We sat down with Anastasiya who brings “Selfies, visas and how I pay for my dinners” to the Old Red Lion theatre on 19th and 20th September at 8pm; West End Comedy Club on 25th September at 8.30pm; Etcetera Theatre on 8th October at 7pm and 9pm.
Your journey from Belarus to Ukraine, India, and finally the UK has deeply shaped your sense of identity and belonging. How do you bring those experiences of ‘outsiderness’ into your performance, and what do you hope audiences take away from it?
“ To be honest, I used to feel ashamed of always being an “outsider” or “foreigner” everywhere I moved. But then a close friend said, “Hey, embrace it, this makes you different!” And I thought, “You’re right!” Since then, I’ve turned that into my superpower. I carry a unique perspective on the world, on people, and on everything I experience. That’s what I bring to my theater work—a distinct outsider’s perspective. I hope it inspires the audience to feel comfortable in their own skin. Life’s too short to settle for being mediocre.”
Your play incorporates physical comedy, cabaret, and intimate chats, but you’ve mentioned you won’t be taking yourself too seriously. How do humor and light-heartedness help you address the deeper themes of immigration and self-discovery in your show?
“ It’s funny because a lot of people, after seeing the play, are surprised that I can be funny. Most of the roles I get cast in are usually dramatic or more serious, slice-of-life types. But I love comedy! Someone once said that good comedy is rooted in tragedy, and I truly believe that. That’s why I address important issues through a comedic lens. I believe in energy and vibrations—constantly complaining about the world isn’t something I want to do. I’d rather help us look at things from a different angle, and maybe even smile about it.”
You’ve lived through a wide range of experiences, from waitressing in private clubs to acting in a Netflix show. How do these different jobs and environments inform your exploration of identity and belonging on stage?
“ I’m currently writing a book (been at it for a while, lol) about my journey from Belarus to India and eventually to the UK. I was always confused about my identity—growing up in Eastern Europe, then living in India (which, honestly, still feels like home). A lot of times, I’d lie about where I was from because I knew people would treat me based on stereotypes. But now I’ve accepted that our identities aren’t fixed. Identity is fluid, constantly changing. That’s one of the core themes in my show. Funny enough, an audience member once thought my play was about three different people, and I had to say, “No, it’s just me!” She replied, “Wild!”
The desire to fit in, especially through something as specific as acquiring an English accent, is a key theme in your show. What do you think the pursuit of an accent represents in terms of identity and acceptance in a new culture?
“ This obsession with accents started bothering me years ago. Anytime I spoke English, people would point out my accent—not in a nice way, but as if it was something wrong, like a flaw. My friends from France or Spain would always get complimented for how “cute” or “sexy” their accents were, but no one ever says that about Eastern European accents. It’s even more pronounced in the UK. At drama school, we were taught that unless we could act in Received Pronunciation (RP), no one would take us seriously. So I wanted to explore this obsession with accents in my play and show how it’s unnecessarily glorified—almost worshipped! (But I can’t give away too much, you’ll have to come watch the show!)”
Your show explores the fluidity of identity and how it constantly changes with new experiences and places. How has your perception of ‘belonging’ evolved through your multiple migrations, and how do you express that evolution in your performance?
“ I used to be very attached to places, which made it painful every time I had to move. But now my sense of belonging and home has shifted inward. I carry my sense of home with me wherever I go. I don’t need a specific place to feel grounded. I have my pillars: my close circle of friends, my morning routine, journaling, and doing things I love like reading, watching films, and dancing. As long as I have those things, I’m fine anywhere. Creating a play based on those experiences proves that you don’t need a specific place to create something meaningful—just the willingness to tell your story. And that story is always evolving.”