Today we’d like to introduce you to Evelyn-Claire Smith
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I truly believe I started down the creative path because of my Dad telling me bedtime stories when I was a child. He has always been the creative influence in my life; his world-building was my first introduction to compelling stories and how they could emotional effect. It set me up on a path where storytelling was the base; which I am so thankful for. I grew up in the theater and was accepted into the Pacific Conservatory Theater’s Actor Training Program at 18. There I began studying, not just how to be a better performer, but how to be a person who wasn’t afraid of the inherent absurdity of living, and it made me a better artist. What’s better is that it turns out acting was just a jumping off point; I had untapped passions in other art forms as well: directing, music, visual art. Since graduating, I’ve moving to Los Angeles where I’ve found a community of other oddball creators, and together we make beautiful, unhinged, necessary art together in many forms.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are always struggles; the cost of living has never been higher and making a living on telling stories can leave one with a pretty dry bank account. That’s life, though. Beside the monetary setbacks, I think learning to be the most authentic version of yourself is where the good stuff happens, but that comes with facing some pretty devastating realities. This industry is quite cruel, as is the world, and I struggle with that. Facing it is the hardest part for me. It’s easy to block out the things that hurt, and but there’s something really beautiful to me about learning to marry the horrors with the wonders. There is always pain where there is beauty and vise versa. That’s where good art is made, right in the intersection between the two.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am first and foremost a theater artist; that’s where my roots grew from. My speciality is acting in Shakespeare productions and, more recently, directing Shakespeare. I had my LA directorial debut in March of 2024 and it was the most delightful experience; learning that I had ideas strong enough for them to come to fruition was all I needed to keep on that track. I am directing again at the Hollywood Fringe festival this summer with my own company; Bad Host and Co. I think Shakespeare is becoming more and more niche as it is relatively inaccessible to the average theater goer; my goal is to take classic productions and turn them around a bit so they become easier for the audience to sink their teeth into. The language is quite dense sometimes, but the beauty of Shakespeare is universal. I believe all words are onomatopoetic; once you start listening with the body as much as the mind, it’s a whole different experience. I try to cut my plays with this in mind.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a pretty sad kid, I had a lot of feelings that I didn’t know the names of and liked to hide under a mask that was simply vibrating with all the things I tried to push down. So naturally, I became an actor. That was my only dream for myself. I think having an avenue where feeling wasn’t just encouraged but rather made up the medium was the only place I felt safe to let myself experience the human condition. Shakespeare was always my favorite thing to act out; it still is. The poetry of verse and the depth of each character drove me out of that place where numbness was the baseline. So much of the person I am today is because of the emotional freedom Shakespeare lent me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://evelynclairesmith.com
- Instagram: @evelynnoises
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@evelyn-clairesmith
Image Credits
Rollance Patugan
Kai Jayne
Jesse Kru
