen-maeve/ More about it here: https://coylefilms.com/home/in-search-of-queen-maeve-2/

She has done voice overs for WOMEN’S AID new online video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLgbEHdNLfU&feature=youtu.be

RADIO ADS for LLOYDS PHARMACY, THE IRISH SUN, D.I.T. (Dubin Institute of Technology), GIFTED (Irish design and craft fair)

Showreel

Film and Theatre images

With Elliot Page on ‘The Cured’ by David Freyne
‘Kid’ Shame by Pom Boyd & Seán Millar @ The Abbey Theatre Dublin
Galway Film Fleadh with Anne-Marie O’Connor One Minute Film
Fight Choreography rehearsal
‘Lady Anne de Bourgh’ in Pride and Prejudice at The Gate Theatre Dublin
RTE radio performance with Sean Rocks
Theatre Workshop with Corn Exchange Theatre Company
Irish Independent photo at Witness History Exhibition with Pearce’s letter of Surrender
24 hour Plays Dublin at Abbey Theatre Dublin
Rehearsal for Ulysses (Bloomsday in Blackrock)
‘Amy’ In Orbit – by Katie McNeice
RTE Drama promo with Emmett Scanlan
US Ambassadors Residence with Khumariyaan – Pakistani band, Farah El Neihum, Stiofán Séamus MacGabhann, Grainne Ní Fhiach, Imogen Gunner and Niamh Ní Chonchubhair

Awards and Nominations

ACTING

Won – Best Supporting Actor at The North Europe Film Festival in London at Fusion film festival.

Nominated for – Best Supporting Actor at The South Europe International film festival in Valencia

Nominated for – Best Supporting Actor at The East Europe International film festival in Warsa

Won – Best Actor in 48 hour film festival – Dublin – 2014

FILMMAKING

DO I KNOW YOU? – Best Irish Short – GAZE International LGBTQ+ film festival

DO I KNOW YOU? – Nominated for the IRIS PRIZE film festival – UK

DO I KNOW YOU? – Won Best Performances – Toronto LGBTQ+ film festival

MUSIC

Sarah is a SINGER/SONGWRITER and plays guitar, Mandolin, banjo, Violin and Ukulele and she supported SUPERGRASS at THE ACADEMY and played her own song WAKING THE FEMMINISTS for the President MICHAEL D. HIGGINS at ÁRAS an ÚACHTARÁIN.

She is about to make her own EP with collaborator/musician/producer Colin J. Morris entitled SECRET NUN with songs from her theatre show-in-the-making.

In 2020 & 2021 ‘Song for Samuel‘ was played on Irish radio stations RTE 2fm (Dan Hegarty’s show), Dublin City fm, Classic Hits fm, RTE 2XM.

In 2017 Axis Ballymun jam session with world famous Pakistani band Kumariyaan for the and U.S. Embassy Dublin & Creative Minds concert @ US Ambassadors console.

Sept 2018: performed in multi-award nominated & hugely popular punk-style show ‘Shame’ by Pom Boyd with composer/songwriter Sean Millar at The Abbey (Peacock stage).

She composed & performed music for ‘FOXY’ (2015) : by Noelle Brown directed by Oonagh Murphy (@ Project Art Centre) – Peter Crawley @ The Irish Times wrote: ‘Performed live by Sarah Kinlen, Ode to Redheads is a clever trap, a catalogue of such imaginative and juvenile abuse that it’s hard not to laugh at the chorus (“Your head is on fire”) or the snaking thoughts within its verses: “Your gene’s in recession, but so is the world’s economy.”’

Also in 2015 she played at a Yes Equality Campaign (Ireland’s gay marriage referendum) party hosted by politician Alan Shatter, has played at fundraisers for Gaza (@LibertyHall), Pieta House, RAMSI.

She’s written songs for, collaborated musically and played banjo, ukelele, mandolin and guitar in theatre, touring to Bristol Old Vic, Summerhall Edinburgh & all around Ireland. She’s also performed as ‘Sister Sarah Sings’ (a closet lesbian nun on a mission) at underground queer cabaret nights eg GlitterHOLE & Spicebag: Dublin. She is currently writing a full-length show with this character supported by Axis Ballymun #popuplit initiative.

Music video’s below

Latest music video here shot and recorded live and outdoors during the pandemic. Sound by Caimin Agnew, camera and direction by Conor Tobin, and also featuring Ciara Goss.

‘Ode to Redheads’ – Song commissioned by NB Theatre show ‘FOXY’ by Noelle Brown directed by Oonagh Murphy at Project Arts Centre

Lastly here is a song for her recently deceased wonderful nephew and godson Samuel Roquette (aged 11). He was a great runner, stop-animation video-maker and Star Wars fan and well as having an incredibly beautiful heart! https://sarahkinlen.bandcamp.com/releases also here on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRpRw7dpPg4