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 Nina-Lou Bricar ahead of her play The Waiting which will be performing at The Etcetera Theatre on 8th, 9th and 16th of November.
Is the Voila Theatre Festival your production’s debut performance? The Waiting has been performed for the first time as part of Nina-lou’s last drama school project : The Launch Festival at East15, then it went at the Libra Café Theatre this summer for Camden Fringe 2025 and as well at Teatro Metamorfosis for
Barcelona Fringe Festival on Halloween. As The Waiting is not doing its debut at Voila, these other festivals allowed the creatives to experiment with the play and make some tweaks for Voilà!
Where do you draw your inspiration from as a creative?
Fleabag was a major inspiration for The Waiting, as well as the French show
“Connasse” played by Camille Cottin. I like calling my play “a bad version of Fleabag, must be at least good!”
Are you planning on taking your production to another industry festival in the future?
Not necessarily at the moment but I want to make a web-series version as well as a full french adaptation of it and run it in Paris.
What is your least favourite part of the Theatre industry?
My least favourite part of this industry is probably how much it got impacted by the living crisis. Unfortunately people can’t afford to go to the theatre anymore and see plays that have a deep message to spread.
What’s your favourite part of the Theatre industry?
Probably the networking, since I graduated I met amazing creatives throughout the different festivals I went to, ambitious people who feel passionate about making art.
It’s beautiful. It gives me more ideas to create films and new plays. I am actually writing another one-woman show at the moment thanks to the people I met at networking events.
Do you have rituals that you do before each performance?
I do a holistic ritual to step out of Nina and step in the character. As well, before going on stage (if I don’t forget because of the nerves !) I look into the mirror and try to make myself as big as possible ! It gives a sense of power.
The Waiting will be performing as part of Voila! Theatre Festival at The Etcetera Theatre on 8th, 9th and 16th of November. For more information about the show and to purchase tickets, visit
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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