Shining Dramatic Arts Graduate Ahona Sanyal brings love of theatre to community

Faculty of Fine Arts graduate Ahona Sanyal (BFA - Dramatic Arts '24) fostered her passion for creativity as a student, taking part in a variety of experiences both onstage and offstage. Having been a part of a number of outstanding theatre productions while at the University of Lethbridge, Ahona plans to continue pursuing her love of theatre while also supporting the next generation of creative students.

We had an incredible opportunity to work with clients from the Melcor Centre, children from Bridges Consulting and individuals from the Impact program at Quest Support. Every week I would form new and meaningful relationships, and get to know the amazingly different people who make up this city. I was able to see first-hand the impact theatre has on our community; whether it's the games or the vulnerability, there truly is something for everyone in this field.

Meet Ahona. Spirited. Devoted. Kind.
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Program: Bachelor of Fine Arts - Dramatic Arts (Performance)

What are three awesome things about yourself?

1. I have a black belt in TaeKwon-Do.
2. I choreographed the numbers "Everything's Alright" and "Hosanna" in the 2024 ULethbridge Mainstage production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
3. This summer I will direct a play, which I also wrote, for the first time as part of New West Theatre's outdoor Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) show, Hootenanny!

What is your most memorable ULethbridge experience?

My most memorable experience from my time here was performing in The Little Prince as part of the 2022/2023 ULethbridge Mainstage theatre season. I will never forget the design of this production, everything came together to create such a magical world that people of every age could get lost in. One of my favourite parts were the costumes and puppets; each character was dynamically different from the other and created so thoughtfully. We had an incredible team who shared the same goal as our lovely director, Nicola Elson, and this production was truly a dream to be a part of. The school matinees were an incredible experience and I don't think I can ever forget how receptive the University Theatre full of children was. Or their laughter at my Business Person character. And it's true: that was really was my foot wearing googly eyes.

Tell us about your Work-Integrated Learning experiences. What were your three biggest takeaways from participating?

During my final semester, I had the pleasure of taking a course called Applied Theatre for Progressive Social Change and Community Building. In this course, we used our class time to travel to various locations in Lethbridge and apply the knowledge we've learned throughout our program to create art and provide an encouraging space for creative communication.

We had an incredible opportunity to work with clients from the Melcor Centre, children from Bridges Consulting and individuals from the Impact program at Quest Support. Every week I would form new and meaningful relationships, and get to know the amazingly different people who make up this city. I was able to see first-hand the impact theatre has on our community; whether it's the games or the vulnerability, there truly is something for everyone in this field.

My three biggest takeaways were that:

1. It's the process over the product.
2. We are not the same person every day; our physical and mental capacities are constantly changing, and there are always ways to accommodate for that.
3. Kindness and laughter are contagious.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at ULethbridge?

During my time here, I've learned that you look sillier when you don't let yourself look silly. While I usually say this to myself on stage, and use it as encouragement to commit to my work, I think it can also be applied to everyday circumstances. As someone who is about to navigate the world without having a school to safely try and fail within, my confidence is a powerful tool. I'm going to meet a lot of people throughout my life, and hopefully the risks I take are rewarded, and I don't want to hold myself back in any way. I want to fail with charm, look silly and be brave, and my professors and peers have taught me a valuable lesson on how to do that.

Is there someone specific who had an important influence on your ULethbridge experience?

I have had the privilege of learning under Nicola Elson for my entire university career, and her influence has inspired me to become the artist I am today. Nicola has been one of the biggest factors in me coming out of my shell, and her love of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) is what sparked my passion for it as well. She has taught me an abundance of skills and tools when it comes to physical theatre, and I am so lucky to continue a working relationship with her after graduating. Her encouragement and support has helped me immensely in finding my confidence as an artist, and I definitely feel like I am going into the world with someone in my corner.

What are your hopes/plans for the future?

My hopes and dreams are to continue working in theatre and creating works of my own to share with others. As a performer, designer, director, stagehand, I don’t mind; I have such a love for the environment and community theatre brings together that I want to be a part of it, no matter how small my role is. But truthfully, I'm kind of living the dream right now.

This coming fall I am fortunate enough to be working with Quest Theatre and their elementary school touring show of Snow White. I will be one of two performers who will be rapidly switching between characters to accurately retell the story of Snow White. I am so excited to be involved with this show; performing for children has always been fulfilling to me and I look forward to the exploration and play that comes with a rehearsal process.

What advice would you like to give those beginning their journey at ULethbridge?

The beginning of university can be daunting, and there are so many new people from all kinds of different places that it makes it overwhelming to meet anyone new. My biggest advice would be to know that you will find your people. It may not happen immediately and it may take a bit of bravery to get there, but there are friends waiting for you here.

Clubs are a great, casual way of meeting people who have similar interests as you. There are also events and shows that take place on campus throughout the year, getting familiar with friendly faces will make it easier to introduce yourself. And remember the number one rule when you're feeling lost: stay where you are, your friends are looking for you too.