(September, 2015) 
NWTC finds out more about our new Youth Theatre Director, Natalia Sanchez
You are a long way from Chile! What brought you to Luxembourg and how did you get involved in the theatre life here?
I started my trip in October 2006, when I got a scholarship to continue my studies in Germany at the Georg-August Universität Göttingen. I was there for a year, studying literature and drama. As well, I taught Chilean theatre and we performed “El delantal blanco” by Sergio Vodanovic. After this period, I travelled to Luxembourg to visit a friend, the Luxembourgish artist Will Lofy (Hämmelsmarsch’s sculpture) and somehow I decided to stay and continue my studies (a Masters in Learning and Development in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts) at the University of Luxembourg.
Meanwhile, I started to teach theatre at the scenic arts school “Minouï”, in Redange (2009) and at the Lycée Robert Schuman (2011). From 2012 until 2014 I was involved in the direction, creation and production of the theatre project “Geschicht erliewen” (Living history), supported by LEADER West. In 2014, with KULTRUN asbl, we founded the theater school "Yolandin" and today we teach theatre to children, adolescents and adults (in Tuntange and Mersch).
Your passion for theatre is obvious. What sparked this off and, as a child, did you watch and/or participate in theatre?
Yes, as a teenager I did study music and theatre. Also, often with my parents we went to see concerts, movies, exhibitions and theatre; theatre for children, classic theatre, modern theatre and political theatre. Thus, my childhood and adolescence were surrounded by art and I was always very excited to see performances and when it was possible, to meet the artists.
These were my first inspirations, which developed when I was a young adult. I also started to sing and write music and I decided to study professional theatre.
NWTC is very excited to be working with you this year on the Youth Theatre programme. What do you enjoy most about working with young people?
The combination between the open mind and open spirit that children and adolescents have is something I really like. It makes the learning process easy, fun and productive.
Although you have yet to meet the youth participants, what ideas do you have for the programme this year?
I do not want to plan too much in advance. First we need to meet and then, when we get to know each other, we will find our way together. Nevertheless, I can say it depends on the ages of the participants and their interests. We can focus in acting technique, body language, improvisation, theatre make-up and voice-articulation… and all these should meet and match in a final performance! We have a lot of work!
You have been a director, technician and performer. Which aspect do you enjoy the most and why?
Apart from the creative aspect, everyone is very different. I like acting, because through it you can reach another level of consciousness. I like directing, because you can guide actors to interpret a dramatic text and create characters. I like the technique, because it has the power to round the production: like the frame of a painting, it can enhance and highlight the work of the actors and director. However, if you ask me what I prefer, I would choose directing.
What/who inspires you in your work?
Fundamentally students. It is very important to me to develop a relationship with the students in which we become a team. In this team, I have my responsibilities and commitments, as they have too! Therefore, we have equal importance and our teaching-learning process depends on both. It is the same for the final performance. The inspiration arises from the theatrical process we built together.
What advice would you give to young aspiring actors?
There are some key verbs which may be useful as concepts and hopefully practised during our course. Therefore, I could say to the students: to try, to experiment, to discuss, to observe, to explore, to accept, to share, to collaborate, to be empathic, to respect, to trust, to make questions and to encourage themselves. By applying these, actors can truly develop theatre skills and social skills!
Lastly, what do you believe is the greatest gift an actor can give?
To play with all, the actor has the power to give him/herself on the stage. Great acting is about the interpretation of real emotions, real thoughts, real body and voice expressions, in other words, the actor has to be truly there, fully present! In this way, the audience will be grateful for the performance of the actor whilst the actor will be grateful to have been on the stage, giving…
Thank you! NWTC wishes you a fun-filled, enriching and successful year!
NWTC 2015-6 Youth theatre programme commences on Saturday, 3rd October 2015 and runs until Easter 2016. Follow its progress at www.nwtc.lu
