Quick introduction to your production, venue, and performance times.

How to Cry in a House Full of Children is a theatre production exploring the complexities of motherhood, womanhood, identity, and the challenges of pursuing personal dreams while navigating the demands of everyday life. Through storytelling, humour, and emotional honesty, the play invites audiences to reflect on the struggles we face and the possibilities that remain open to us, even in the most difficult circumstances. Written and directed by Uruguayan Victoria Vera, and originally performed in Uruguay, the production is now coming to London as part of the Voila! Festival 2026. We are delighted to present the show at The Space theatre on November 6th at 7pm.

What inspired you to start making or performing theatre?

I love the immediacy of theatre and the connection it creates, both between actors and with the audience. As a child growing up in Uruguay, every time I went to see a play, I would return home completely mesmerised. I was fascinated by how theatre could transport me into another world, immerse me in a story, and make me feel part of something beyond my everyday life. That feeling has stayed with me ever since. For me, making theatre is a deeply human experience: a way of telling stories, creating shared spaces for reflection, and opening conversations about who we are and how we live.

Have you taken this production anywhere before? How was it received by the audience?

How to Cry in a House Full of Children has been performed extensively in Uruguay (and it’s being performed today, as I write these words) where it has connected with audiences through its exploration of the challenges, contradictions, and possibilities of everyday life. The production is now touring neighbourhoods across Montevideo, Uruguay, where it continues to receive a very positive response. It has been particularly rewarding to see how audiences engage with the story and find their own experiences reflected in it. Although the play emerges from a specific cultural context, its themes speak to universal human experiences. Bringing the production to London is an exciting opportunity to share the work with new audiences and discover how they connect with it.

Why did you choose to perform at the Voila! Festival?

Voila! Festival is a wonderful platform for connecting independent theatre makers with venues and audiences that might not otherwise have the opportunity to discover their work. I am particularly drawn to the festival’s celebration of international and diverse voices, as well as its openness to different forms of storytelling. Participating in Voila! is an opportunity to create connections that can continue long after the festival ends and it is also a way to programme our shows in venues that would be difficult to reach on our own.

Has there been anyone in your life who has inspired you to work in the theatre?

My theatre teachers have been a tremendous source of inspiration throughout my journey, helping me discover the possibilities of theatre and encouraging me to develop my own artistic voice. Among them, Uruguayan actor Jorge Bolani has been particularly influential. His work and approach to acting have contributed to shaping the way I understand performance and storytelling. I have always valued the generosity of artists who share their knowledge, challenge their students, and inspire them to look at the world differently. Their influence goes beyond technique; they help you understand theatre as a way of thinking, feeling, and connecting with others. I carry those lessons into my own work.

How long have you been working on this particular production?

The play has been performed extensively in all kinds of venues throughout Uruguay: large and small theatres, old and new ones, as well as unconventional spaces, such as local community centres. Preparing this production for its presentation at Voila! Festival has been a year-long journey throughout 2026. The process began with the initial idea and gradually developed into the practical work of bringing the project to London, including securing funding, coordinating logistics, and making the necessary connections to present the show internationally. Bringing How to Cry in a House Full of Children to London represents an important milestone for True Life Productions and our artistic journey.

To achieve this, we brought together a wonderful all-female technical team, with everyone contributing to the story through her own role. From Uruguay,Victoria Vera: writer and director; Valeria de Souza: assistant director; Carolina Piñeyro: our actress; Malena Paz: responsible for the design; Graciana Albertoni working on all the stage translations; Maru Puyol: our guest actress; and from UK, Rosina Piovani: our local producer in London from True Life Productions. 

Do you have anything that you are planning on seeing while you are at the Voila! Festival?

I am looking forward to attending the Pick of Voila! at The Cockpit on 2 November, and I also plan to see A Memory of Love by Mexican creator Oscar Alexander. One of the most exciting aspects of participating in the festival is the opportunity to discover the work of other artists and exchange ideas with people from different cultural and artistic backgrounds. I have already been in touch with several Latin American creators taking part in Voila! through WhatsApp, and we have been supporting one another by sharing publicity for our shows. It is wonderful to see this sense of solidarity and collaboration among artists across borders.

What would you like audiences to take away from your production?

The play is performed with extreme honesty by actress Carolina Piñeyro and what we show is almost a raw study of this mother’s feelings on this particular day. What each audience member chooses to do with that material, with that information, is their own decision, and one we respect. The play has been performed extensively in Uruguay and there have been plenty of different reactions, but we have never encountered an audience that was indifferent to the work.

https://www.voilafestival.co.uk/events/how-to-cry-in-a-house-full-of-children/