BIOGRAPHY

Amber O’Reilly is a French-Canadian multilingual poet, spoken word artist, playwright and screenwriter from Yellowknife and based in Winnipeg since 2013. Her poetry and critical writing have appeared in several journals, magazines and newspapers and she has performed across Canada. Her French-language poetry collection Boussole franche is published with Les Éditions du Blé and won the 2021 Prix-littéraire Rue-Deschambault (Manitoba Book Awards). 

Her play Annie et Tom du lundi au vendredi was read at the 10th Festival à haute voix at Théâtre l'Escaouette in Moncton, and an excerpt will be read at the 12th Women Playrights International Conference in Montreal (June 18-23, 2022). She is also the author of several short theatre and film works. Her passion for languages has led her to speak French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and English.

Amber serves as Board Chair of Thin Air Winnipeg International Writers Festival and Board Secretary of Association des auteur-e-s du Manitoba français.

An artist at heart, Amber lives with her husband Patrick and their dog Hunter.

CURRICULUM VITAE

---

 AMBER O'REILLY

- Multilingual Poet, Spoken Word Artist, Playwright, Screenwriter, Event Host
- Member: Creative Manitoba, Poetry in Voice, Manitoba Writer’s Guild (MWG), Association des auteur-e-s du Manitoba français (AAMF) 
- Board Member : AAMF (Secretary), Thin Air Winnipeg International Writers Festival (Chair)

Publications
2021 Projet TERRE - Anthologie collective de poésie - Éditions David - Ars politica, Terre à terre, Dans la ruelle
2021 Lettres québécoises - Été 2021 - Littératures franco-canadiennes - créer ici
2020 Boussole franche - French-language Poetry Collection - Les Éditions du Blé
2020 Prairie Fire Volume 41 Issue 3 (Fall 2020) - this planet was a rock before it was my house
2020 Contemporary Verse 2  Volume 43 Issue 2 (Fall 2020) - local transit
2020 Our Artspace(s) - CollectiveAnthology in Support ofArtspace - Today
2020 PrésentEs! Magazine - Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne - Stop en Argentine
2020 École nationale de théâtre du Canada #artapart - Extrait d’Annie et Tom du lundi au vendredi
2020 Prairie Fire Volume 41 Issue 1 (Spring 2020) — Climbing Lessons, nightwalk
2020 La Liberté - Plus jamais
2019 Contemporary Verse 2 Volume 42 Issue 2 Emergence (Fall 2019) — Noctambulle, Porte-poussières, fausse couche
2019 TOK Magazine – Beltane Birch Grove, we leave our initials, what’s in a game, sn/apshot
2019 R-Magazine – Lampes de chevet
2018 Winnipeg Free Press National Poetry Month Feature – space flight
2018 L’Aquilon – Monde au féminin International Women’s Month Feature
2017 Oratorealis Journal – English
2015-19 La Liberté - Deux regards sur une pièce Theatre Reviews for Théâtre Cercle Molière
2015 L’Aquilon – Points de repère & À cette terre
2009-2011 L’Aquion – Youth Column

