Risha Nanda is a graduate from the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Ontario. Recent credits include; Skin (Magnus Theatre), Rocky Horror Picture Show (Lower Ossington Theatre), Hair (Randolph Theatre), Giovanni D’Arco (Carnegie Hall).
Twitter: @rishneee
Instagram: rishneee
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Transcript
Transcript auto generated.
Phil Rickaby
Welcome to Episode 53 of stage where the I’m your host, Phil Rickaby. As we head into the month of December, I’m looking back over the first year of stage really, and reflecting on all the great people I’ve spoken to and the great conversations I’ve had. I love the fact that I’ve been able to talk to people I know and to ask them about the things that we don’t often get to ask each other things like why they do theatre and what draws them to the work that they do. But even more so I really love the fact that I’ve been able to talk to people that I don’t know, and to learn more about them. I’m really excited for the second year of stage where the and even more than the great conversations I’ve been able to have. I’m really excited to have you along for the ride and I hope you’ll continue to listen. You can find stage really on Facebook and Twitter at stage where the pod and you can find the website stage or the podcast.com. If you like the podcast, I hope you’ll subscribe on iTunes or Google music or whatever podcast app you use and consider leaving a comment or rating. Risha Nanda is a singer and actor in Toronto. Risha is appearing in her story counts upcoming production silenced opening at the red sand castle in Toronto on December 8, and running until December 11.
So Risha, how long have you been theatergoing? For how long? Has that been a thing that you do?
Risha Nanda
Well, I have been out of school for since 2012, so almost five years, and that’s when I started to pursue it.
Phil Rickaby
Well, is that when you graduated from theatre school? Yeah, that’s
Risha Nanda
when I graduate. Well, what
Phil Rickaby
about before that? Like, what was that was there? Like, how long have you been doing?
Risha Nanda
Um, well, to be honest, I always saying as a kid, so that was kind of my incentive to go into musical theatre. Like I love the idea of singing and telling a story at the same time. So at first I always thought I wanted to be a recording artist. No, not anymore. But yeah, so that’s what kind of motivated me to apply to theatre school in Toronto and I got into Randolph
Phil Rickaby
did you have you so mostly through the singing but had you done theatre?
Risha Nanda
I had done in Ottawa den a couple of things. I remember I did and in Gilbert was in the ensemble and that done The Rocky Horror Picture Show? I had done some stuff in school as well.
Phil Rickaby
So what are you doing the Rocky Horror Show? Who did you who did you play?
Risha Nanda
I was the Phantom. Okay. Yeah. So okay. Lots of singing and dancing, right? Yes.
Phil Rickaby
I was wondering if you had one of those other other that is that is that like, Would you read what like, in terms of like dream shows these two shows that you’ve done are there so is there a show that you revisit shows that you that you’ve
Risha Nanda
I loved? I feel like I have an attachment to hair just because we did it in our graduating class and I love the music, okay. To read you or to like a dream show? Honestly, I’ve made one up in my head. Okay. Yeah, it would be Slumdog Millionaire. The Musical. Musical the music. Yeah. Okay. Yep. Yep. Yep. So I that’s what I would want to do. I don’t know that they’ve created it, but something kind of like fun and colour, you
Phil Rickaby
know, everything that’s a movie is being turned into.
Risha Nanda
So I’m hoping, hey,
Phil Rickaby
as he grew up in Ottawa, I grew up in Ottawa. And he, when you were growing up in Ottawa, did you get it? Were you exposed to a lot of theatre? Or was it something that you didn’t really, really get to do?
Risha Nanda
Um, I was exposed to it. But funny enough, when I’m talking about Slumdog Millionaire to the school, I was exposed to a lot of Bollywood stuff. Okay, so I did a lot of dance competitions, a lot of Indian dance, a lot of performances based on that. And really, a Bollywood movie is a musical. Yeah, yeah. So I mean, I was exposed to that. And I liked the idea of that. exposed in school. Yeah, different plays, different shows, got to see some theatre. Like, you know, school teachers take you to see shows as well. So the Nutcracker Well, you know, some Christmas shows.
Phil Rickaby
Any any non seasonal shows that you were taken to the remember?
Risha Nanda
Trying to remember? Oh, I don’t really I don’t really know. I can’t even really because
Phil Rickaby
they’re a shows that I saw. I know. I went to see when I was in in high school, and I remember almost none of them.
Risha Nanda
Yeah, I know. Suddenly, I’m like, blank. Yeah,
Phil Rickaby
I remember the one show I remember was I went to did a summer theatre school thing once through through the through the school board. And we went to see cabaret, Stratford. Oh, wow. And it was Brent Carver as the emcee at that point. And it was also it was one of those shows where we got on the bus and they had to announce okay, you may have thought you saw certain acts as part of this thing, but Remember, you did not see those. So when your parents asked you about the show, you didn’t see those cabarets a little, you probably don’t want to take theatres do or like high school students to see cabaret. In terms of like the Bollywood stuff that was, so you’re watching a lot of movies and things like that, right? Have you ever have you looked at? Are there opportunities to take those lessons that you that you learned when you were younger and put that on the stage these days? Or is that something that’s that you’re avoiding? Or that you hadn’t come up?
