Art at Home – 20 Questions with Wallis Caldoza

Today’s #ArtAtHome gets up close and personal with another one of our Beyond the Bard playwrights – Wallis Caldoza!

What are you currently reading? 
I am currently re-reading parts of The Undercommons: Fugitive Planning & Black
Study by Fred Moten and Stefano Harney.

What inspires you to write?
I always write out of desperation and from what I need to space to figure out, so usually
I try and make writing a kind of meditative space. Can’t say for sure whether it’s
completely effective, but it’s doing something with my brain.

Smarties or M&M’s?
M&M’s all the way. Come on!

What’s your favourite sentence of all time?
“Il y aura peut-être un matin de grâce pour l’humanité.” – Eugene Ionesco

If you could have your work performed anywhere, where would it be?
Haha, oh man! I’m still not sure I want my work to be performed anywhere yet! I’ll let you
know when I’ve crossed that bridge.

What’s the last delicious thing you ate?
Okay, this is shocking to me: chocolate Lucky Charms? I mean, what? I’m a pretty big
foodie and I can’t believe that’s what’s come to mind, but there we are.

Do you have any pets?
My baby/cat, Katara and my nephew/sister’s cat, Pistachios (yes, it’s pluralized).

Who is your favourite tv/film character?
Fleabag. Or Hot Priest.

If you weren’t a playwright, what would you be?
Controversial: I don’t really consider myself a playwright, necessarily. Eek. I think I’m
more often found being a dramaturg. I think.

What’s a positive aspect of self-isolation for you?
I get to see/be with my family.

What’s a difficult aspect of self-isolation for you?
I’ve had to reevaluate the things that hold value to me. And, in turn, I think those things
have also had to reevaluate how I hold value to them; it’s a weird relationship.

What’s your favourite cafe to work in?
Again, controversial: I don’t really like working in cafes. Cafes are really good for other
things, though. (Why does that sound so suspicious? I just mean, like, cafes are good
places!)

Dogs or cats?
Yes.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
My mum’s really big on serendipity, so I’m always trying to embrace this weirdly
optimistic ideal of things happening for a reason… or the way they’re supposed to.

What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
When I was a wee babe, I wanted to be a garbage truck – not, like, a waste collector. I
wanted to be the garbage truck. I feel like, in some ways, I have achieved that dream.

How do you take your coffee/tea?
Coffee, just as is. Usually the same goes for my tea.

What was your first job?
Does babysitting count or…?

What fad or trend do you hope comes back?
MSN! MSN! MSN! MSN! Or, like, the conventions of MSN. I really wanna know what
song has you in your feelings but in a way that means that we don’t have to directly
address it?

What are some small things or acts that make your day better?
Sitting in the sun does this gal good.

Who is your favourite Shakespearean character?
Am I allowed to say Shakespeare? William and I don’t have an easy relationship
because we barely have a relationship but I can respect the flex. Y’know? I don’t know.