Featuring Helen Belay

Helen Belay took Canada by storm fresh out of graduation. Her light and spirit has traveled to the Globe Theatre in Regina, the backstage theatre in Edmonton and soon to the Citadel and much more! Her love of theatre can easily infect and grow to those around her due to her kind nature. 

HER STORY

Her story starts when she was in kindergarten, Belay explains that there were auditions for 5-minute plays and she remembers “being super jazzed about that.” Things took a turn when Belay was “coded gift” Belay says, 

“my parents are immigrants. My parents were like you are now either going to be a lawyer, engineer, or doctor. So, after that I was on a very strict academic path.” 

Unfortunately for Belay, this path resulted in a “horrific burn out” when she went to university for computer sciences. That was a huge turning point in her life because coming from a solid %90 grade point average, to in her mind completely “bombing” the degree, Belay began to see herself as a failure. So, she swapped from computer sciences to general science than to English, but none of it felt fulfilling to her. Living this lifestyle surrounded by academics, Belay reached a point where she could not find happiness. Belay took a semester off, and her father suggested picking up an adult class at the citadel. From there her path change again,

“I remember sitting on the subway on my way home feeling electric, feeling like woah. The bug had bite. After finishing that class, I auditioned for a young company then the BFA.”

We asked Helen if she could go back in time and start acting, sooner would she?

What was it like after graduation? 

The first thing Belay said was, 

“It’s been great, we are lucky here in Edmonton. The community is quite warm. I personally have felt very embraced,”

Belay went on to say that could be a result from actively going to see theatre in the summer and participating as much in the community as she could while in her BFA degree. Belays admit networking and talking to people in the community can at first can feel “weird” but her style was to genuinely reach out to people and being open and letting people know when they have created amazing art. 

“telling people, they have done something great and holding them in my head and my heart and whenever I run into them being like (I loved your last show)”

Belay believes in terms of etiquette being kind, honest, and vulnerable while doing the work and being humble but knowing your worth goes a long way. She goes on saying that when it comes to actually doing the work just playing openly and intensely bringing your entirety into the work and fully seeing all of your peers around you.

How has this pandemic affected you as an artist?

“I realize I miss acting with people in a space.” 

Belay explains that events like online live readings have helped, but for the most part a career in theatre right now is very uncertain. Belay is feeling for small companies who are trying to stay afloat in our communities who are trying to cast things online, but it’s very challenging. Bely adds, 

“I had a call back the other day on zoom and It’s interesting to see how we are adjusting. The show will go on ……It’s very odd.” 

Belay is hoping that this pandemic has hopefully put a light on how important theatre is to the community. That there will be a “resurgence” for a love of art.

What are some of the biggest things you’ve learned as an emerging artist? 

Belay explains that one of the hardest challenges for anyone going into the arts is the “mistake of tying in the worth of oneself with the work that you get to do.” How important it is to separate yourself from your work is vital. Belay is extremely grateful,

“I am filled with a very specific gratitude for the craft because I have felt what it’s like with a life without it. And my life has been infinitely improved with it.”

Belay goes on and says, 

“The distinction between being out of school is you get to define your craft for yourself. And find what works for you, you are no longer being criticized. You’re no longer being told you should do it like this and yeah there’s no one size fits all process for everybody. And that process changes for each show, like in February had the pleasure to do Titus Bouffonius.

 That was a specific style, it was like I have never done before. (after that I did) A beautiful prairie play; a wonderful flower. (they were) Entirely different style of show with a crap load of tragedy. To do both was super validating, I was like okay I can do both.”

Final Thoughts

Listening to Belay speak on her journey through acting as another emerging artist was genuinely comforting. I feel that it is common to have self-doubt about the craft, but it isn’t something that is often resolved. Belay’s story and experiences show how grateful we should be even to pursue such a magical craft. 

Helen Belay’s light and passion prove that acting is not only a job. It is the opportunity and privilege to play with others. What other jobs do that – Not many. Everyone in the theatre is there because they love it… isn’t that a beautiful thing?

Let us know what you thought of this story, and if it also inspired you to fall even more in love with your craft. Or if you have story that you would like to share with us next