What shows or projects have you done with ETT?
Othello & The Herbal Bed
Where is home for you?
I’ve been quite lucky in that I have had loads of homes. I love the North East where I’m from and I love London, where I now live.
Where is your home away from home?
My family are Portuguese, though some of them migrated to Jersey in the 1950s, so I feel quite at home in those countries.
Touring is important because without it thousands of people outside London are less able to see centrally funded, high quality, big production value drama.
Any machine that enables me to watch Newcastle United or cricket is essential.
How did you bring home with you on tour?
I pack very light
What are your touring essentials?
Everything has to fit into my small rucksack or it doesn’t make the cut. Any machine that enables me to watch Newcastle United or cricket is essential.
Which city was your favourite to visit on tour with ETT?
Have to say Newcastle for obvious reasons. But as that feels like cheating I’ll say Shanghai.
What gem did you discover on tour with ETT?
Chilli egg pancakes in the park in Shanghai, watching the community dancing together
What’s your go-to recipe whilst on tour?
Anything Vegetarian
Which artist(s) do you most admire and why?
It’s too difficult. Bob Dylan, Kevin Keegan, Shane Meadows, Scott Walker, Jarvis Cocker, Wong Kar Wai, Annette Bening, Leonard Cohen, Deeyah Khan, Stephen Graham, Tori Amos, Childish Gambino, Harold Pinter, George Orwell, David Bowie, Rodin, Arthur Miller, Julia Davis, Kendrick Lamar, Rafa Benitez, Kate Bush, Kandinsky, Yuval Noah Harari, Spielberg…
What music inspires you?
‘Set you Free’ by N-Trance, Stormzy and Jarvis Cocker
What, for you, makes a good piece of art?
Something which connects with its audience and incites change. I don’t think there is any point in art that can’t be accessed by anyone who wants to access it.
What image or video inspires you?
Laurent Robert Goals on loop
What piece of writing or quote inspires you?
The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down just to feel its warmth
What, for you, makes a good piece of art?
Something that is moving, direct, says something about the way we live and is accessible to all
What have been your career highlights so far?
In 2010 I was part of a production of Simon Stephen’s ‘Country Music’, which visited Prisons in Yorkshire. I have a strong interest in prison reform and the long term abolition of prisons. It was a huge privilege to visit these institutions and speak to some of the prison population. The play is brilliant, featuring a man before, during and post incarceration, who at the end attempts to reconnect with his daughter. Our job was to perform the play before discussing its themes with our audience. Stephen’s says one of the central reasons for taking drama into prisons is that it can be a humanising experience, in an environment that can be dehumanising. I found the discussion we had after every show, each time in very different institutions, to be some of the most interesting, moving and difficult I had ever had. The experience convinced me that abolition was possible and at the very least that rehabilitation, enabling and humanising have to be central to our prison system. I also felt very strongly that taking work to an audience who wants it, demands it, or for whatever reason, is prevented from accessing it is vital.
I don't think there is any point in art that can't be accessed by anyone who wants to access it.
Giving young people a chance to see a big production like 'Othello' can inspire them for life.
Please can you tell us what you would say to emerging artists to encourage them to take their work on the road or join an ETT tour?
What is the point in work that no one can see?
How possible is it for a person, especially a person on limited income, based in Northumberland, or Cumbria for example, to easily access nationally funded, high production value, professional theatre?
Fantastic way to connect with people outside of the traditional metropolitan bubbles. Something which at present is vital. Also – it’s work, it’s well paid and you’re treated incredibly well. Mainly giving young people a chance to see a big production like ‘Othello’ can inspire them for life. It worked for me.
Window or aisle seat?
Aisle
Favourite way to travel?
Walk
If you could have any superpower, which would you choose?
Teleportation
Do you have any upcoming projects we can promote on your page?
The Invisible Man (adapted by me!) at Northern Stage in September 2020.
Philip Correia’s biog:
Phil is from Blyth in Northumberland. He is half Portuguese.
After leaving LAMDA Phil appeared in ‘The History Boys’ in the West End, NT and on tour.
He has done TV, film, radio, video games and lots of theatre, but enjoyed most appearing in Simon Stephen’s ‘Country Music’ which toured Yorkshire’s Prison System and travelling around the world with ETT’s Othello and Shakespeare’s Globe’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. He loved being in Pitman Painters, Betrayal, The Hunters and Atlantis.
He loves community projects and working with young people. He facilitates play reading groups with Mental Health system service users.
Phil’s debut play HYEM, premiered at Theatre503 and Northern Stage and was supported by ETT Forge and ACE. His second play, an adaptation of ‘The invisible Man’ is due to be performed at Northern Stage. He is associate artist at ‘NOVO’ who are producing his third play.
Phil recently enjoyed adapting and directing ‘Cloud 9’ and ‘Accidental Death of an Anarchist’.