Tabata Contri made history by becoming the first wheelchair-bound actress on TV. In an exclusive interview, Contri opens up about acceptance and a new role!
Tabata Contri has stood out in the theater scene for being a symbol of representation of the PCD community. With her masterful talent, the actress manages to mix different emotions in deeply emotional scenes, becoming the first wheelchair-bound actress in a soap opera in Brazil. Currently performing in the play “Fractal”, he has reached a new level in his career.
Check out an exclusive interview with Tabata Contri:
1. In “Fractal”, themes such as body diversity, gender and ethnicity are central. How do you see the representation of women with disabilities in the play and how does this reflect the reality of PWDs in theater and the media?
“I see myself inside, taking part, in a choir, belonging. Women with disabilities are there as they should be in society, occupying all spaces. When another woman with a disability is in the audience, she also sees herself there and this opens up a world of possibilities.”
2. You made history as the first actress in a wheelchair in soap operas in Brazil, with characters like the lawyer Juliana in “Travessia”. How does this trajectory influence your approach to the play “Fractal”, which also deals with issues of inclusion and diversity?
“I was the first, but I don’t want to be the only one. People with disabilities are often the only ones where they are. And that may seem like a good thing, but it definitely isn’t. Fractal deals with issues that cross the feminine universe. I am a woman. That’s enough to be impacted by the topics we cover there. We need to think about these intersections. Which women conquer spaces? Are they black? LGBT? Disabled?”
3. The play explores a plurality of stories and experiences. How do you personally connect with the narrative of “Fractal” and do you feel that the show increases the visibility of PWD women in theater?
“Just as art imitates life, life imitates art. If we are not there, how will we be in society? And vice versa! Our presence in places brings considerable changes thinking about architectural accessibility, and mainly attitudinal.
Personally, all the themes covered in the play affect me especially as a woman. But it’s curious how sometimes the disability comes sooner, even for me. Seeing myself as a woman and others seeing me as such is a process. I’ve participated in casting tests where the role was for a woman who was a mother. I’m a woman and I’m a mother, but the answer I got was that “this role is not for wheelchair users”. Like this? Why is there this division if a woman in a wheelchair is also a mother?”
4. What were the biggest challenges you faced as an actress throughout your career, and how does the play “Fractal” contribute to the deconstruction of barriers in the world of performing arts?
“Practicing the craft is still the biggest challenge! I started doing theater in 2003, I took many courses, I took the DRT in 2008, at the time I participated in a soap opera on Band. Even so, my colleagues took more tests than me, consequently they took on a lot more work than me. There were times when I sent my materials to castings without showing my disability and then I was called to audition. Obviously this omission was not sustainable because I arrived at the test with my wheelchair, but at least I had the opportunity to go through the selection process, to show my work”.
“Most of the time it didn’t go through common processes, the market wasn’t yet ready for our presence. It only went through processes that were pre-defined for a person with a disability. This bothered me a lot. And it wasn’t enough for me to earn my living either. I went to work with something else, I went to be a diversity and inclusion consultant and serve the corporate world. So the biggest difficulty is still making a living from the job I chose as a profession.”
5. “Fractal” addresses various forms of diversity. How do you think the show can impact the public’s perception of inclusion, especially in relation to the representation of women with disabilities?
“The show is a punch in the gut. It alone already has an impact. Because the texts are deep and because the cast is full of diverse women. Now me being there opens the way for other actresses and actors with disabilities to be not only on stage but in any profession because we exist. We also have dreams and bills to pay. And work is the greatest tool we have to make our dreams come true.”
Source: Maxima
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.