Risha Nanda
In terms of Bollywood style? That sound? No, actually, it has come up. I auditioned for a musical. It’s called to movie. Oh, of course, I can’t remember the name suddenly. That’s so weird. I talked about it all the time. I’ll it’ll come to me. Yeah, but it’s a it’s a kind of like American Indian based movie. And I auditioned for that a couple times. I know that’s going to Broadway soon. So it has come up in that, like, I had to sing a couple songs that were a bit Bollywood sounding or you speak the languages, which in that case, it would be Hindi. I had to create my own choreography in the video to send over. Okay, so one of my friends who took a Bollywood class actually helped me with that. And it I just find because there’s starting to be a lot more diversity in theatre, that they are bringing certain styles or like, there are classes. Yeah, people kind of find it an asset?
Phil Rickaby
I definitely think it is. I mean, I was talking with
Risha Nanda
monsoon wedding.
Phil Rickaby
Yeah. I was talking with Natalie Aquino from from factory factory, and they’re saying this year, there’s a lot of there about diversity this year, and I think all of their shows are by people of colour, or people who are basically, you know, women and people of colour and things like that. Which is important, because I mean, it is a conversation that’s happening, about the need for diversity, because quite frankly, we’re seeing a lot of 20 white people. As a Caucasian, I’m saying that and it’s true. Yeah. Like the theatre is not reflecting the world we live in totally. And when you were in theatre school, was that something that people that was in there was discussed was the, how diverse, like, so many white faces on the stage? And that somebody with an Indian background or anything like that? Or was it all just like take the world by storm and, and make it where you want it? Um, well, it
Risha Nanda
wasn’t really discussed. I do remember one of my film TV teacher saying something about, you know, you’ll have a longer career because you look really young. And he said, based on certain ethnicities, he did mention that, but to be honest, it wasn’t as open of a conversation, but he could feel it sometimes. And depending, especially with musical theatre specifically, there’s not a lot of new musicals coming out. Well, not a tonne. So I, it was weird in terms of when we would have to pick certain material, I would be constantly like, kind of a little bit pushed to do a little more a little more modern stuff. A little bit more of like something that has like an r&b tone. Okay, or not something as traditional, because I think it’s not as common for maybe somebody to, like, I wouldn’t be cast maybe in Oklahoma, as you know, a lead, or so it wasn’t as much for No, it wasn’t talked about per se, one
Phil Rickaby
of the things is that I keep thinking, you know, you’re saying that and I keep thinking, I would love to see an Oklahoma with completely. Cat. Yeah, that would be amazing. I’d
Risha Nanda
be pretty cool. Yeah. But
Phil Rickaby
again, people don’t. Don’t really that doesn’t come to mind. Too often. I’ve seen a bunch of shows recently. And I’m always struck, like, no matter how good the show is that I come offstage, and I’m like, a lot of white faces on that stage. A lot of white people. And it just again, it’s like one of those things that I wish there was more, for sure more diversity, More like a wish to the theatre, more match what I see on the street.
Risha Nanda
Totally was interesting. I know that Cinderella came around here. And the understudy was for Prince Charming. I believe he was Chinese. And people were really upset by it. Like people were writing letters in to the theatre. And it was just so interesting,
Phil Rickaby
always astounded by that kind of reaction to stuff. It’s like, really do we have to get upset about about that right about that? People are like, Oh, no, that character can’t be not white. Oh, he was great. I’m sure he was.
Risha Nanda
He was great. Yeah. Which was why it was just like what yeah, it was so weird. Yeah, it
Phil Rickaby
was so strange. When when you do remember With the first the first show that you did was not just out not just out of like Randolph or anything like that. But like, can you think back to the first theatre that you did when you when you really sort of caught the bug? Again, the blame, of course, yeah, of course.
Risha Nanda
You’re asking me and I’m like, no, no,
Phil Rickaby
of course, it’s
Risha Nanda
your theatre. Yeah. Oh, I can’t even
Phil Rickaby
what’s the first thing that you do remember doing?
Risha Nanda
As it always leads back to like, the Bollywood that’s as far back as I can remember always doing performances with people. Yeah. And like being in shows like, holidays events, just dancing around and performing all the time.
Phil Rickaby
Um, was there anything particular that drew you to Randolph as a school as opposed to other schools? Did you even look at other schools?
Risha Nanda
Um, it was just the option at the time my one of my friends was going and she told me about it. And then we’re holding last minute auditions, and I auditioned. And I’m, I’m happy I did. I mean, I feel like it’s pretty well rounded in terms of acting, dance and singing. And, yeah, I’m glad. I mean, everybody has their own kind of thing with each school. But I was happy with the experience. Cool. And I also went when I was 23. What do you think helps it
Phil Rickaby
does help that does have I went to theatre school right out of high school. And I kind of wish I’d taken a couple of years to turn out do that. But I was like, chomping at the bit to do the thing, you know, exactly. Did you find that your attitude going in was different? Because you had a couple of years on some of your classmates?