Performances/Readings
2021 Salon du livre d'Edmunston - Boussole franche
2021 Salon du livre du Manitoba - Ondes amoureuses - Boussole franche
2021 SLAMDEMIC! -Winnipeg Fringe Festival - Spoken Word Poetry
2021 Francophone Northwest Territories Writers Showcase - Boussole franche
2021 Salon du livre de l’Outaouais - Super Quiz canadien - Lecture poétique - Boussole franche
2021 Just(e) slam Invitée d’honneur - Alliance française du Manitoba et Les Éditions du Blé - Boussole franche
2021 Festival international de poésie en Acadie - Performances & workshop - Boussole franche - YouTube (40:57-43:21)
2021 FRAN 1091 Rédaction universitaire - Christian Violy - Université de Saint-Boniface - Boussole franche
2021 Podcast Souveraines - Marie-Pier Deschênes - Boussole franche
2021 Poetry Radio Broadcasts Boussole franche: Envol 91 FM, RadioTaïga CIVR 103,5 FM
2020 Facebook Live Launch - Boussole franche - Les Éditions du Blé
2020 Prairie Fire Living in a House on Fire Issue Launch Issue Launch
2020 Poetry for Spring Workshop -Association des théâtres francophones du Canada
2020 Speaking Crow Poetry Open Mic - Featured Poet - Millenium Library
2020 Salon de Gabrielle - Slam -Association des auteur-e-s du Manitoba français
2019 Give Your Slam - Thin Air International Writers Festival – Event Host & Performance
2019 St-Bonifest September 21 – Poetry Reading – Café Postal
2019 Sarasvàti Productions FemFest September 14-21– All the World’s A Stage Walking Tour – Bison Books
2019 RMNP Artist-in-residence Poetry Reading in French & English – Poor Michael’s Emporium, Onanole, MB
2019  RMNP Artist-in-residence Poetry Reading in French & English – Parkland Regional Library, Dauphin, MB
2019 Literary Cabaret – Manitoba Book Salon – Théâtre Cercle Molière
2019 Bell Let’s Talk Day – Université de Saint-Boniface
2018 Festival international de poésie/slam en Acadie – November - New Brunswick
2018 Thin Air Winnipeg International Writers Festival – Livres en fête – Estampes II & La plume et le pinceau
2018 Winnipeg Fringe Fest – Slam! Ensemble
2018 Winnipeg Free Press National Poetry Month Launch
2018 Petite fabrique poétique éphemère – Showcase of French-speaking Manitoba writers
2018 Accueil francophone Youth Forum
2017 Conseil jeunesse provincial Francophone Youth Gala
2017 Loud in the Library: A Spoken Word Event - University of Winnipeg Open Mic
2016-present Event host and performer – Alliance française du Manitoba’s Spoken Word Open Mic evenings
2015 Winnipeg Fringe Fest – Poetry in the Garden
2015 Member of Winnipeg Poetry Slam’s Team at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word
2015 Finalist in the Winnipeg Film Group’s collaboration between poets and filmmakers, F-Wordz
2013-present Speaking Crow, Winnipeg Poetry Slam, Thin Air Winnipeg International Writers Festival
2012 Member of Pearson College’s winning team at the Victorious Voices High School Tournament
2007-10 Aurora Fiddle Society Musical Performances

Theatrical Productions
2021 Annie et Tom du lundi au vendredi - Professional Reading - 10th Festival à haute voix - Playwright
2019 Le bois…  – Marathon de creation 2 Théâtre Cercle Molière – Original production
2018 Gamme plurielle – Plurality Scales – Marathon de création 2 Théâtre Cercle Molière – Original production

Collective or Independent Student Productions
2020 Une pelletée de poèmes - Featured Poet -Théâtre Chiens de soleil (Université de Saint-Boniface) - Actor and poet
2014 Les voisins – Théâtre Chiens de Soleil (Université de Saint-Boniface) - Actress
2011-12 One World Multidisciplinary Annual College-wide show – Performer, Spoken Word Consultant
2012 Metamorphoses – Actor
2011 All’s Fair in Love and War: Love of the Nightingale (Excerpt) – Director, Set Designer
2011 The Sheep Pen – Playrwright, Director, Set Designer, Stage Manager
2010 Frozen to Free – Playwright, Director, Set Designer, Stage Manager
2010 The Laramie Project – Assistant Stage Manager

Short films produced with filmmakers - Festivals (Official Selections)
Filaments d’après-vie - a collaboration with Noel Fenez, supported byThéâtre Cercle Molière
2020 Cinémental Manitoba - Compétition de court-métrages
2020 Montreal Independent Film Festival

Words - F-Wordz Competition - Winnipeg Film Group, a collaboration with Jim Pomeroy
2019 Institute for ExperimentalArts - Multimedia Poetry Festival -Theme: Financial Consequences - London School of Economics
2018 Rencontres internationalesTraverse - Art Expérimental -Toulouse, France
2018 InternationalVideo Poetry Festival - Athens, Greece
2017 Festival Silencio - Lisbon, Portugal
2017 MIX Writing Digital - Bath Spa University, UK
2017 Synesthesia InternationalVideo Poetry Event (Barcelona PoetryWeek closing event) - Barcelona International Poetry Festival
2016 WNDX Festival of Moving Image -Winnipeg, MB

