Voila! Theatre Festival is London’s panlingual festival that celebrates emerging artists from all different backgrounds and cultures. The festival runs across eight London venues until 23rd November. I have caught up with Giannine Tan ahead of their play Comfort which will be performing at Barons Court Theatre on November 8 and 9 at 1:30pm.
Is the Voila Theatre Festival your production’s debut performance?
No, Comfort’s first public performance was actually in January. I entered my show in a small start-up festival called Nu’Pen’s Festival. It had one showing in the Union
Theatre and then after that we performed in the Camden Fringe Festival at Etcetera Theatre. Comfort had a long journey this year and we’re so incredibly thrilled to continue it through the Voila Theatre Festival.
What’s your favourite part of the Theatre industry?
I’d say the bustling scene. So much is constantly happening. The ability to create and do art is such a gift and so being in it, amidst challenges, you can’t help but be inspired or even be hungry to share.
What is your least favourite part of the Theatre industry?
The waiting! It’s part of it, I know. But since graduating, I’ve learnt that I hate waiting.
And if I get the chance to, I’ll always be looking for something to do while waiting. 🙂
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Comfort has been my highlight so far. It taught me so much about myself and the industry. I learned what it meant to make a show and the logistics in bringing a show somewhere. It’s extremely difficult and stressful if I am honest hahaha but amidst that it was also extremely fruitful. I get to make theatre. How amazing is that! I also worked with friends and made new friends along the way. I came out of it stronger.
Where do you draw your inspiration from as a creative?
Before coming to the UK, I did my BA in theatre arts in Singapore and for four years I immersed myself in their theatre scene. A part of me misses it to this day and hope that I come back, even just for a month just to watch all the local plays. That was where I grew up as an artist. And so, I take a lot of inspiration from there where everyone loves a good black box theatre hahaha! I could keep talking but in general, my inspirations and growth came mostly from the Singapore art scene.
What one piece of advice would you pass onto new Theatre students?
Apart from finding something good outside of our lives in theatre, find something you can enjoy in theatre as well. It’s hard. It mentally challenges you when you are in the sea trying to get seen, to get booked, to perform and then doing it all over again and again and again. You can slowly lose the joy in performing and it can become more of, ‘I have to do this’, to maybe prove you can do this rather than just wanting to do it out of love. So, even if it’s small, find something that reminds you why you do this. Art should be fun.
Comfort will be performing as part of Voila! Theatre Festival at Barons Court Theatre on November 8 and 9 at 1:30pm. For more information about the show and to purchase tickets, visit
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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