We chatted to Vic about ‘Vic Holt – Yamas!‘ playing at Theatro Technis on 3rd and 4th August as part of the Camden Fringe.
What can you tell us about your show?
Yamas! is a solo storytelling show inspired by a lifetime of misadventures. I’ve always tended to view life’s detours, misunderstandings, and absurd moments as future material. Drawing on experiences from Cyprus, London, Lesvos and the Netherlands, the show explores some of the unexpected situations I’ve found myself in and the characters I have met along the way. I hope audiences laugh, but I also hope they are moved. Some of the stories are ridiculous, some are poignant, and many are both.
How did the idea for the show come about?
It’s really the combination of several strands of my life coming together. I’ve always loved acting and storytelling, and over the years I’ve been involved in acting, writing and performing. At the same time, as a psychiatrist, I’ve spent much of my professional life listening to other people’s stories, which has given me a deep appreciation of how
unpredictable, funny and moving life can be.
Last year I performed my first full-length solo show, Stand-up Vic, at the White Bear Theatre. Yamas!, my second offering, is a natural progression, bringing together more stories inspired by my experiences. Over the years I have accumulated quite a collection of stories and characters that are simply too good not to share.
How does it feel to be staging the show as part of Camden Fringe?
It’s very exciting and a real privilege. Camden has been a constant throughout much of my adult life. I’ve lived, trained and worked there for many years and have developed a strong bond with the borough. Being part of Camden Fringe feels particularly meaningful and, in many ways, it feels like I’m bringing Yamas! home.
What made you want to become a part of the theatre industry?
I’ve loved theatre for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Cyprus, trips to London with my family often included a visit to the theatre, and I was captivated by the experience. The fascination has never left me.
Over the years my passion for theatre led me to acting, drama school, writing and performing my work, and eventually to creating my own solo shows. The more involved I’ve become, the more my love of theatre has grown.
A room full of strangers laughing, crying, gasping or sitting in silence
together is quite a magical thing when you think about it.
What is next in store for you?
At the moment, I’m concentrating on Yamas! and trying not to get too far ahead of myself. I’m also very fortunate to be part of the artist training programme at Theatro Technis, which has been a fantastic opportunity to continue developing as an artist.
I’ve recently completed a draft of my first play and I’m excited to see where that journey leads. Like many writers, I have more ideas than time, but seeing one of my own plays produced on stage would be a dream come true.
To book tickets for the show visit: https://camdenfringe.com/events/vic-holt-yamas/