A proficient actress who swapped the Cumnock countryside for the brilliant lights of New York Metropolis has simply wrapped up a six-week stint in her off-Broadway debut.
Aida Leventaki, who now lives in Brooklyn, took to the stage on the Irish Repertory Theatre in Belfast Ladies — a gritty interval play concerning the voyage from Eire to Australia throughout Earl Gray’s Emigration Orphan Scheme between 1848-1850.
The play, by Jaki McCarrick and directed by Nicola Murphy, delves into the historic authorities scheme, which noticed orphaned ladies, aged 14 to 18, swap famine-wracked Eire for the land down underneath in pursuit of a greater life.
It aimed to kill two birds with one stone by relieving overcrowding within the Irish workhouses and supply Australia with home labourers and single younger ladies to be married off.
However, it wasn’t all it was cracked as much as be as many suffered exploitation and abuse from employers, and others returned to the prostitution work they left behind.
Aida, 24, who graduated with the highest prize for speech and language in 2018, placed on her finest County Sligo accent as she acquired again to nation roots taking up the position of Molly Durcan, a rustic woman with a secretive previous and a love for books.
Set in 1850 on board the Inchinnan, Belfast Ladies takes the viewers on the ladies’s powerful journey — strengthened by the cabin units cramped residing situations — the place they endured unforgiving maritime situations, rats, illness and clashing personalities.
Aida’s mum Linda Gillan, from Cumnock, instructed Ayrshire Reside : “It’s acquired some light-hearted humorous moments in it, nevertheless it’s fairly a heavy play.
“And it’s acquired the undercurrent of the beginning of feminism.
“There’s 5 of them they usually’ve all acquired their very own story and because the weeks go by, their tales and truths come out.
“As standard in historical past, poor ladies had been the victims of it.
“It’s an vital a part of historical past and sadly it’s not confined to historical past.
“It’s mainly simply human trafficking — it’s nonetheless occurring.
“It’s nonetheless as related in the present day because it was again then.
Busy Aida accomplished seven reveals per week for six weeks earlier than the ultimate present on Sunday.
The actress will now get pleasure from a properly deserved relaxation, however not for too lengthy, says mum Linda, as formidable Aida has loads of initiatives on the horizon.
Linda, who flew out to see the play twice, mentioned: “She’ll have a wee relaxation however not an excessive amount of. She’s very on the go on a regular basis. She’s continually auditioning and she or he writes.
“This has been an incredible expertise for her. She’s completely cherished it.
“It’s been properly acquired and she or he’s had the chance now to see the stamina you have to do a stage run as properly.”
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