Deep Bay - a collaboration with Sara Bulloch, as part of the Riding Mountain National ParkArtist Residency, supported by the
Manitoba Arts Council
2020 Vox Popular MediaArts Festival
2020 7th Siding Festival of Film
2019 Culture Days - Dauphin, MB

Awards & Grants
2021 Create - Manitoba Arts Council - Tryptic of short plays: Terre de femmes
2021 Share - Present - Manitoba Arts Council - Production: Annie et Tom du lundi au vendredi
2021 Prix littéraire Rue-Deschambault - Manitoba Book Awards - Boussole franche
2021 Explore & Create: Concept to Realization - Canada Council for the Arts - Production: Annie et Tom du lundi au vendredi
2021 Francofonds - Theatrical production: Annie et Tom du lundi au vendredi
2020 Poetic Images #LeMaquillageEtMoi - Manitoba Arts Council (Share – Connecting at a Distance)  Grant
2019 Travel to Moncton, NB for Dramaturgical Development Course – Winnipeg Arts Council  Grant
2019 Travel to Moncton, NB for Dramaturgical Development Course – Manitoba Arts Council Grant
2019 Riding Mountain Artist Residency – 3 weeks - Manitoba Arts Council Grant
2008 Roch Carrier Short Story Award
2007 Great Northern Canada Writing Contest Winner - Northwords Writers Festival

Employment & Contracts
2021  Co-screenwriter - Season 2 Documentary series La terre en nous - Manito Média - APTN, tou.tv (ICI Radio-Canada)
2021 School Workshops Poésie parlée - Bureau de l’éducation française
2020-21 Playwrighting Workshops & Individual Mentorship - Université de Saint-Boniface
2020  Poetry Translation Review for Cory Vitt
2020  French-language Voiceover - Documentary Passage à l’âge adulte broadcast on AMI-Télé
2019-21 Engagement Officer – Winnipeg Art Gallery
2018-20 Monthly Cultural contributor to ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba’s morning radio show Le 6 à 9
2016-19 Communications Coordinator – On Screen Manitoba – Winnipeg
2016-17 Youth Writer-in-Residence - Returning to Spirit – Winnipeg

Volunteer Experience
Thin Air International Writers Festival
2016-20 – Usher, Cashier, Volunteer Blogger and Photographer, Hospitality Suite, Raffle Ticket Sales, Survey Collection

Association des auteurs du Manitoba français
2018-21 Board Member (Secretary) : Communications, Social Media, Event Coordination

Poetry in Voice
2019 Bilingual Accuracy Judge – National Semi-Finals & Finals, Volunteer Recruitment in Winnipeg

Cinémental, Manitoba’s Festival of French Language Films
2017-18 – Board Member: Communications, Social Media, Box Office, Q&A Host

Winnipeg Poetry Slam
2015-18 – Doorperson, Sacrificial Poet, Scorekeeper, Timekeeper

Canadian Festival of Spoken Word
2016 – Sacrifical Poet, Cashier, Postering, Social Media Promotion