Risha Nanda
Yeah, I think so well, because I mean, I had gone to university before that I had worked in, in the bank for a year, then I decided not to do it wasn’t for me. And then I applied to leader school. So there was a bit of like life that had happened before that. And I think that when you make that choice in that way, you are a bit more, maybe a bit more thick skinned, but also a bit more motivated, or like you don’t get discouraged as easily.
Phil Rickaby
Well, it’s interesting, because when you think about if you’ve never actually gone to have you haven’t had a quote, unquote, real job, and you don’t know what that’s like, and you haven’t decided what the arts mean to you. It’s just what you’ve always done, then it’s, I think it might be easier to burn out easier to not be as dedicated to it as if you didn’t have it.
Risha Nanda
Yeah. And there was always that mentality of like, Hey, you left your good paying job to be here. So you better do this. You know what I mean? And like, if you get rejected, well, you want it you have to keep kind of pushing through and kind of, yeah, like, anytime you leave an audition or anything happens, you’re like, nope, I’d rather this life than any other
Phil Rickaby
way. Yeah, it helps. It’s, it’s interesting that you you put it like that because I think like, one of the mistakes that I made early on was like not not like really, I didn’t really put a whole lot into it, because it was like, it’s a thing. And I think that if I if I’d done sort of what you’ve done and like had a bit of work before going into it that that might have been I might have like, because now I put a lot more I even now I work a day job. And I do theatre. So it’s like I put more into it now than I did when I was just in school totally. What can you tell me about the work that you’ve done since since Randolph?
Risha Nanda
Sure. I’m done some theatre, done some film and TV done some commercials. One of the first things I booked was a commercial. It was a Bud Light commercial for the Super Bowl, which was super fun. We just kind of had a good time and they filmed us. Yeah, I did a commercial for the Pan Am Games, which is really nice and interesting. Lots of interesting people. I did the Rocky Horror Picture Show again. I did a play called skin by Dennis foon, which is a Vancouver playwright. I did some children’s theatre hat. No, all gotta do that. I did. Trying to think here I just filmed on the show incorporate it. And another show called ransom. And trying to think here. Yeah, you know what, I haven’t had the opportunity funny enough to be in as many musical as I would have wanted to. Interesting. Yeah. So it goes a lot to like theatre and plays or like film and TV.
Phil Rickaby
Have you if you just want to see as they’re not been? Because I know that in Toronto.
Risha Nanda
All the time. Yeah. For musicals all the time. Yeah.
Phil Rickaby
It’s interesting, because when I think about musicals in Toronto, there’s certain levels of it. There’s all the Mirvish stuff. Yeah. And then there’s, you know, occasionally during fringe, there’s some and there’s like some indie or amateur groups, but it’s because there’s only so many there’s so many actors in this city, right? That you know, and there’s so few shows produced here, like a lot of the shows that come through are like, touring through rather than produced or at least in the large houses. Deep would you? Do you have the self producing bug at all? Or are you just just, you know, wanting to like, just get cast and do the work and not have to worry about that stuff?
Risha Nanda
It’s interesting. Like, I think that like, as time goes by, we’re kind of like, you know, there’s not a lot of new work being created. So you’re like, Well, I have to do it. Yeah, do it. And actually, funny enough, the show that I’m doing right now, with her story counts, I’m not producing, but I did write my own piece. And so did six other women. And I kind of took it on to have that experience, and to see if I could and wanted to do it. So like, you know, the writing aspect, creating and learning all these things. And in truth, like, yes, I would, and I would love to have the means to kind of go further and do stuff. But at the same time, I love telling other people’s stories, right? Yeah. So and it’s really funny, because the one challenge with this show was in creating your own piece, sometimes it’s so weird, because it’s so personal to you, you have a hard time connecting to it almost. It’s like you’ve dealt with something you’ve moved on. And then you’re like, oh, whereas in somebody else’s peace, you bring experiences from your life, connect to it’s just the strangest thing.
Phil Rickaby
It is a very strange thing. And it’s almost like because you’re so close to it, you almost like you’ve already dealt with it, quote, unquote. And now somebody’s asking you to, you’re asking yourself to deal with it again. But you don’t really want to do that. It’s like it’s so personal. It’s different. It’s one thing to take like something that somebody else wrote and put yourself into it, that it takes like your story and put you into it again.
Risha Nanda
Exactly. So I mean, what I want to Yes, what I would prefer is to audition and, and kind of just get cast.
