Try all the things

A young woman with glasses and a gray hoodie sitting on grass near a coastline with rocks, cliffs, the ocean, and a cloudy sky, smiling at the camera.

Fiona Belle (They/Them) is a recent student at Villanova University in the Theatre M.A. program. They entered grad school directly after graduating from DeSales University with their Bachelors of Arts Degree in Theatre with a concentration in Acting for Stage and Screen and a Minor in Film.

Fiona has always been performing as they grew up at the original Renaissance Fairs in California with family. Didn’t matter if they were a fairytale character or Charles Dickens’ Granddaughter, if they were on stage Fiona was happy. It was here with family that their motto “try all the things” was instilled in them by one of their aunties. This motto has influenced how Fiona goes about life, work, friendships, and definitely food.

A woman in a red top and black pants posing with one hand on her hip and smiling at the camera in front of a step and repeat banner with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival logo.
Graduates in caps and gowns walking on a bridge outside a brick and glass building, smiling and holding hands.

Fiona grew up dancing three nights a week and still craved to dance more. Going to Shakespeare summer camps throughout elementary, middle, and high school gave Fiona a strong appreciation for clever word play and bold characters.

Once they got to undergrad Fiona soon realized it wasn’t just the acting that they love, but making theatre happen in general was what excited them. So they decided to try all the things. Fiona threw themselves into learning about Lighting and Electrics including design. They also realized they loved being on the other side of the table as a director.

They only continued exploring all the ways they could participate in theatre when they got to grad school. Fiona was a Graduate Assistant in the Scenic Shop for two years while they were a full time student. They also got to explore stage management and dramaturgy, and continue learning about design and directing while there.

Fiona has been working in and around Philly for the last several years as an actor, Lighting technician, a designer, and even an Assistant Production Manager. When not in the theatre Fiona enjoys exploring nature, reading books, and going dancing with friends.

Three smiling young women lying on a green carpeted floor, taking a selfie with one in the foreground and the other two in the background.

  • My name is Fiona Belle. I respond to either Fiona or Fiona Belle.

    I am a queer Philly based theatre maker.

    I am nonbinary, my pronouns are they/them, and I play all genders on stage.

  • My areas of expertise:

    • Actor

    • Director

    • Lighting Designer

    • Lighting Technician

    • Dancer

    • Model

    • Stage Manager

    • Stage Carpenter

  • As a theatre maker, I have learned that Art is not created in a vacuum. Theatre is not just an escape, a simple means of entertainment, but a reflection of the people who work on it, view it, and engage with it. Art is a means of processing the world around us.

    The liveness of theatre lends multiple layers of vulnerability to the process and the experience. This is something I lean into as an artist, whether I am acting, directing, or creating the framework for the production by creating lights, scenery, or stage managing.

    I am a collaborator by nature and being part of a team is my favorite part of that process. Creativity is only enhanced by thoughtful caring minds in partnership of one shared goal. I strongly believe there need to be many different types of voices at the table. Diversity only strengthens art and my goal is to uplift, include, and make room at the table for those who wish to be there.

    In my experience, the process is just as important as the final product.  It is my goal to simultaneously uplift the quality of the experience of my colleagues and collaborators while deepening the richness of the art we create together.

I choose to be a person who thinks critically, engages deeply, and works intuitively with others - both to fully occupy and assist others to fully occupy space.

I choose daily to make art that opens a world of possibility with the conscious belief that in doing so I reflect and help others to reflect on the work-at-hand and the world around us.

I choose to be a theatre maker who creates space for life to occupy and thrive.  

This is a draft just as I am.  

Mission Statement

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