Vidya Makan actually wanted to become a soccer star.
But life had a stage planned for her and she is now gearing up to be Eliza Hamilton in HAMILTON, the Australian production of the award-winning musical.
Having played an array of past roles where she’s stepped into the shoes of a care worker, Lady Capulet and Catherine Parr, the Indian-origin performer with South African roots shares she didn’t see anyone who looked like her playing the lead role or even on Australian stages.
But times are changing and the current momentum in the industry is evolving for good.
There was something about being on stage and being in this community that got under my skin. I made the decision to pursue it for a career. The scary thing [though] was like ‘she’s got the talent, she’s got the drive, but is there space for her in this world?'Vidya Makan on the challenges of navigating the arts landscape
As South Asian performers increasingly grace Australian stages, the future of the country's theatrical landscape begins to shift.
Suhayla Sharif brings you this episode on unscripted dreams and driven ambition but mostly, passion to take the road less travelled.
After all, the script for the future is being written by those daring enough to dream beyond the conventional.
Tap the audio player to listen to the full interview.
SBS Spice breaks new ground with English language content for young South Asians in Australia by exploring what is making us tick or ick. Find us in your podcast app such as the SBS Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or LiSTNR and follow us on Instagram @SBSSpice