Phil Rickaby
Yeah, of course. I mean, that’s that’s the dream that it is kind of it is the dream. But you know, the thing is like, I’ve been doing this podcast for about a year now. And I’ve spoken to two people who have that career, right. In the entire time I’ve been, I’ve been doing this in terms of theatre people, only two people. And most people are, like doing indie work. They’re finding stuff. They’re like making stuff happen on their own. Sometimes it’s not that they are like they’re not producing, but they’re finding people they’re getting around people who are like, forming small groups around them, which I think is sort of like, you start to get that same sort of experience, rather than being the person to like, do all of the work. But at a certain point, I think sometimes we end up with sort of like a bucket mentality mentality. Like, you’ve got to be like, well, I want to do something so fucking, I’m going to have to do it myself. You know? Yeah. Yeah. In terms of the Can we talk about silenced? Yeah, what is I mean, silence opens on December 8, December 8. Yeah. So this is gonna go up on Tuesday, so two days from now, so that we are
Risha Nanda
not Oh, so the podcast,
Phil Rickaby
this podcast show is gonna happen on December 8. And this podcast is going to go on on, I’m going to put that up just before that show goes out. Okay, I think I’m gonna put it out through the schedule today. So that can get out in time for your show. And so, what is silenced?
Risha Nanda
silenced? Well, it’s, um, with a company called her story counts. And basically, it’s a platform for diverse women, essentially. And this, this cast, it’s seven of us. And all seven of us have written stories that have happened in our lives, that we have felt that have made us at some point feel silenced. So you know, there’s so many different topics, there’s, you know, somebody who she’s gay, or somebody who has a learning disability, I talk about something with sexuality. And some people talk about their experiences with their family. And it’s just really nice, because what this company has done is kind of opened up this space for women to speak and tell their stories, and which is really nice and empowering. And it’s such a great group of women, but also, it’s for everybody else to be able to relate. So everybody who comes to see the show, it’s kind of like, alright, like, this was my life where it wasn’t or I understand or it just kind of, like, kind of what theatre is about. So it’s, it’s really amazing. Yeah, and it’s kind of it’s this experience that I’ve never really had with any company before. Just very loving and kind and just a good group of people.
Phil Rickaby
What was it like, having to write your own story?
Risha Nanda
It was, um, at first, it was a lot of ups and downs. Like at first I was like, Yes, I just wrote a bunch of stuff. And then you realise, like, you have to get a bit technical about things or be in the present about things because sometimes, if you’re not a writer, at least for me, I didn’t realise that I’m almost writing how I speak which is okay sometimes, but sometimes it doesn’t really make sense. sense. So I got to learn a lot in terms of how you write, which actually kind of helps with auditions. Yeah. Because now when I look at a script, I’m like, oh, right, I can remember things a bit better, because I’m like, This is how things are kind of written, technically. And then I had some time where I was like, Well, I can’t do this, because there’s nothing makes sense. And I was just like this not this is not a story. And yeah, with the help of, you know, my director and the dramaturg, my friends actually Evangelii. And just everybody, it was just like, we kind of just created together as well, which is really nice. So a lot of ups and downs, I’d say
Phil Rickaby
I think that’s that’s writing in general, a lot of ups and downs. Like, for example, for me, if I write the first time through, I’m like, awesome. Like you’re getting it written. And then you sit down, you read and you’re like, Oh, yeah. Okay. That’s that. That is not, that’s no, no. And the interesting thing is, it took me a long time to be able to get to the point where I could actually take something from that, that first draft to something else, because my first instinct after writing it, and reading it would be, well, that’s garbage. And then I would like, toss it. And it was like, later on that I realised that no, that’s part of it exactly. When you write it the first time, it’s supposed to suck. Like, it’s supposed to have lots of problems, then you fix it. Yeah,
Risha Nanda
it’s kind of just like getting all your ideas out on a piece of paper. It’s funny, because we did this one exercise, where I, some of us were feeling a bit like, Okay, we don’t know what we’re doing. So she’s like, Hey, we’re just gonna, like, do an exercise, you have like one minute to just write in as much detail as possible, something that happened. And we all kind of did it. And it was just really great. And funny enough, I think every single one of us used those pieces in our story, which was so funny. We’re just like, oh, this is great.
Phil Rickaby
Was it the, when there’s a time limit? You can’t edit yourself? Do you think that you were free that way for your
Risha Nanda
and just like kind of just like spitting it out through your hands. And also the detail we had to keep in mind detail, which really paints pictures. And sometimes we forget that, like writers really have to, like, their writing is beautiful. When they put so much detail into it. You don’t realise it until you have to do it. Yeah. Right. So yeah,
Phil Rickaby
it’s interesting, because I was on that front, when I was getting ready to perform my solo show this summer. My director was like, No, this is too poetic is wrong for particularly, because I had there were parts of it that were like really straightforward. And parts of it, where I’ve been like, oh, I need to paint like more of a picture and like, do this sort of thing. It was like wrong for the character. You have to take out all of that poetic stuff. And I was like, when I like the boys thought I was beautiful. And you say, Well, if you love it, then we need to take it out. Because you’re too close to it to attach. Oh, so difficult to kill your babies? Yeah, it was like taking this stuff like taking your story and then rehearsing it, what’s like, what is that? Like?
Risha Nanda
Okay, that was especially difficult for me. So I feel like once we got comfortable with the writing, I was like, I’m a writer, like just like, super just like, you’re so comfortable. And you’re doing it. And then it was like, Cool. Now we’re now we’re getting on our feet. And like what, like, I think some of us really felt that we were like, but we just got the writing part down. And to have to detach yourself as a writer and become an actor, can be difficult, because,
Phil Rickaby
oh, it’s very hard to different to different activities to different parts of the bra.
