Ripley Twardzik Ching

Ripley Twardzik Ching

(She/Her)
BFA Acting

Ripley is a Singaporean-Canadian actor and BFA graduate. She strives to create unity and empower others to do the same through her work. Recent projects include UBC’s Saint Joan of The Stockyards (Martha), Concord Floral (6/Nearly Wild), The Birds (Hummingbird), and The (Un)usual Suspects (Mr. Green), and Bleed Through Theatre’s independent initiative Loose Assemblage as an actor and choreographer.

What was one of the highlights of your UBC experience?

The depth of creative and personal relationships that I’ve formed with my colleagues and dear friends. Witnessing our growth as artists and performers over these short years has been a gift.

What kind of creative work do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

Collaborative projects that inspire love amidst difficulty and pain. Work that is accessible for, and interacts directly with communities and individuals. Art as a tool for social action and transformation. I hope to expand my repertoire to include the full creative process, including writing, directing and designing.

Check out Ripley’s work here:

Talia Peck

(She/Her)
BFA Acting

Talia Peck is an actor originally from Eugene, Oregon, who is now based in Vancouver. Her love for storytelling began from a young age through her very-well-put-together childhood YouTube channel and youth theatre. Her most recent work includes TomorrowLove (Rylan), Concord Floral (Forever Irene), Some Old Farce (Tatyana), and helping devise and perform in this year’s Naked Cinema project.

What was one of the highlights of your UBC experience?

Being surrounded by the creativity and passion of my friends has been the highlight of my time at UBC. I have learned so much about both myself as a person and as an artist through the incredible work of those around me. I don’t think I would be the performer I am today if it weren’t for my peers and the light and laughter they brought to our shared space.

What kind of creative work do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

In addition to pursuing my love of acting, I want to write and direct my own films. I have always had snippets of stories running around in my head, and the process of creating Naked Cinema really opened my eyes to how improvised scene work can be used to bring them to life.

What is your dream role?

I would love to be in a period piece one day. When they inevitably do another remake of Pride and Prejudice in five years, I will be the first in the metaphorical line (because everything is online now).

What are some of your special skills?

I have basic horseback riding skills (I’m a retired horse girl), basic contact improvisation and singing, basic stage combat training, and can speak intermediate Spanish.

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

Greta Gerwig! She is such an incredible writer, director, actor, and all-around genius. Her films are part of the reason why I decided to pursue acting in the first place, seeing Little Women in theatres literally changed my life.

Check out Talia’s work here:

 

Nico Pante

(He/They)
BFA Acting

Nico Pante is an artist from “Vancouver” and a founding member of Bleed Through Theatre. He loves creating and telling enrapturing stories. Nico is interested in the absurd and experimental; his work takes form as post-dramatic, clown, and devised performance. Anti-oppressive practices ground his work. Performance is exciting and essential as it has immense connective and transformative possibilities.

What was one of the highlights of your UBC experience?

Devising and creating with my cohort. The artists I have met – actors, designers, and technicians – have been fundamental to my learning, growth, and creative individuation. My cohort and I began our 2nd year by devising work on a near-daily basis; this propelled me further into establishing a devising practice and following the passion I have for playful and curious work.

What kind of creative work do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

In the coming years I will continue writing, devising, directing, and performing with my collective – Bleed Through Theatre. I will focus on uplifting trans and queer voices in my work. Theatre performance will remain central to my work; I will explore new facets of form and how theatre can be reinvigorated. I will also work elastically, creating performance for a wide variety of ages and genres.

Who is your favourite playwright?

Sarah Kane.

What are some of your special skills?

Red nose clowning, devising, playing violin, speaking French and Italian.

Check out Nico’s work here:

Belle Nightingale

(She/Her)
BFA Acting

Belle Nightingale is a 4th year actor from Kent, England. She began loving acting when she realized it gave her the chance to be someone she usually isn’t. Works include Lennox in St Joan of the Stockyards (Jacob Zimmer), Rosa in Concord Floral (Arthi Chandra), Miss White in The Unusual Suspects (Susan Bertoia), and Diana in Pericles (Michael Corbidge). She was also featured in Naked Cinema X.

What was one of the highlights of your UBC experience?

Moving to Canada has been the biggest dream come true, just getting to see the mountains and the ocean every day never fails to make me happy.

What kind of creative work do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

I’d love to collaborate with some of my pals within the next few years, maybe on some short films? Beyond that, I’d love to get into the Film industry in Canada, and while I never imagined myself doing much film or TV work in England as it never used to appeal to me, but recently more British content has been coming out that I’m very interested in, so there’s a lot to explore!

