Nerina Cocchi (Italy, WK 04-05)

What years did you attend Waterford Kamhlaba? (What forms/year group?)

2004-2005

Please tell us what you have done or are doing at the moment? (e.g.. what you stud-

ied and what field you are currently working in)

Together with my partner Andrea Messana, I have been co-directing since 2010 the artistic organization “inoutput”. Based in Brussels since 2014, we create performances, installations and other artistic projects/workshops (www.inoutput.org) animated by the desire to look beyond what we already know. Notable projects include “Ni una más”, a monologue on violence against women, and our weekly photography and creative writing workshop at Centre Culturel Le Seng- hor.

I also work as a freelance translator specialized in the performing arts. Among many other projects, I have co-translated into English, together with Allison Grimaldi-Donahue, the first two plays of “The Shipwreck Trilogy” by Italian playwright Lina Prosa, which addresses the migration crisis in Italy. “Lampedusa Beach” was published in 2013 by The American Reader and an ex- cerpt of “Lampedusa Snow” was published by Words Without Borders in 2016. Allison and I will be giving a translation and theatre workshop around this at Middlebury College in November 2018.

Finally I work as an assistant producer for Brussels-based dance company “Dame de Pic / Cie Karine Ponties” (www.damedepic.be).

Could you tell us what inspired you to pursue your career path.

I first did theatre by accident, as I took a theatre workshop in summer camp just because there weren’t enough participants for it. Ever since, theatre and the arts have been a part of my life; the collaborative nature of it and the internationality of its community feed me deeply, and I witness everyday how performances, creativity, imagination allow us to see the world differently and facilitate encounters between people, help us to accept who we are and the differences that inevitably are there, whenever people come together.

Did Waterford in any way play a role in your career path choice?

Absolutely.

a. If yes: then what has that role been.

I took Theatre Arts at WK and Neil Cave, the Theatre Arts teacher at the time, played an incredible role in the development of my passion, skills and interest. He always encour- aged and supported, not only me, but all the students that he came across. He believed in each and every one of us, and in the ‘us’. This taught me so much, and provided me with an environment to dig into the theatre in a way that has made me want to pursue it as my career.

5. What advice would you have for aspiring students who would want to be involved in

similar areas of expertise?

If it’s what you want to do, go for it. It won’t be easy - for me, it’s never easy, every day is a struggle, with myself, with the economic difficulties of the field, with the challenges brought by imagination vs reality. You have to show up every day for the work, really show up, but, some- how, if you show up, one step at a time the work will happen.

Do you have any fond memories of Waterford? Could you possibly share one with us

and could we also ask you to send us one or two pictures of your time at WK?

Of course! I have A LOT of wonderful memories from WK. A lot of them. Wednesday assembly, fog in my eyes in the booth, singing the National anthem. Astrid telling us her dreams as we walked across the field to have breakfast, each of us more confused than the next. Ediz making his Turkish Nutella with tahini and who knows what else... Sex and the city marathons Mr Lucas and his infinite patience with Delphine and me translating all his classes into French...

Mama D marching across the field to wake Francis and Mlungisi because they hadn’t shown up to class... Heike and our wonderful tutor group evenings with fun films and yummy food... Lots of chocolate - lots and lots of it Mlungisi shaking his head at my TOK essay. Neil’s 48h theatre project and his first fully silent class. Laura saving me with bio labs. Lines, learning lines - rehearsals, rehearsals and some more rehearsals... Birds on the roof of the IB hostel. Chris Hatton and Wakile who left us way too early.

Most embarrassing moment at Waterford?

Day 2: I meet Chelsea, from Malawi. She smiles and asks: “How are you?” Terror. No idea what she just said. “Can you repeat, please?”

WK crush?

Ediz Tiyansan ’04.

What’s your favorite ’90s jam?

“Spice Up Your Life” by the Spice Girls

Who was in your WK #squad (friend group)?

Astrid Martin Baldera, Hanna Nieber, Delphine Blondin, Birgitte Hagem, Laura Van de Ven ‘05

11. Favourite teacher/Most hilarious teacher?

Neil Cave

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