Risha Nanda
And it’s just like, now I had to almost look at it with fresh eyes. And again, one you’re attached to the writing to you’re attached to the story because it’s yours. And then you’re like, also so detached because it’s something that has happened that is no longer your life. Yeah, or you know, that you’re dealing with or whatever it is that it was just the strangest feeling. On the one hand, you’re so attached on the other, you’re like, I don’t I don’t have anything to do with this piece. Which is so funny. And like, then I felt like I was like back in that place again, where you’re just like, wanna throw it across the room and you’re like, I can’t do this.
Phil Rickaby
It’s really I found it really hard to like ask the kind of questions that an actress posed to ask when you wrote it because I’m
Risha Nanda
like, well, I shouldn’t I already know. Yeah, it’s just so weird. Yeah,
Phil Rickaby
but also like, I would be like I would forgive myself stuff that I wouldn’t ever forgive in another piece, right? I would like Oh, well that well that’s happening just because it is you know, I’m doing that because I need like and you had to like I had to like be really pushed to be like no find the reason why you know that stuff interesting. Hard.
Risha Nanda
I might be doing that because I’m like, well, it’s just my life. That’s just what happened kind of thing right? Yeah, it’s not like yeah, approaching it as a an actor,
Phil Rickaby
but it’s difficult to do because like, like like we said that that writer part and that that that actor parts are different parts of the brain. Yeah. Have you like, I’m curious like, and I know your director is in here, but I’m curious how you direct other people’s stories.
Risha Nanda
She’s very Hurry. That’s like a whole different kind of person also, because she’s very, she’s a great director, she sees things. And you’re like, Wow, that’s beautiful. But she also has to really keep us in mind in terms of, is that okay with you? So she’ll give a direction and like, there’s certain things that are technical that it’s like, okay, that’s the direction this is how we want the peace to be seen. And it is theatre at the day. But you know, sometimes if it’s something emotional, there’s been a lot of check ins, a lot of, okay, maybe somebody in the peace is someone that’s not doesn’t feel the safest to you, right? Look at your look at your co actor. It’s not them, or asking them certain questions like, Are you okay with this? Can we do this? What do you need from me? There’s a lot of that in this. Because the truth is, it is people’s lives. And they’re kind of revisiting things that might be a bit traumatic. So she has to really approach it with a lot of compassion.
Phil Rickaby
Is your piece of monologue. Are there like other other people in it with you?
Risha Nanda
There’s other people in there actually, mine especially has a bunch of other people. Yeah, and some pieces are a bit more just then. But we all kind of participate in each other’s which is nice.
Phil Rickaby
That is good. Yeah. Cuz then you have each other to help out. Yeah, be part of it. Exactly. Yeah, exactly. Which is, What the Hey, think of like one thing that you’ve, you’ve learned through this process.
Risha Nanda
One thing I have learned, I feel like I’ve learned so many things.
Phil Rickaby
You don’t have to keep it to one we can break that.
Risha Nanda
Right. Right, right. Of course, again, like, I’ve learned everything but nothing. No, I think, well, one, just the appreciation for writers for one. I’m just like, What is even happening? That as the detaching yourself and like, I’ve learned so much. To be honest, I’ve learned so much about other people and how, because there’s a lot of emotions in this environment as well. So how we handle things, how we work with each other, I’ve also learned to try to really separate personal stuff with professionalism, because sometimes, you know, we want to bring that into the room because it is our stories, and we get a bit like, but this is my story. And this is what’s happening. And this is how I’m feeling. And it’s like, okay, sometimes we have to remember that this is the work, right? And it’s gonna be on stage and also learned that it’s not necessarily about us, right? It’s about everybody else watching. Yeah. Yeah, so there’s also Yeah, the technical stuff, too, and also learned how to still learning how to emotionally engage with a piece that is mine,
Phil Rickaby
which is so strange. It is really strange. Yeah.
Risha Nanda
So I feel like as a person learning a lot, yeah. And also professionally, like seeing other people write things and seeing what they created. I was like, wow, yeah, it’s amazing.
Phil Rickaby
Well, that thing about about the you’re mentioning about the separation between the personal and the professional, I think that’s such an important lesson for an actor to learn is like, how to leave that stuff in the room and how to like that separation. Yeah. So you’re not taking too much when you leave the rehearsal, their performance, right,
Risha Nanda
which is so strange, because part of it is like, putting them together. Yeah, right. That’s the whole thing. Like with performance, like people are like, you’re an act or you’re just faking it. I’m like, No, you have to actually feel it. And believe it and be it. Yeah. So it’s so strange. Like, on the one hand, you’re just like it. And on the other hand, you’re like, alright, you better separate this now.
Phil Rickaby
Yeah, we just true that for your for your your own sanity. Yeah. Yeah. What was the most like we talking about the things that you learned through this? What’s been the most aside from the separation? Is it something has been the most difficult thing of this whole process?
