Current artistic collaborators

David collaborated on projects with Anna for over 30 years, creating the music for almost all of her shows for young audiences, before his untimely death at 58 in September 2023. Their work together for early years audiences has been seen on six continents. He was also an award-winning film-maker, sound designer and fight director and an extraordinary human being who is sorely missed.

With more than 25 years’ experience of designing for theatre, Anna met Alison on Lullabub for Theatre Hullabaloo. For 2021, Alison designed the purple palace that Groove is performed inside!

Award-winning video artist and film-maker Conan has worked with Anna since 2006 and he created the video art for Babble, her baby show that went off-Broadway. In 2021, Conan will create the video art for both Groove  and Shimmer

Emmy-nominated Susan Scott has created fabulous sensory costumes for Anna over the past few years – and, for 2021, created the 70’s inspired costumes for Groove .

Bringing her knowledge of wearable tech to the table, Anna was very excited to welcome Rebecca Marsden to the 2022 team, designing the costumes for Sweet Dreams Are Made of This which retoured in 2024.

One of Ireland’s top theatre designers, Katie is working with Anna for the first time in 2021 to create the magical environment for Anna’s dance show for babies, Shimmer

Dan was part of the A Boy & His Box team with Anna several years ago and she is delighted to be commissioning him to write and perform My Smile Has Fallen Down, a new show for 4-6 year olds for 2021.

Having previously invited Anna to collaborate on their hugely successful early years shows Twinkle Twinkle, Little Monster and The Gift, in 2021, Anna is inviting these Brighton-based puppet theatre makers to collaborate with her as Dramaturg and Director of Puppetry on My Smile Has Fallen Down.

Hayley was one of the core cast for Four Go Wild in Wellies, the award-winning dance theatre show for early years that Anna created for Scotland’s inclusive dance company, Indepen-Dance and then went on to co-create Grow with the same company with Anna. For 2021, Hayley is collaborating with Anna, David, Conan & Katie to create  Shimmer, Ireland’s first dance show for an audience of babies and in 2024 the collaboration continues with An Attempt To Talk With The Beginning Of The World.

Niamh was General Manager at the Civic, Tallaght until 2022. The Civic are Anna’s primary producing partner and her tireless work was essential to the development of the body of Anna’s work over the first five years of Anna’s freelance work in the south of Ireland.  Niamh continues on with Anna Newell Theatre Adventures as a mentor and a friend.

Muireann has been a key member of Anna’s performing team since 2017, appearing in I Am Baba, Baby’s First Xmas/ Little Tiny Xmas, Sing Me to the Sea,Groove and Sweet Dreams.  Muireann was involved in all of the re-imagined productions touring in 2020.

Leah has been a key member of Anna’s performing team since 2017, appearing in I Am Baba, Baby’s First Xmas/ Little Tiny Xmas and, for 2021-3, Groove  and I Am Baba. Leah is also an award-winning emerging filmmaker.

The aptly-named Will Guppy first worked with Anna on Sing Me to the Sea and in 2022 Will collaborated with her to create Sweet Dreams Are Made of This.  Will is also appearing in the 2021 tour of Groove.

First meeting Anna whilst a student at Queen’s University Belfast, Neil has photographed virtually every project of hers since 2006 and the vast majority of photos on this website are his stunning work.

With years of Production Management experience, Belfast based Ashley Smyth was at the heart of Anna’s re-imagined touring during Summer 2020 and has been on board as both Producer and Production Manager since 2021.

Sally-Anne has years of experience teaching in stage schools across Ireland, working with small children up to adults through song and dance and will be going on tour with I AM BABA in 2021.   Performance credits include, ‘Ni Hao Ma’ music video- Chris Lee, The Late Late Show & Exposition with Fly Dance Company.

Jess has a specialism in creating work with children, young people and adults with additional needs. She met and received mentorship from Anna during her Dance Residency at Draíocht, Blanchardstown 2020-21 which still continues.  She performed in Shimmer in 2021 and was part of the initial R&D forAn Attempt To Talk With The Beginning Of The World in 2022.