What is your dream role?

Something like Meredith Grey from Grey’s Anatomy! Or a similar kind of show. Or an assassin. Or a spy. Someone mysterious is always fun.

Who is your favourite playwright?

Ella Hickson! She’s written some excellent plays that accompanied me well during many of my own coming-of-age moments.

What are some of your special skills?

My two favourite party tricks to pull out are my very bendy joints, and my go-to Californian accent. If we mean “real” skills, I grew up horse riding and skiing, and I’m not too shabby at playing video games either.

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

If Princess Diana was still around, oh the questions I’d have for her.

Check out Belle’s work here:

Abigail Millson

(She/They)
BFA Acting

Abigail Millson is a Vancouver based actor and future director. Her acting endeavors began with competing in the Canadian Improv Games, training at Moving Art and ImprovU; as well as producing shows with Yikes Comedy. Some of her past work includes; The Wolves: #25, Loose Assemblage: Mom, Naked Cinema X: Natalie, Concord Floral: 8/Fox & Tomorrow Love: Lane.

What was one of the highlights of your UBC experience?

The Wolves was the acting highlight of my time in the BFA. That show stretched me as an artist & inspired my love for collaborative art making. Travelling to FITS in Romania, witnessing (insane) European theatre has inspired my need to direct & push the buttons of Canadian theatre. Watching my cohort grow & evolve in their own art has taught me more than anything else in the past four years.

What kind of creative work do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

After the process of Naked Cinema I am itching to pursue film in the future. I also see myself creating and directing my own work. As I leave UBC I am eager to enter the world with my own creative voice at the forefront of the art I make.

What is your dream role?

I don’t have a dream role specifically but I would love to be in any film by A24 or Greta Gerwig.

What are some of your special skills?

Improv, contact improv dance, sketch comedy writing, singing, poetry writing, yoga, basketball, alpine ski racing (certified instructor).

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

I would take 10 year old me and 70 year old me out for ice cream (we aren’t the dinner types). I think we would all get along great!

Check out Abigail’s work here:

Yi Ming Liu

(She/Her)
BFA Acting

Yi Ming (she/her) is in her final year as a UBC BFA Acting student. Her recent devised work include, The Yoko Ono Cult at What Lab’s ExP and Naked Cinema X. She also appeared in UBC’s productions of Concord Floral (Arthi Chandra), The Wolves (Leora Morris) and The (Un)usual Suspects (Susan Bertoia). She will appear in UBC’s upcoming production of Saint Joan of the Stockyards (Jacob Zimmer).

What was one of the highlights of your UBC experience?

There are too many highlights to count, from Commedia to Shakespeare to training like a soccer team for The Wolves and all the long hours in the studio but the one common factor is the raddest, baddest flock of people I get to work with every day to share these moments with.

What kind of creative work do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

Aside from my goals of working as an actor in both theatre and film as well as animation, I’m drawn towards the creation process of writing and devising works. An ambition of mine is to synthesize my disciplines in visual arts with acting and theatre-making to create unique multimedia performance experiences.

What is your dream role?

My current *pipe* dream role is Hamlet.

What are some of your special skills?

I can chirp so well, you might think I was raised by birds.

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

Whoever built the pyramids maybe.

Check out Yi Ming’s work here:

Evie Hamilton

(She/Her)
BFA Acting

Evie Hamilton is a passionate artist who is driven by the desire to explore humanity and connection through storytelling. Evie has completed her training, as well as 5 productions with UBC. Other notable credits include: Clay and Paper Theatre’s Animal Nature, Crane Creations Theatre’s summer ensemble, and Soulpepper Theatre’s City Youth Academy.

What was one of the highlights of your UBC experience?

The highlight of my UBC experience has been spending each day learning from and growing with my incredible cohort. The collaboration that we have fostered makes every day and every lesson a joy, and everything I’ve learned as an artist has been propelled by the constant support and expansive perspective that they offer.

What kind of creative work do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

In the next few years I see myself acting in both theatre and film, as well as creating my own art and theatre that moves me.

What is your dream role?

I don’t think I have one specific dream role, I’ve found something dreamy in every character I’ve played!

Who is your favourite playwright?

Daniel MacIvor.

What are some of your special skills?

I love to write, and I like to sing and play some basic guitar. I also do an absolutely stellar cartwheel.

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

80 year old me, I’m sure she’d have some pressing things to tell me.