Risha Nanda
Um, I think everybody works at their own pace. And because everyone’s creating their own stuff, we’re not necessarily like there is a timeline, but there isn’t either. So I did have to learn how to kind of move at different paces with different people. Which was interesting because sometimes I find like, in certain shows, it’s so technical. And so time like limited and so it’s like I this we do this, this we do this, this we do did this. So it’s very just like, okay, cool. Yeah. But this it’s a little bit of a different process, in that sense. And difficult. Honestly, difficult to revisit certain things. Of course, yeah. Sometimes I’m like, Oh, I didn’t even know that still bothered me. Or I didn’t know that. You know what I mean? Like, it’s almost just become a story that you tell you know, that the story has made you into something, but it’s just a story now. Yeah. And then you revisit and you’re like, oh, no,
Phil Rickaby
because what Can you tell there when you’re telling the story, you have a separation is like this is the story. But now you have to invest in it as an actor, which is a completely different thing. Yeah. Have you ever been hard to like, read, read deal with that stuff or to like, that has learning that it’s still bothered you? been difficult or
Risha Nanda
honestly, it’s been amazing. Okay. I feel like, I feel like right now, where I’m at in my life, there’s a lot of different things that are happening that are kind of like helping bring things out. And I feel like, it’s also reminding me that just because I’ve dealt with something doesn’t mean I have to kind of completely push it away. Right? So I think sometimes when we do that, it’s like, oh, how much have we dealt with? And how much have we suppressed? And because at the end of the day, like, it depends when things happen in your life, but like, you know, you think about things like high school, for example, in hindsight, you’re like, oh, like, doesn’t matter? Of course. Yeah. But the things in the way you felt and your hormones are everywhere, that you’re just like, certain things you see are can happen. And you’re like, so affected by that. So I think and in life, like for anybody, those things continuously come up. So what was the question?
Phil Rickaby
I don’t, I don’t even doesn’t even matter. I mean, I think the question was, was about what’s been the most difficult thing? Right? Is it but I mean, really, I think that you answered it. Yeah. Getting off track. Well, that. So now, you’re, you’re sort of like in the homestretch on this project. It’s opening in a couple of weeks. And that, so you’ve been going from being the writer to the actor, and now you’re starting to head into production? Is it like, what does it feel like? Like being about to present like, your own story on stage? Almost not
Risha Nanda
real? Like, I’m just like, are we actually doing this, like, we weren’t just hanging out and like creating work. And it’s so interesting. It’s like, a whole different world than, you know, some other things that I’ve done a bit, honestly, it’s weird, like, I find myself to be open, and I can talk about things. But this feels a bit like, I’m like, I feel a bit exposed. And I’m like, everyone’s gonna know, you know, well, yeah, it’s so interesting. And it’s yours. 100%, like this is every single thing that has happened happened to you. Yeah. And it’s, again, I could tell it to anybody, but to actually act it and be there again, and all the things that were said and what kind of happened, it’s really interesting. So I have to kind of keep reminding myself again, that it’s not about me, per se, you know, it’s about the story and telling it and having, you know, maybe other people being able to relate to it. And that’s really nice.
Phil Rickaby
The thing that I would say, I think that you’ve got going for you is other people who are going through the same Yeah. Because I know like performing something that I wrote, especially the piece I did in the summer, that for the day, I was going to perform it. I thought I was gonna throw up that whole day. Yeah, I thought, and just before like that half hour before, I thought, This is it. And this is where I just vomit before this thing starts. Because it was just me, it was nobody else. So I didn’t have anybody else to like hold on to. So you’ve got at least got that going for you that everybody is probably going to be feeling that same way before they before they have to do this.
Risha Nanda
Exactly. And we always have to remember that, like people are thinking about themselves, not anybody else. Yeah, so yeah, it’s a whole different like thing. It’s like I don’t find myself getting nervous in this way. When I do other stuff.
Phil Rickaby
No, it’s different when you put yourself into it in a way that it’s not when somebody just hand you a script, you’re like, Oh, these are the lines, I’d say and somebody else wrote them. It’s completely different. When you’re saying these are the lines I’m saying oh, and I wrote them so that means something
Risha Nanda
and it’s fully
Phil Rickaby
my life. Yeah, that’s, that’s a bit freaky. But do you do you have a plan for that first day, like what you want to do to get ready for that first performance? Or I think
Risha Nanda
all the standard stuff you do physical warm up, vocal warm up, try and get some sleep if I can. I traded. But I think in terms of that’s the thing that’s so nice about this company is i The when you were saying it, I was like the women like we’re just going to be there for each other. It’s kinda like, there’s so much support that you feel safe. That’s so good doing it. Yeah. So I was like, well, we’re just gonna love each other and then we’re just gonna do it.
Phil Rickaby
That’s great. Yeah, that’s really good. Um, how long does the silence run for?
Risha Nanda
It’s only until December 8? What? No, December 11.
Phil Rickaby
Okay, so you get like, the one week basically, like
Risha Nanda
just a few. Yeah, like it’s not it’s not very long. Okay. You’re like, what?
Phil Rickaby
What performance? Is it? Is it?
Risha Nanda
Where’s the performance? It’s going to be at the red sand castle.
