So, I have been struggling to come up with an idea for some time now.

I have been trying to think of something different, but something entertaining of course and fun. There is nothing worse then doing something that you don’t enjoy right? Speaking with my papa, I told him I couldn’t come up with an idea.He suggested doing it on my heritage.

So I’m Greek Cypriot.

Therefore there is so much i could talk about, do about etc etc. So much!

Have you ever seen the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding?!

Brilliant film, Love it. Absolutely hilarious!

Yes it is a little over the top and exaggerated. We are not all like that, thank goodness!

So yes being Greek Cypriot, my family are loud, it is a big family and everyone knows each other’s business and it can be annoying but I love them dearly and wouldn’t change them for the world.

The Greek culture is great.

• The food is beaut. The family is always trying to feed you! If my Yiayia’s (Grandma’s) offer you food and you don’t take it. Your in big trouble mate. So yeah, you get fat.

• The party’s are so much fun! The dancing, traditional Greek dancing is great! If you want to make money on your wedding day, marry someone Greek they pin money on you!

• Family! You have so many family members! First cousins, second cousin, third cousins. My cousins are like my best friends! We are super close! Family gathering’s are great- every Sunday there’s like 30 of us! That’s just my immediate family. You cant just invite one person, you have to invite everyone!

• The alcohol is deadly! Tastes a bit like medicine! However gets you super drunk if your going out with friends! Ouzo and Zivania! Just drink it.

• Cyprus is actually beautiful! Probably thinking I’m Biased. But i love it!

So here’s the thing. In 1974 Turkey invaded the North of Cyprus and it is now divided in two. Before this happened a lot of my relatives lived on that side. They said it was absolutely beautiful. Both my Yiayias villages were on that side. A lot of my family had to find new homes and were banished from that side of the country. Many became refugees. My family sometimes tell me story’s of what there lifes were like over there. Thousands who lost there homes. 42 Years later and it is still very raw for some people. The saddest part is The Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots lived in harmony before this had happened. They were friends, neighbours.  It was not just Greek Cypriots who lost there homes but Turkish Cypriots also.  Some of the Turkish Cypriots decided to join force with the Turkish troops who invaded and some did not. There was a huge divide and many left homeless and hurt.

I had never crossed to the Northern part of Cyprus until last year when I went on holiday. So, first of all if you wanted to drive across, you would have to pay which I believed to be absolutely shocking. So me, my Cousin and Auntie walked across. We had to show our passports and once they had seen I was Greek Cypriot, I felt as though I was looked at and treated differently. I was extremely uncomfortable. Walking through i could see some of the damage and ruins of the buildings, how sad they looked. Me and my family were constantly watched and being stared at. It was not a nice feeling at all. The writings on the walls were no longer Greek but Turkish. A local church had been damaged. It was upsetting and even though I was not there at the time it happened, it upset me. Crossing the borders to the Northern part of Cyprus, I had received a text from Vodafone my network provider. Welcome to Turkey! I was furious! Was that some sort of a joke. I’m sorry but we are in Cyprus not Turkey. That got me raging. So many rules, we were not allowed to buy anything from the Turkish side or they would confiscate it from you, when you would try to cross back over. It just was not a nice feeling. I had, had enough. It was time to go back.

I’ve been told and have heard that the Northern part of Cyprus was beautiful and still is in certain parts. However there is a lot of damage too. Apparently they have the best beaches. I have seen pictures, it looks amazing. It saddens me that I will never be able to experience it for myself. It saddens me that I will never really get to know what my family’s villages were like. The saddest part is, too this day I have really good friends who are Turkish Cypriot but that’s all it could ever be. If I was to ever get feelings for someone who is Turkish Cypriot, it could never work out. Even though me and that person could like each other, our family’s would never accept it. They would never allow it and there would be so much against it. That is how raw this war is still for some people. I hope in generations to come it does settle, because it isn’t a nice feeling. Just because i am Greek and someone is Turkish doesn’t mean we are involved with this war. Just because someone is Turkish or Turkish Cypriot doesn’t mean they are a bad person but it could only ever be friends and with some people that is totally fine but with others there not even allowed to be friends. Its so sad but unfortunately that’s how it is for many people.