Check out Evie’s work here:

 

Julia Eckert

(She/Her)
BFA Acting

Julia’s affinity for theatre began with a lifelong love for music, and she continues to be interested in how theatre and film can intersect with the universal language of melodic sound. Julia views theatre as an essential escape from the prison of her self-consciousness, and hopes that her work can provide others with an opportunity to flee their own, if only for a thrilling, fleeting moment.

What was one of the highlights of your UBC experience?

The highlight of my BFA was the experience of transitioning from playing Bobbie James in Concord Floral to Charlie in TomorrowLove. The characters were so different in so many ways. From age, to status, to objective, and everything in between, they seemed polar opposities. However, finding a way into each and discovering their fundamentally human similarities helped me trust my range as an actor.

What kind of creative work do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

I am looking forward to re-entering the world of musical theatre in some form. It’s where my love for theatre emerged in the first place, and I would like the chance to tackle the behemoth that is the musical with all of the knowledge I’ve gained in my time here. I’m also interested in further developing my skills as a writer and storyteller.

What is your dream role?

I would absolutely love the opportunity to play Cathy Hiatt in Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years. I love character and relationship driven narratives, and the daring and challenging form of the piece has always intrigued me.

Who is your favourite playwright?

I’ve been transfixed by the work of Canadian playwright Kat Sandler as of late. I love the way she plays with humour, absolute absurdity, and yet the highest of dramatic stakes. I find it results in risqué and exhilarating theatre.

What are some of your special skills?

I sing both mezzo-soprano and soprano, speak fluent French, have a background in musical theatre dance, and a ton of weight training experience. I can also do a right split (don’t ask for a left, I’m begging you.)

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

Greta Gerwig. I find she has this incredible ability to pick my feelings right out of my brain, and yet articulate them better than I ever could. I’m fascinated in her ability to acknowledge her audience.

Or Steph Curry. Just because I love him.

Check out Julia’s work here:

Simon Auclair

(He/Him)
BFA Acting

Simon is a Vancouver-based actor born and raised in B.C. Recent credits include: John in Concord Floral (UBC), Luke in The Lightning Thief (CTORA), Buddy in We Will Rock You (TUTS), Kirk in Goldfish (Naked Cinema X), and Lucas in Neuroplasticity (UBC Neurosciences OED Resource).

What was one of the highlights of your UBC experience?

Being able to frame acting as sculpting in my final year. I would come into Binnings studio space with goals of authentic transformation both in and out of class times. Teasing out new characters became obsession for me this year, and that’s huge when I think about everything I’ve learned here — I am so thankful to have had these performative explorations with my friends and teachers.

What kind of creative work do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

I am ready to plug away at film acting! I want to stretch as a person and actor in as many filmic opportunities/genres as possible.

What is your dream role?

I AM PUTTING 2:
– Batman Beyond/Terry McGinnis
– Roy Orbison

A cyberpunk-y superhero and a 50s-60s Rock n’ Roller 🙂

Who is your favourite playwright?

Tracy Letts.

What are some of your special skills?

Rock/pop vocals, guitar, bouldering/rock climbing, mask work / Commedia Dell’arte training, basic kickboxing, basic stage combat, general NY accent, basic French speaking, full driver’s license, roof maintenance, truck driving, improvisation.

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

The cast of my go to ‘watch-while-eating-dinner’ YouTube channel (since childhood), “Smosh Pit.”

Check out Simon’s work here:

Rachel Angco

(She/Her)
BFA Acting

Rachel Angco is a Filipina-Canadian artist based in “Vancouver”. She is interested in theatre as an investigation of cross-cultural identity building, with credits ranging from musical theatre, and devised experimental theatre to film, commercial and voice-over work. Currently, in a Master of Management at UBC, Rachel thrives in collaborative processes, leading by upholding empathy and integrity.

What was one of the highlights of your UBC experience?

Having had the opportunity to create meaningful working and personal relationships has been the most rewarding experience of my time here. I am grateful to say I will be graduating from this program with life-long cherished friends, inspirations, and collaborators.

What kind of creative work do you see yourself doing in the next few years?

In the next few years, amongst many auditions and personal projects, I will be taking the stage with my friends as we establish our theatre company, Bleed Through Theatre! I am excited to be devising work as a performer and creator and hope to integrate my passion for music and dive into writing as well!

What are some of your special skills?

I love all things music! When I’m not working monologues, you can find me singing, and playing piano, guitar, and ukulele. Music brings people together through self-expression and, for that reason, has always played a special role in my life.

Check out Rachel’s work here: