Beginning on the 4th November, Voila! Theatre Festival will host over 350 artists playing with big ideas, theatrical forms, and world languages in innovative and unexpected ways. Venues such as The Cockpit, Camden People’s Theatre, and Baron’s Court are all taking part in the biggest version of Voila! yet. Co-Artistic Director Amy Clare Tasker tells us all about its development and what audiences can expect from this multi-venue, multi-language festival.
Voila! isn’t just a festival; it’s a celebration of diverse voices and perspectives. What can a first-time attendee expect when they step into this world?
Voila! has always had a strong ethos of welcome that runs through everything we do. That applies to artists and audiences alike: we support artists who bring a panlingual or international flair to the London stage, and we invite audiences to encounter performances that they probably won’t see anywhere else. Expect shows that are bold and energetic, personal and political, thought-provoking and heartfelt. Give yourself plenty of time to grab a drink in the bar before the performance and count how many languages you can hear being spoken by your fellow audience members!
Each performance venue brings its own vibe to the festival. How did you choose the nine venues, and how does each add to the festival’s story?
I would actually say that the venues chose us, not the other way around! When we finished our 10-year-anniversary festival in 2022, we were approached by a group of venues who wanted advice on setting up a new international festival. We had been looking for a way to expand Voila! and this became the perfect opportunity. With support from Arts Council England, we adapted our festival model and put out the call for more venues to join us.
Everywhere you might go at Voila! there will be a unique feel to the space and a unique artistic identity. We’re delighted to have a varied mix of theatres offering new plays in translation, physical theatre, clowning, music, live streams, works in progress, immersive headphone experiences, world premieres, UK premieres of international shows, and more.
The festival’s tagline is “border-busting theatre for citizens of everywhere.” How do you balance pushing boundaries whilst appealing to a wide audience?
Part of the joy of the festival is that there is something for everyone, while giving artists the freedom to present their wildest, most creative ideas. When we’re programming Voila! we’re actively looking for shows that are unlikely to find a platform anywhere else. We’ve always found that audiences are drawn to the unique and the bold - and the festival aims to attract culturally curious people who are excited by something a little different.
At the same time, we encourage artists to think deeply about who their show is for and express their ideas in a way that’s clear and inviting. We consider the potential reach and the size of the venue during the programming stage, to make sure we’re setting the artists up for success. In any fringe festival, each show has to find its audience, and we hope that by putting together a vibrant and intriguing festival programme, we can help guide audiences to discover their new favourite theatre makers.
What’s been the most “Voila!” moment—one that made you think, “Yes, this is why we do it!”?
Our 2020 festival went ahead despite the pandemic, and we presented 12 shows entirely online. One of those shows was Telephone by Tassos Stephens, a live online interactive performance about the history of telecommunications and Tassos’ personal story of trying to find his Greek grandfather. The show is designed to be online; it makes a virtue of finding out where everyone is calling in from and invites the audience to be on camera. So, I could see someone walking down the street in Moscow, a mother and daughter on a sofa in London, and my friend in Italy, coming together to create a momentary community. In that time of unprecedented disconnection, this piece of theatre allowed us to connect so meaningfully. That’s the essence of what Voila! is all about.
If you could only describe Voila! in three words, what would they be?
Welcome. Vibrant. Discover.
Voila! Theatre Festival runs from 4th – 24th November at nine different venues across London. For more information visit: https://www.voilafestival.co.uk/
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