Our Story
Expressive Arts is a welcoming Limerick theatre school where young people discover their voice, build confidence and belong.
The Expressive Arts programme is designed to educate and coach children from Junior Infants to Leaving Cert. in the skills of Drama, Singing and Dance. Each class involves a separate module in these three skills, where pupils work with specialists in each of these disciplines.
Promoting and encouraging confidence and self-assuredness in each student is the primary aim of Expressive Arts. Our team consists of highly qualified graduates experienced in theatre, music, tv and film.
We specialise in nurturing and developing talent in young people while instilling a lifelong love of the Arts. Over the years it has become evident to the tutors in Expressive Arts, that when children are in a safe and secure environment, confidence and talent will thrive and blossom. This is evidenced by the many past students, who took their first tentative steps on stage, and are now leading lights on the professional stage, in the media and in the music industry.
Expressing yourself is not just about the stage, it’s about finding a voice for whatever road you travel in life . Many of our past students continue to perform on a daily basis with confidence and verve, in a varied range of jobs and professions right across the employment spectrum. Another measure of the success of this school is the number of second generation children, who now attend the classes.
Pearl Kiely and May O’Halloran founded Expressive Arts Theatre School in Limerick in 1988. Their shared love of performance and drama education continues to shape the school.
Pearl Kiely and May O’Halloran, co-founders of Expressive Arts.
Pearl Kiely has been a prominent figure in Limerick’s performing arts community for many years, with extensive experience as a singer, performer, teacher and theatre practitioner.
A trained mezzo-soprano, Pearl studied voice under renowned Irish soprano Dr Veronica Dunne at the College of Music. She also trained in the Zoltán Kodály method of music education and later developed a strong passion for musical theatre, studying at Mountview Academy in London and completing a Diploma in Musical Theatre with the London College of Music.
In 1988, Pearl co-founded Expressive Arts Theatre School in Limerick with actress May O’Halloran. Since then, she has dedicated much of her career to developing young performers through singing, drama and musical theatre, directing and producing numerous productions and helping generations of students build confidence and experience on stage.
Pearl remains very much involved in Expressive Arts today.
May O’Halloran is a highly respected actress, drama teacher and theatre practitioner who has been part of Limerick’s theatrical community for more than four decades.
An accomplished stage performer, May has extensive experience in drama and musical theatre and has been recognised for her work as an actress. In 1996, she received the Best Actress Award at RTÉ’s P.J. O’Connor Amateur Drama Festival for her performance with College Players Limerick in The Betrayed.
May has also worked extensively as a drama teacher, director and adjudicator, sharing her considerable experience with both young performers and the wider amateur drama community. She has been described as one of Limerick’s leading figures of the stage, with decades of experience in both acting and teaching.
Their longstanding commitment to musical theatre, performance and drama education has earned them a highly respected and prominent place within Limerick’s performing arts community.
Every student is encouraged to take creative risks, find their voice and feel proud of their progress.
Singing, dance and drama come together in playful, purposeful classes led by experienced artists.
A warm, inclusive community where children and young people feel seen, supported and part of something.