Education & Professional Development
2021 Bystander Intervention Skills for the Workplace with Lauren Barbara Checkley & Richard McCrae - On Screen Manitoba
2021 From Unconscious Bias to Conscious Inclusion with Priti Shah, CEO of Praxis Consulting - On Screen Manitoba
2021 Camps d'entraînement 1 et 2: Au delà du réel : l’écriture à partir de fragments de réalités - Michelle Parent, Pirata Théâtre
2021 Writing for Objects: a conversion with Francis Monty and Cathal McGuire - Galway Theatre Festival
2021 ​Initiation au métier de recherchiste audiovisuel - Lyne Barnabé, TV5 Unis TV + Université de Moncton
2021 RBC Emerging Artists Academy - Financial Literacy for Artists
2021 RBC Emerging Artists Academy - How to be an Artist and Entrepreneur? Balancing Business and Arts
2021 Climate Change and the Arts with Julie's Bicycle - Manitoba Arts Council
2021 Strategic Blindspots with Estelle Métayer - Board session - Manitoba Arts Council
2021 Navigating Creative Blocks with Natasha Duchene - MusicSpace YK
2021 7 Things I Learned While Book Promoting During a Pandemic with Farzana Doctor - Diaspora Dialogues
2021 Virtual Mentorship through Creative Manitoba: Hazel Venzon, Jen Doerksen, Stephanie Blondal Johnson
2021 Voiceover Technique Workshop - Joshua LeClair
2020 Screenwriting Course - Écriture scénaristique: Écrire pour le cinéma, la télévision et le web - Guy Boutin, TV5 Unis TV + Université de Moncton
2020 Playwriting for Young Audiences - Louis-Dominique Lavigne - National Theatre School of Canada
2020 Founding a Theatre Company for Dummies: Le Théâtre de la Pire Espèce
2020 Le théâtre des éloignements with Daniel Canty - École nationale de théâtre du Canada/National Theatre School of Canada
2020 Initiation to Poetry for Actors with Dany Boudreault - École nationale de théâtre du Canada
2020 Playwriting Workshops & Mentorship - Pierre Simpson - Théâtre français de Toronto
2020 Creative Manitoba Creative Entrepreneurship Day
2019 Atelier de développement dramaturgique – Louis-Dominique Lavigne – Théâtre l’Escaouette (Moncton, NB) (Dramaturgical Development Course)
2019 Mentorship with ARC Magazine Poet-in-residence Adèle Barclay
2019 Playwriting Circle led by Rheal Cenerini – Théâtre Cercle Molière
2019 Demystifying Careers in Theatre Workshop Series – Théâtre Cercle Molière
2019 Diaspora Dialogues Short-Form Mentorship (Poetry) with Méira Cook
2019 Workshop: Speaking & Making Peace Through Writing : Expressions on the World in which We Live
2019 Creative Manitoba Upping your Game Creative Entrepreneurship
2019 Playwriting Masterclass with Hannah Moskovitch – Prairie Theatre Exchange
2018 Étude de théâtre d’objets – Théâtre de la Pire Espèce – Théâtre Cercle Molière (Object theatre weeklong study &
performance)
2018 Démystifier les métiers du théâtre: Dramaturgie – Émilie Malosse – Théâtre Cercle Molière
2018 Atelier d’écriture dramaturgique – Louis-Dominique Lavigne – Théâtre l’Escaouette, Moncton, NB (Intensive Playwriting Course)
2018 Contemporary Poetries – A Creative Writing Workshop – Di Brandt
2017-18 Creative Manitoba Careers in the Arts Mentee in Poetry with Lori Cayer
2018 No More Starving Artists Auspicious Arts Incubator Workshop - John Paul Fischbach
2018 Beginnings & Beyond a Creative Writing Workshop - Jennifer Still
2018 Creative Manitoba Creative Entrepreneurship Day
2018 Creative Manitoba Expert Advice for Indie Artists: Jessica Watson – Creative Confidence Coaching, Bev Pike – Grant
Writing, Kathe Meseman – Bookkeeping/Taxes, Kerri Twigg – Personal Branding, Elise Dawson – Social Media &
Self-Promotion
2018 Winnipeg Film Group Cinepoetry Workshop – Ciel Sainte-Marie
2018 Shivering Strings Fiddle Workshop & Concert
2018 Managing Your Priorities Seminar - Jordan Miller of Cre8ery Gallery & Studio
2017 Vulnerability Is Strength: A Poetry Workshop - Mugabi Byenkya
2017 MWG Workshop: Building An Author Platform - Doreen Pendragcs
2017 MWG Info Session on Professional Writers Association of Canada - Doreen Pendragcs
2010-12 Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific

• International Baccalaureate Higher Level Theatre
• Creative Writing Zine Co-Founder
• Member of winning Victorious Voices 2012 Slam Poetry Team

