10 May Cue the Lights, Cue the Learning: Meera on the Magic of Making Theatre Together

We sat down with Meera Mathew, one of last years recipients of Outstanding Performance award for her one woman show: Notes for July on what her journey has been like since the festival last year and why she joined the board for the festival.

What was your most memorable moment from performing in last year’s One Act Play Festival, and how did that experience contribute to your decision to join the board of directors?

I came into the festival wanting to stretch my directing muscles. That led me to write a show, which led me to perform AND co-direct it, which led to me learning many new technical skills. All this culminated in an emotional moment for me that actually happened during our tech session when programming cues. I was standing on this stage, a truly unmatched feeling, chatting with Tim (my wonderful lighting designer). I looked around at all these people who had given their time and ideas and passion to help me bring this show together, this vision from my mad little brain that was finally falling into place. I felt immensely grateful and proud – at that point the rest didn’t matter. Joining the board felt like a direct way to help facilitate that feeling for other people, and that collective energy.

How has your perspective on the festival changed from being a performer to now serving on the board?

I definitely fought against imposter syndrome as a performer and director in the festival. Showing up to our technical tours and information sessions I was learning a lot on the fly and it led me to feel like such a rookie surrounded by pros – and in some ways, that was true. However, seeing this process unfold from the board’s perspective really helped me to realize how that is kind of the whole point of this thing. New works, play, learning and growth, and hopefully a supportive environment for someone like me: A performer by trade who’d never even heard of QLab going on to work with lighting and sound designers and overseeing a whole show coming together. I love being in a position now where we can explore even more ways to facilitate artist learning and growth.

What excites you most about the upcoming festival and the potential impact it will have on the community?

Now that the festival is in its third year, we’re really getting to see the space it’s taking in the community. Folks are planning projects around it, audiences are already talking about what may be coming this year. There’s a real niche this event fills which drew me to it initially, bridging the many theatre communities in Victoria and being a breeding ground for interesting and varied art. I’m excited to see the ripples this event has, what new works and partnerships it propels into action.

As a board member, what initiatives are you most passionate about developing or supporting for this year’s festival?

I’m excited that we were able to implement a new event for directors on top of our usual dramaturgy workshop, which was an auditions and networking day. I’m happy to see new factors being added and we’ve already got more ideas for next year. I’m also very happy to have gotten feedback from participating artists on what kinds of award categories they want to see this year. These intentional steps to build up the festival based on participants’ input are exciting to me and keep the festival focused on being for and by the community.

For someone considering volunteering with the festival, what advice would you give to make the most of their experience?

Something really special about this festival is the community it encourages. If you gain nothing else, that is a wonderful thing to walk away with. Luckily, you’re sure to gain plenty more, so be brave, be kind, ask questions and think of this as a fantastic opportunity to try something, build skills, and explore.

About Meera Mathew

Meera (she/her) is a director, actor, playwright, and multimedia storyteller for social impact working on the traditional territory of the WSÁNEĆ and Lekwungen speaking peoples, as well as the Semá:th and larger Stó:lō Nation. She has been eagerly involved in the local theatre scene since 2019. Recent Credits: The Drowning Girls (Assistant Director – Hapax Theatre), Notes for July (Actor/Playwright/Director – One Act Play Festival), Double Bind (Actor – Delroy Productions).