A L V I R A
ALVIRA is a solo music artist who creates cinematic gig theatre performances. Trained at The Royal Ballet School, Tring Park and Drama Centre London, she creates theatrical worlds that are shared with audiences through spoken word, dance and music. Her work is inspired by folk, sacred choral, film and pop music.
ALVIRA also writes for film and theatre productions; most notably for London based theatre company THE SHAKESPEARE EDIT.
echo
Echo is a cinematic gig theatre piece exploring the sounds, sentiments and movements of the echo through music, poetry, and movement. It explores the journey of a young woman as she grows through experiences which vibrate and echo through her life - a journey of discovery…
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Background of ALVIRA
The concept began when ALVIRA played the character Ariel from Shakespeare's The Tempest whilst training at Drama Centre London. Over the past 6 years since graduating from drama school the idea has developed into a gig theatre act. Her sound hangs somewhere between folk, cinematic, sacred choral and pop music. Through spoken word, dance and music ALVIRA incorporates all her passions and skills whilst drawing from the works of Shakespeare, her late father Dorian van Braam and other writers. Her father never managed to achieve commercial success in his lifetime and since his passing, the act now serves as an homage and extension to his legacy.
ALVIRA grew up in southern Ireland immersed in the theatre. Her mother was an Irving Davies dancer back in the good old days of variety television, and her father a writer (and an eccentric). Her mother taught her to dance and the family spent countless times in the theatres of Waterford city for her pantomimes and ballets.
From the age of 11 ALVIRA trained at The Royal Ballet School, Tring Park and later Drama Centre London. She worked as a dancer in both the commercial and fashion worlds for brands and artists including Reebok, Burberry, Marks & Spencer’s, Victoria Beckham Denim, Bonobo and Martin Solveig, before training as an actress. She performed with and composed music for theatre company The Shakespeare Edit and is now devoted to creating her own work under the alter ego ALVIRA.
ALVIRA’s influences
Max Richter, John Tavener, Hanz Zimmer, Arvo Part, Hildegard Von Bingen, Joan Baez, Nick Cave, Camille O’Sullivan, FKA Twigs, Christine and the Queens, Kate Bush…