Phil Rickaby
Oh, the red sand castle? Yeah. Just soft spot for the right. Yeah, yeah.
Risha Nanda
It’d be intimate.
Phil Rickaby
Well, I mean, that’s one of the things about that. That space is that that is one of the most intimate spaces in in this city. Yeah. It is it’s, but it’s it’s very, like loving space because of it, you know? So it’s kind of exciting that way. Yeah. So you’ve got this show and then after after silent, sorry. And just like just like, check in, you hear these chairs, these chairs were on the swivel chairs to just sort of like, move back and forth. You said that you were heading off to Vancouver.
Risha Nanda
I am going to Vancouver in January doing a show with the arts club and it’s an original play called men and white.
Yep. Have you ever done? You’ve been to Vancouver before? I’ve been to Vancouver but I’ve only spent like a week there for like a wedding. So do a lot of family stuff. Right? I mean, I’ve seen the city but I think the last time I was properly there probably was 15. And I’m 29 Yeah, sometimes sometimes. Yeah. So. And how long are you going to be there for until March 14? That is a good long time. Yeah, to be in Vancouver. Yeah, I’m excited. Yeah, um, Have you Have you travelled for theatre before? Have you gone from from home? I
did. I went to Thunder Bay I did last year, I was doing shows with Magnus theatre. So I did that which was It was amazing. Because it’s such a different place. Yeah, like, wow, it’s different.
Phil Rickaby
What can you what, what’s what’s different about it?
Risha Nanda
Um, I found it just I guess, like, when you’re walking the streets in Toronto, it’s very busy. very multicultural. Not as segregated in in main city, I’d say which I found down at Thunder Bay. It was their politics is a bit like, off putting a little bit. The treatment towards the indigenous community is really awful. It was just so weird. And I’ve never really been in a position where people would just look at me and they just didn’t understand what I was like. They didn’t know where to place me. It was so strange.
Phil Rickaby
I find it almost painful that people like feel it felt like they were walking down the street looking at you and feel like they have to place you somewhere. Oh, yeah. Just being like, there is a person Oh, yeah. Like this person is a whatever. Yeah, that’s such a strange thing for me. Yeah. How long were we gonna thunderbay
Risha Nanda
for? That was also two months. Yeah. And I think March to May. And it was amazing. And again, doing the show was amazing. The people were amazing. But what I loved obviously, about when you travel anywhere is you get to experience the places. Yeah, kind of see how people live. And I got to visit some reserves, which is really nice. I got to go. My director had a camp out there. They called cottages camps. Okay, so we were out there. What is it called? That thing that looks like a face? It’s the big thing in Thunder Bay. Yeah. And it’s by the water. Yeah, we got to go there. So the nature aspect of it was like Unreal. It’s really been Yeah, they’re
Phil Rickaby
one of the things that I’ve always liked about travel. And I’ve only when I’ve travelled for theatre, I’ve really only been like, in a place for like, two weeks. Ish for fringe. But it’s like, seeing a city in a different way. Because you’re they’re working living they live in. Like, you’re not just doing tourist stuff. You’re like this is, you know, three days in, oh, this is a routine. This is what a routine feels like in the city, which is kind of fun. Yeah, it’s really cool. Yeah. So Vancouver. And anything went up after that.
Risha Nanda
Not Yeah, I’m thinking of taking a trip somewhere.
Phil Rickaby
Yeah. Yes. I mean, in terms of in terms of things that you you want to do, is there? Like, I know, it’s so hard as an actor. You know, people like what’s your five year plan? And you’re like, like a five year plan? Yeah, I want to be working here. Like hopefully we’re hopefully working. Yeah, it’s always Yeah. Plan. Yeah. Yeah. In terms of, are there projects that I can’t it’s not even a question you can really ask to an actor. Sometimes there are people who are like, have productions that they have on the back burner or working on? Have you have you fringed Have you done that?
Risha Nanda
Not? If not, actually. Yeah, I mean, I’ve gone to see free shows. Yeah, no, I have not been in the fringe.
Phil Rickaby
Is it something that you’ve I guess if opportunity just hasn’t come up? No, it just just hasn’t been the case. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I could go on and on different but you know, and people anybody who listen to this podcast knows that very well. What is in terms of of this show silenced do after after writing is writing some of the you’re interested in doing more of are you that was this was a one time thing and I don’t think I need to do that anymore.
Risha Nanda
You know what I was thinking about it the other day because I was like, no Oh, and then I was like, You know what? I think I would. But I don’t know that I would ever want to write about me again. Yeah, I think I would want to write stories and take from maybe other experience, maybe parts of like my life and like other people’s lives or stories and kind of create something fictional.
Phil Rickaby
The interesting thing is like, because in a way, when you’re writing, sometimes when you’re writing, it’s always you. Totally. Oh, yeah. But it’s fictionalised in such a way that nobody could really look at it and say, Ah, this is a story about about you. Yeah. Yeah. I think I always find that, that once I start writing, once I’ve written a thing, that I want to write another thing. So like, stuff starts coming up. Have you have you had that that urge since you wrote this thing to pick up your pen and start writing another thing, or
Risha Nanda
maybe not write another thing, but I always think of quotes, and I’m like this, I always have this joke. I’m like, in this episode, I would say this is episode I would do this, like find myself wanting to write down like quotes and things that are said that I’m like, that’s amazing.
