Ayanna Waddell had her heart set on a career in journalism. And that was how she ordered her path – working hard to complete her degree in Communications at the University of Guyana. But along the way, the stage beckoned and she gave it a shot and has remained there since.
In an interview with The Scene this week, the actress and award-winning director retraced her steps from her first play in 2008.
It was during an internship at Carifesta (Caribbean Festival of Arts) that she and her peers acted in Barrington Braithwaite’s Silk Cotton Tree, under the direction of Al Creighton. Ayanna’s talent was recognized and she was encouraged to take up acting.
It was not a difficult decision for her to make as she admitted that she had always been drawn to films.
“Watching television I was always fascinated by drama or action films and that’s how the idea of acting arose. Although I wanted to be a journalist I found my comfort in theatre,” Ayanna said.
She added, “I love Meryl Streep. I admire how she could become any character. She really immerses herself into any role she takes on. My favourite movie with her is as the character Margaret Thatcher in Iron Lady. I really like that.”
Ayanna said her parents were always supportive. They had always told her that if she loved something and worked diligently for it, they’d always have her back. And they do.
In addition, most of Ayanna’s friends are her colleagues so the support is always there.
In addition to Silk Cotton Tree, Ayanna has also appeared in Seawall Moon (2008) directed by Paloma Mohamed; The Vigil (2009) directed by Mariatha Causeway; Shoes Blues (2010) directed by Causeway; Ken Danns’s The Fare Picker (2013) directed by Sonia Yarde and Baccoo written by Yarde,
Ayanna is also a graduate of the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama (NSTAD) and while there she was also in several plays. Among them were: The Trouble with Neketa, directed by Creighton who was also the lecturer; Pandora’s Box, which was written by the students and Ole Higue which they performed at the National Stadium in 2014 for the Guyana Festival.
The more she became immersed in it, the more she grew to love theatre, “because of the many opportunities to meet new people; being able to become someone else besides myself; the opportunity to step out of myself a bit and become someone else.”
She said, “Acting has bettered me. I was always a bit outspoken or brave, but acting allows me to look inward and express myself. I have become more expressive. I’m less restrained or restricted. It lends to helping me be bolder, outspoken and comfortable with who I am.”
But Ayanna wanted more. She felt she needed to be more engrossed in theatre than just being on stage. Therefore in 2011-2012, she availed herself of the opportunity to learn stage directing from Creighton, who was conducting workshops through the radio serial drama Merundoi, which she was associated with at the time.
Before long, she was in the director’s chair. She directed The Colour of Race, which was written by Yarde and put on during the Merundoi One Act Festival in 2012. This won her the Best Director award. The Colour of Race was also entered into the National Drama Festival that same year in the junior category, where it picked up several awards.
Aynna also took on Yarde’s 2013 play Mommy; Planned to Perfection (2013) written by Mark Luke Edwards, and Guilty Pleasures (2014) written by Nicola Moonsammy; she won the Best Director award for Guilty Pleasures, also.
Like many other creative people she noted that theatre does not get its due. This is particularly the case with serious performances.
Ayanna pointed to the need for more promotion of local shows and giving credit where it is due.
As far as her own career is concerned, she wishes that in the future she could get more into directing and even taking her work to the international level.
Ayanna is inspired by her colleagues and friends, some of whom are also her mentors. She named some of them: Margaret Lawrence, Ron Robinson, Nicola Moonsammy and Esther Hamer.
Apart from theatre, Ayanna also enjoys photography, reading and meeting new people.
At present, she works at the National Democratic Council in Region 4 as the Information Officer and has been working in this department since 2012. She is also a part of CineGuyana, a film production company which was founded in 2011.
Ayanna admonished aspiring actors, actresses and directors to never give up. “If you’re passionate about it, then pursue it. You will have difficult times but if it’s what you love to do, continue to do it diligently and in the end you’ll be satisfied with your achievements,” she said.