So, I’m in a predicament of what i can do for my performance. I know its going to be on Greek Heritage however I don’t know what as there is so much.

I could do it on the culture, the dancing, the food, the music, the family life, have some autobiographical parts and some comedic acting parts.

Or

I could do it on the War and what happened and incorporate an autobiographical performance.

Or

What I’m favouring towards the most is a show incorporating of all elements together, some of the history, some of family life, some of the culture. Using  autobiographical techniques, naturalistic techniques but also devising techniques so I can break out in to performances with some comedic light hearted aspects.

I have a vision of what my set could look like. Possibly set up in a Greek Type restaurant with tables and Greek food and drink.

This is all ideas for now. I’m hoping to be clearer on my thoughts soon.

YouTube. (2016). My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) Official Trailer #1 – Nia Vardalos Movie HD. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2mecmDFE-Q [Accessed 25 May 2016].

In our solo performance workshop, we were set a task based on a technique Anna Deavere Smith uses. The task consisted of three hats placed on the floor in front of our self’s. Each hat represents a different character or person that you know. When you would put these hats on, you would become that character/person of your choice. Many class members decided to use people that they had already knew. My idea was to use 3 people that i know however when portraying them fabricate and exaggerate specific details and situations.

My first person was a “university friend of mine”

A girl friend of mine who encourages me to go out, have fun, get with guys. Only if i want to though. I’m only at university once right?

No thanks, that’s not me at all. I would rather keep myself to myself. I prefer to go out and have fun with my friends. I’m not the type to go out looking for guys. That lifestyle ain’t for me. Everyone is different, i don’t judge. While I’m at uni, i ain’t interested in guys, unless i actually meet someone who i genuinely end up liking.

My second person was my “Grandma” (Yiayia) – in Greek.

Oh my god. I love her but my god she is a moaner. Constantly on my case to find a nice boyfriend from a nice her, preferably Greek.

Brilliant.

“Natasha when you are going to find yourself a nice boyfriend from a nice family home.”

“Yiayia seriously, I’m only 21 give me a break.”

“But look at your cousins”

“How old are they and how old am i?”

So you get the idea, that,s my yiayia. I love her, she,s great. But can be bloody annoying.

My third person “A couple of idiots I’ve met in my time merged into one person”

Hood ghetto boys who don’t know how to speak to a girl. The type of guy who tells you he is a different and a one woman guy but is definitely not. There chat up lines are awful.

“Yo B.. Come see me” – Ergh no thanks. Who’s coming to see who at 3am, not me mate. 3am is bed time, where is this guy at normal times.

“Looking spicy” – Yikes, what am i a piece of food. Learn how to talk properly please.

“Bruv why you being like that” – Excuses me, this guy needs to learn how to talk properly. Bruv, i don’t think so. I ain’t one of his guys.

“I’m different.. i’m not like the wrest. So uno, when we going to?” – Seriously. Just stop right there.

Who’s got time for boys like that? Definitely not me. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes a bit of cheekiness and attitude is good. But certainly not like that. I like my guy to have a nice balance and be educated. Not someone who wants to meet me at 3am in the morning in McDonald’s car park. No thanks.

 The Exercise

The exercise was quite nerve racking to do as it is merely based on improvising and you’ve just got to go with it. Not knowing how the audience is going to take it, made me feel even more nervous. Nevertheless getting up and doing my 5 minute solo performance in front of the class was liberating for myself. As the thought of getting up and doing something on my own does scare me, in case its not liked. However what i did learn, was getting up and doing it gave me more more confidence and it gradually built the longer I was up performing. If your up there worrying about what people think then the audience are more likely to notice your fears. Therefore if your up there, not enjoying what you are doing, then again the audience and more likely to not enjoy it. What i have learnt is to believe in myself and just go for it and to be honest i really enjoyed it. I was looking forward to watching the other class members do there’s. I was really pleased, as my class member’s told me my solo performance was really enjoyable and comedic. I was not aiming for laughs but I got some naturally which was terrific. The module is gradually helping me gain my confidence to perform solo and to believe in myself. Yes, doing a group performance you can rely on each other, however doing a solo performance its all down to the individual and it is a chance for your own individual ideas to be heard and shown.