Louise Coggrave - Humans of NYT REP Interview

Theatre is such a powerful tool for the self, identity and community. I know for myself, it has been the catalyst in learning more about myself amidst the noise of society. Growing up in Doncaster, a small-northern town, it wasn’t easy. Being mixed-race and of a working-class background, I always felt less than, of what society deemed was enough. I remember joining an acting school in primary school, and ever since then, my confidence grew, as acting became mine and it gave my inner-child autonomy. Being half-Filipino and British, I want to uplift Filipino representation in the industry, especially for mixed-asians.

Acting is an alchemy tool for my adult self. I can bring in my own perceptions of the human condition and emesh myself in the dance of the present moment with another being on stage. And, it’s a bucket of fun as well! I am so excited for the future and what roles and stories find my being to get stuck into, and how I can bring my own heritage and northern-ness to any role I do. Authenticity calls me and the roles I do. Although, a cheeky American accent wouldn’t mind me;)

"To be vulnerable is to be radical for a neurodivergent person, something that more of us should do in this ever polarising world."

Being a neurodivergent human has also enabled me to understand myself more when it comes to the craft. My pattern recognition and ability to explore the incredible heights and lows of human emotion opens me up to so much play that the universe has to offer. This is the most rewarding part of the craft, it does involve your whole self: mind, heart and gut. An exhausting phenomena indeed - but something us actors keep coming back to. To feel and enrich us within the mindscape of reality. I want to advocate more for ADHD in this creative space, and to break down neurotypical models that don’t serve us, and in turn - change the output of what this means for ADHERs for the better. Something that will be a life-long journey. To be vulnerable is to be radical for a neurodivergent person, something that more of us should do in this ever polarising world. I hope to be an anchor of change for this.

Creating realms and universes is so fulfilling to me. Writing is a recent world I have been exploring. I am a spoken-word artist and have delved deep into writing forms of spoken-word by combining poetry, rap and spirituality. Recent works was a spoken-word I performed at the Phoenix Arts Club with Livewire Prods, called ‘Completiton’. A piece traversing the depths of my mind during the year of the snake, with fun lines around the self, politics, music, social culture, as the shift from the year of the snake to horse, is one with bold moves to our highest selves - “as I step into this new quantum wave, like the fool over the cliff of a new age, I hold my heart in my hands, hoping the people I meet truly engage”.

I also wrote my first ever play in 2023. Titled “The Whole of England stopped when a Policeman murdered a White Woman”. A story of two, Tamera and Nasir, both young growing up in inner-city London. Tamera (based on Child Q) is a 16 year-old girl who goes through a traumatic event at her private school, where the police strip search her without any parental or school supervision, whilst being on her period, as she has been suspected of carrying drugs - something Tamera never does on school grounds. Her friend Nasir, her dealer - have a special bond - they talk on being a person of colour, the mental strain of being a young person and through his own grief as a working-class 18 year old with a sick father and struggling mother. He finds solace in music and fashion and Tamera. Nasir finds he has to do something for his supplier which pushes him to a moral dilemma to hurt a life.

"Music and theatre is so dynamic to me."

Going through the ups-and-downs of these two as they romantically dance with each other mind and soul, we see a story of young love unfold. The monologues are spoken-word and are rapped to original drill beats. Music and theatre is so dynamic to me. Seeing Rapsody at the Pleasance Courtyard a few years back sparked this for me. It was beautiful to see grime and rap be used in a show about pain in these bottom-up places to express the state of the mind. For me, I took the sensitive story of Child Q and used the title to showcase that when things happen to black children, nothing is done. When it affects white people - it is a different story. “E1” for short. This play was put on at the Durham Drama Festival, winning Best Creative Ensemble at the Palatinate Awards. This story will soon be reborn.

Subsequently, following on from my degree at Durham University, in which I studied Politics and International Relations. I undertook research in the arts and youth violence arena. My dissertation project was on “Unleashing the Potential of the Arts to Mitigate Youth Violence in the UK”. I had the opportunity to interview: criminologists, individuals from DCMS and the Ministry of Justice and the National Justice Criminal Arts Alliance. Where I asked fellow individuals “what opportunities and challenges do stakeholders identify in the policy integration of arts-based programs for mitigating youth violence?”.

"More funding to arts in schools and communities, it is the language of the human condition and it is necessary for humanity’s existence."

In turn, I concluded that a well-supported arts sector can play a pivotal role in not just reducing youth violence (through rehabilitative means) but also in promoting social justice and equitable opportunities for all young people. If we gave the means to young people, especially low-income individuals of the global majority to explore emotional regulation from early on. We would have less crime rates, especially when it comes to knife crime. We would be giving the right kind of tools to explore their emotional landscape and help them channel it into positive, healthy ways. Such as a killer Macbeth monologue or growing up on the block and having a friend die. The practice of alchemising your experience into a character - safely - in turn, will allow disadvantaged youths to broker a sense of peace within themselves. More funding to arts in schools and communities, it is the language of the human condition and it is necessary for humanity’s existence.

I am such a champion of social change for young people. The arts save lives. And for me - it truly saved my soul growing up in a deprived area. This can be the same for many young people. I let the right one in, when I mixed my heart and my work. Everyone deserves a space to explore their heart in spaces they feel safe. Standing in my vulnerability gave me power and once you let that in - you have the whole universe at your feet. Without community - what do we have? I am very grateful for the National Youth Theatre, without their support in so many ways, I would have not had the opportunity to be in London, financially stable. Let’s keep helping those from the bottom-up. Art is a natural human right. Without that, we’d have no human stories…

Come and see Louise playing the role of Police Officer in Let The Right One In at The Underbelly Boulevard Soho May 5-23rd 2026.