Phil Rickaby
But have you written them down? While
Risha Nanda
some some like if I don’t have anything that I don’t, but you
Phil Rickaby
should? You should write them all down? Because I have a folder of quotes that I that I use? Yeah, pretty frequently, actually. Just to every time every so often, like, that is a great quote, I have to use that sometime. Yeah, no, I haven’t used any of them yet. But I feel like it’s important to write them down totally. Just trying to think about things that I wanted to ask you about. I mean, the say the silence thing was like the major thing that I really wanted to talk to you about. Now, one of the things that I don’t get to talk to people about too often, because we don’t like to talk about it in theatre is those jobs that we do when we’re not act? Oh, right. Yes. And usually when people are talking to me that we’re talking about things that, you know, we’re working on and stuff like that. Yeah. But you and I worked as ushers. The admirals theatre? How? How did you get that job?
Risha Nanda
You know what it feels like? The friend actually, who told me about Randolph was the friend who told me about this job because she knew somebody who worked there at the time. So that’s how it got it out of theatre school, actually. And it has been so great. Like, it’s funny that you said like, you know, people don’t like to talk about it. But I was having this discussion with somebody recently. And I was like, You know what, I feel like, I will always talk about this job, because it, it literally is what allows me to be able to perform, when I’m not performing, pays my bills. And it’s also great, because as an usher, bartender, whatever you’re in this environment where you’re constantly around it, that I don’t get taken away from it. So while being there, you’re just like, I want this, you know, and it kind of motivates. Yeah. And I know some people can get discouraged. But what it does for me is I’m just like, Yep, this is where I need to be.
Phil Rickaby
One of the things that I always found about it was the ability like you get to see a show so many times that you start to learn about how to do a show in the long term 100%. Like there are shows that that I’ve seen that we’ve seen that were running for, like six months or longer, and thinking about like, how, how do you keep that alive? Yeah, that long. So learning that was always like this fascinating thing.
Risha Nanda
You do learn a lot. Yeah. And you’re in the realm of the work. You’re constantly either seeing your friends on stage, or you’re meeting people. I’ve met so many actors working there. They’ve also like gotten gigs from working, or, you know, met people who are like, Hey, I know this or so. It’s just a great environment to be in. Yeah. And it’s easy. It’s an easy job.
Phil Rickaby
It’s mostly easy, mostly. I mean, most I mean, there everybody has those challenges. But sure, yeah, it’s mostly an easy job. Yeah. You just mostly have to stand there and smile it in pain. It depends on your shoes. Whether you’re in bed. Yeah. It wasn’t a dick.
Risha Nanda
Yeah. Like, okay, it’s me. Oh, no, yeah, no, it’s good. It really, I think, has helped and yeah, you’re right, exactly. Sometimes you’re watching the shows. And right now, Matilda is on it, the Mirvish and just like watching it, and I’m not even in the house as much as other people but I know the show well, and sometimes you’re just like, Okay, I see that they change this or, Oh, this is what they’re doing that’s a bit different, or how you’re keeping your energy going. Yeah, it’s amazing. You learn a lot and you really
Phil Rickaby
do want to do the downside is how the show becomes like the soundtrack to your life.
Risha Nanda
Oh, I wake up with all the songs. I had. I’m singing it 24/7
Phil Rickaby
And it’s never it’s always a song like you’ll wake up with a song and it’s not like that whole song. It’d be like a life Pray no one line that just like loops over and over in your brain. Yep, I
Risha Nanda
wake up with my mommy says I’m a miracle, okay, every day. And I’m like, All right.
Phil Rickaby
Yes. Now things have. Thank you. Yeah. Moving on. You’ve worked at, you’ve worked at both the Panasonic and yes. And the Mirvish different vibes at both theory. And but different size stages, different audiences, I have two people who go to the Panasonic are the more laid back than people who are more casual than the people who go to that Mirvish. Yeah,
Risha Nanda
and sometimes the shows that are put there are not necessarily like, musical musical. So, a lot of the people who are coming to see them are not necessarily like Avid theatre goers. It’s just it’s anybody else. Yeah, I see all kinds of people kind of coming to the Panasonic, which is also really fun.
Phil Rickaby
That’s kind of fun to like, when people get that their first like theatre experience. It’s not like a kid show that they were taken to when they were five.
Risha Nanda
Yeah. And it’s funny, like sometimes the questions you get, and you’re like, what? Yeah, you forget, like,
Phil Rickaby
I hope Right, right. You don’t know this? Yeah. Yeah. Just kind of fun. Yeah. So I’m basically at the end of the end of our time, I want to thank you so much for coming for doing this. And we get this online so we can get some some talk about silence.
Risha Nanda
Yeah. It’d be great if people came up to see it. Good stuff.
Phil Rickaby
Awesome. I’m looking forward to it.