Triona is a proud Filipina-Australian actor, director and producer, who graduated from QCGU in 2020 with a Bachelor of Acting with Distinction. Since graduating, her credits include, Daisy/Anna/Child in Alice Birch's Anatomy of a Suicide, Ahn in More of Us at Short+Sweet QLD Finals, Laura/Caroline/Esta in Keziah Warner's Control, a Motion Capture Actor in the new kids animation, Teletubbies Let's Go! And a soon to be released animation series as a Voice Over Actor. She was honoured to join the Script Assessing panel for the 2022-23 QPDA at Queensland Theatre, and as of 2023, launched her own independent theatre company, mIxED productions. As a mixed-raced woman of colour, Triona is fiercely passionate about equality and diversity, and how we can honour diverse voices in the arts.
Triona Calimbayan-Giles. Image: Stewart Tyrrell.
1. Describe what you do in 100 words?
I like to tell stories. If I'm performing as an actor, or on the creative team as a director or producer, I will always come back to why this story. How does this story contribute and comment on humanity, and why do we need to hear it here and now, and how are we including diverse voices to tell that story?
2. How has your practice change over time?
My practice was shaped and moulded the most during my studies at Griffith. Since graduating, life as a freelance artist can feel incredibly isolating and challenging, and not even Uni could prepare me for that. Keeping myself connected to other likeminded artists in what kinds of stories ignite us, creating that community and bonding over our drive for story-telling.
3. What motivates you to create?
Seeing/experiencing other stories and ignite a fire in me. I want to be part of creating art that does the same for others.
4. Can you describe your ideal working environment?
Honest, collaborative and supportive of every human involved. A space where we can make mistakes together and have each others back along the way. A space where everyone puts in as much as they take away from the process.
Image: Nick Morrissey.
5. How do you manage work-life balance as an artist?
With difficulty. This is an ever evolving challenge and one I hope to master eventually. Work is needed to be able to afford life as an artist, therefore other things are compromised, but you have to simply make it work.
6. Who is an artist that inspires you and why?
Courtney Stewart - Artistic Director of La Boite theatre company. She is a fellow asian-australian artist that has paved her way in the industry within several fields. She is quite simply goals
7. Do you have a bucket list project / role or collaboration and can you tell us what it is?
I want to do a full female led production, cast and creatives in Meanjin. I'm not sure what that looks like yet but it's definitely in the stars.
8. Do you think art is important to society and why?
Yes. From the beginning of time, the art form of story-telling is what connects us as humans. Whether that be through song, poetry, writing, theatre, film, dance - it's what keeps our souls alive. To quote Kate Miller-Heidke who spoke at my Uni graduation day, "As artists, we may not be heroes, but we are the guardians to the souls of all of humanity."
Image: Nick Morrissey.
9. What is something you have created or a process you have been a part of that you are most proud of?
My own production company! mIxED productions - Meanjin/Brisbane independant theatre company committed to inclusivity, equality and diversity. We're committed to creating opportunities for artists from underrepresented backgrounds and emerging artists. For mIxED, I am directing and producing Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons, by Sam Steiner, on at BackDock Arts, April 2023.
10. Have you ever been to the theatre in another country? And how was it different to seeing theatre in Australia?
Yes in London. It's common for every second person to have been to see the latest show on the West End, there's just so much of it! That in itself is very different to Australian audiences. We're also more reserved and "polite" here with our applause... in London, I don't think there was a single performance I went to out of 7 shows that didn't have a standing ovation. I work at QPAC as an usher and can tell you that it's rare...
If you are or know of an artist that might like to feature in our Spotlight: 10 Questions series please send us an email to hello@thatproductioncompany.com.au.
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