Reviews & Media Appearances/Interviews
2021       ICI Radio-Canada Culture et confiture     Peut-on faire de la critique littéraire en situation minoritaire?
2021       Bibliothèque des Amériques          Amber O'Reilly, lauréate du Prix littéraire Rue-Deschambault
2021       Radio Taïga                                         Prix littéraire Rue-Deschambault (25:33)
2021       L'Aquilon                                             Un prix littéraire pour Amber O’Reilly
2021       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Un prix du livre pour Amber O'Reilly
2021       acadie nouvelle                                 Le slam monte à bord de l'internet - Festival international de slam/poésie en Acadie
2021       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Appel à auditions: Annie et Tom du lundi au vendredi
2021       Periodicities: A Journal of poetry and poetics  Jérôme Mélançon: Boussole franche
2021       Le Réveil - Journal étudiant de l'USB  Les belles aventures d'écriture avec Amber O'Reilly​
2021       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Les mots d'Amber O'Reilly sur scène à Moncton
2021       acadie nouvelle                                  Le 10e Festival à haute voix prend son envol
2020       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Souvenir des Fêtes : la routine réconfortante d’Amber O’Reilly à Yellowknife
2020       Le Nénuphar                                      Séquelles - Boussole franche
2020       Les Mille et une pages                     Boussole franche: Commentaire de Martine Lévesque
2020       Canada-info.ca                                   Amber O'Reilly lance son premier recueil de poésie
2020       Radio Taïga + L'Aquilon                   Les jalons de la slameuse Amber O'Reilly
2020       Envol 91 FM                                        Amber O'Reilly - Boussole franche
2020       Culture et confiture - Radio-Canada  L'amour du français d'Amber O'Reilly: Lancement de Boussole franche
2020       REFC - Julien Charrette                    « Boussole franche » d’Amber O’Reilly: Ode à la sexualité au féminin
2020       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Premier recueil de poésie d'Amber O'Reilly
2020       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Amber O'Reilly: Filaments d'après-vie
2020       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Entrevue en profondeur avec Jérémy Laniel et Marie-Gabrielle Ménard: FILAMENTS D'APRÈS-VIE
2020       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Le théâtre Cercle Molière vous offre de la littérature franco-manitobaine au bout du fil
2020       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba             Un livre d’art créé par un collectif pour soutenir les artistes manitobains
2020       La Liberté                                            L'art de faire flèche de tout bois
2020       ICI Radio-Canada                              15 février: Combat mondial des balados - On dira ce qu'on voudra au Festival du Voyageur à Winnipeg
2020       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Les mangeurs d'art: Lancement d'album de Justin Lacroix et Kristine St-Pierre
2019       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Les mangeurs d'art: Festival international des écrivains de Winnipeg
2020       Envol 91 FM                                        Première soirée du Projet Spoken Word de la saison : Amber O'Reilly
2019       La Liberté                                            Sarasvàti Productions FemFest
2019       Envol 91 FM CKXL                             Spoken Word Project– Alliance française du Manitoba
2019       Envol 91 FM CKXL                             Riding Mountain Artist Residency
2019       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Le 6 à 9 – Riding Mountain Artist Residency
2019       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Cabaret multidisciplinaire réussi à Saint-Boniface
2019       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Le 6 à 9 – Participation in the Manitoba Francophone Book Salon
2019       R-Magazine                                         Jeu de mots avec Amber O’Reilly, une franco-ténoise de spoken word multilingue
2018       La Liberté                                            Participation in the La plume et le pinceau event as part of Nuit Blanche and Thin Air
2018       ICI RadioCanada Acadie                  Participation in the Intensive Playwriting Course at Théâtre l’Escaouette, Moncton
2018       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Le 6 à 9 – Participation in Playwriting Course
2018       L’Aquilon                                             Moncton côté jardin… (Article by Denis Lord, July 2018)
2018       ICI Radio-Canada Manitoba            Artist Career Discussion & Event Promotion
2018       Envol 91 FM                                       Event Promotion Interview with hosts Yan Dallaire & Larbi Toumi
2017       CKUW P.I. New Poetry                      Reading & Interview with host Carmelo Militano
2016       Shaw Cable TV                                  F-Wordz Spoken Word Showcase

Languages
Fluency in French, English and Spanish, spoken and written
Intermediate knowledge of written and spoken Portuguese (Brazilian)