Best known as the most independently mobile member of Púca Puppets, Niamh Lawlor is a maker, performer and writer in theatre, film and visual arts. At the heart of her practice is play, story and people, of all sizes and varieties. She’s coming in to play for the initial development of My Smile Has Fallen Down

Originally from Brazil, choreographer, director, performer and pilates instructor Anderson is one of the performers in baby dance show SHIMMER and An Attempt To Talk With The Beginning Of The World.

Originally from Sweden, Hanna is one of Ireland’s leading dramaturgs.  Winner of the Kenneth Tynan Award for dramaturgy, she is also now working as an sonic artist in the field of Arts & Health.  She is one of the co-facilitators on our littletinySPACE programme.

Sarah is an actor, singer and yoga teacher. She is delighted to be coming home from London to perform in babyGROOVE.

A Northern Irish performer with extensive experience working with extraordinary audiences, Adam is part of the Groove and babyGROOVE casts.

Fiona Lucia McGarry is an actor, musician and clown doctor and is delighted to be part of the  babyGROOVE, I Am Baba and Sweet Dreams teams!

Dr Suzanne Zeedyk is internationally renowned for her work in the science of human connection.  Founder of the organisation connected baby, Suzanne is one of the co-facilitators on littletinySPACE  and a long-term friend, informal collaborator and inspiration to Anna’s work.

littletinySPACE in inspired by The Performance Corporation’s hugely successful SPACE programme and we’re delighted to have Performance Corporation’s Artistic Director, Jo Mangan joining us as co-facilitator on littletinySPACE.

Jen has worked extensively throughout the UK & Ireland as a Producer & Production Manager.  In 2017, she created the I AM BABA tent.  Her daughter Emily inspired the name of the show!

Orla set up Early Childhood Creativity and has worked throughout Ireland as a visual artist & theatre designer.  She created the quirky costumes for Still Here.

One of Northern Ireland’s best known actors, Nicky Harley has worked with Anna on WiggleGiggle, BigKidLittleKid, Lullabub and, mostly recently, Still Here.

Mary-Lou is a Mayo-based writer, performer and theatre maker.  She was Little Kid in BigKidLittleKid and is back on stage with us for Still Here.

Eamon is a baroque music specialist who is the Lead Artist onBabyLovesMusic and who plays the unique live score for Still Here.

littletinySPACE artist

littletinySPACE artist

littletinySPACE artist

littletinySPACE artist

littletinySPACE artist

littletinySPACE artist

littletinySPACE artist

littletinySPACE artist

Hilde is an actor, musician and therapeutic clown and first appeared in Sing Me to the Sea in 2019, joined us for Sing Me To The Sea during lockdown and is back in the water with us in 2023!

Hilary works as an actor and director with an interest in creating multi-disciplinary work. She is joining the I am Baba cast for 2023.

Fresh out of The Lir and already in high demand in local theatres, Archer joined the team to work his technical wizardry on tour with babyGROOVE/GROOVE in 2023.  We are delighted that Archer chose to do his first professional tour with us!  For 2024 Archer is creating lighting design for An Attempt To Talk With The Beginning Of The World.

Actor, singer and singing teacher, Ailbhe Casey joins the I AM BABA cast in 2023 for the 14 week, 20 county, 1000 baby tour!

Isaac is an award-winning Northern Irish DJ, producer and sound designer. He has over ten years of experience in the music industry and is currently completing a PhD in the School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen’s University Belfast, with a focus on Music Technology , Socially Engaged Sonic Arts and Sound Design.  Isaac joins the team as composer/sound designer for the 2024 baby dance show An Attempt To Talk With The Beginning Of The World.

Ruby was one of the cast for Anna’s very first baby show BABBLE in 2012 when she was just 18.  We’re delighted to have her back for the 2024 tour of Sing Me To The Sea!