Actor Gabriella Stylianou: ‘My first job taught me to be open and patient with a creative process’

I was lucky enough to sign with my first agent before graduating from drama school and received an audition through them, which led to my first job: the workshop of Sunny Afternoon, a musical telling the story of hit 1960s band the Kinks. My then agent had more TV connections and it happened that a TV agent was casting for this workshop and only seeing a handful of applicants. We rehearsed in Islington at Union Chapel and performed to producers at the end of a two-week period.

I was extremely nervous at first, as the cast was made up of very accomplished actors who were also more mature. Luckily, the cast were lovely and I had one girl who really took me under her wing and gave me lots of advice. I was also lucky that I had worked with the choreographer at drama school and already had a rapport with him.

With it being my first job and workshop, I really wasn’t aware of how much would change on a daily basis. Looking back, I wish I had been more relaxed and open to the regular changes that come in a workshop. There’s always new ideas and, with the progression of a show, many things do and don’t work, which means regular updates. It’s very fast-paced but also incredibly rewarding creatively and feels amazing to be part of a new piece of theatre.

From that experience, I learned to be open and patient with a creative process. With new shows you don’t always go into the room with a creative team who have the piece set, and I’ve learned to see it as a gift and privilege to be chosen to take part in such a special process.

My advice to anyone doing workshops for the first time would be to always be patient with the process and trust that it will come together. Be open to changes and always try to be forthcoming and positive with the process. I would also say to be confident in yourself. You were offered the job for a reason, so be confident that you’re right for it. If they believed in you then, so should you. Show them what you’re made of.

CV Gabriella Stylianou

Age: Undisclosed
Training: ArtsEd, London
Theatre includes: Alternate Aragon/ Seymour and Dance Captain in Six the Musical, Vaudeville Theatre, London; The Great British Bake Off Musical, Noël Coward Theatre/Everyman Cheltenham; Cats, Royal Caribbean; Oklahoma!, UK tour; Christmas Crooners, UK tour
Agent: Debbie Rimmer Management