Today we’d like to introduce you to Eden Mew.
Hi Eden, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am fourteen years old. Ever since I was in my Mom’s womb I’ve loved theatre! While she was pregnant with me she was directing multiple shows, and I’ve been told that I was always the happiest and most active when she was in the rehearsal space. When I was six years old I was cast in my first professional show – Evita at Serenbe Playhouse. Ever since the minute I stepped into the rehearsal hallway back in 2015 I knew that I had found my home. The theatre has always been a safe space for me. Anytime I get the incredible experience of working on a production or simply getting to step foot into a creative space, I feel an overwhelming sense of belonging and peace wash over me. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as free and confident as I do when I’m creating art. A lot has changed since I was six, and I’ve gotten the wonderful opportunity to be in many more professional shows since then, but that sense of freedom and purpose has never changed.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Along this journey, there has been great, great joy, but there has also been some struggle too. One of the biggest roadblocks in my journey thus far has definitely been the pandemic. In March of 2020, I had just closed Fun Home at Actor’s Express. Coming out of such a joy-filled experience where I was surrounded by people I adored and loved and then immediately watching the theatre world shutdown was super hard and kind of terrifying. For the first few months of the pandemic, I really felt lost. Theatre is a big part of how I define myself, so without any artistic endeavors for a while, I was confused as to how to move on. Luckily, the Atlanta theatre community really rallied together and found ways to still create! I got to make new friends and learn lots of important lessons through rehearsing for online/Zoom shows like the Diary of Anne Frank at OutFront Theatre and The Ghosts of Little Five Points at the Horizon Theatre. I also was able to use this time to develop my own voice and learn from the incredible activists within Atlanta theatre how to stand up for what is right and fight for what is just. Getting invited to do a photo/video shoot focusing on artistic activism with Mr. Kevin Harry and the Jennie T Anderson Theatre and participating in the Atlanta Artists March for Justice was a big part of that journey. Those experiences with activism within the theatre community have inspired me to continue to push for justice and change as a Georgian and as a global citizen.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Being a teen actor means that I get the wonderful opportunity of being invited into spaces with adult professionals and getting to learn from the best what it means to truly develop a piece of art. There are so many incredible people and talented teens within the Atlanta theatre community who are constantly (lovingly!) pushing me and encouraging me to reach my goals. I think, more than anything, the fact that I’ve been able to build relationships with people who have inspired me for so long is what I’m most proud of. It’s sometimes been a struggle for me to fit in with kids my own age, so getting to step into rehearsals and immediately feel seen and known is indescribably touching. Despite the fact that I’m often the youngest in the room, I’ve always felt welcome within any theatrical space I enter. I’ve also gotten to watch actors like Ms. Heidi McKerley and Ms. Rhyn McLemore be extremely kind and warm to my little sister, who is just starting her journey in professional theatre… I believe that quality within the Atlanta theatre community is truly unique, and I’m most proud of getting to be a part of a community that has a reputation for always being welcoming and kind to the little people in the room. I’m also so proud and lucky to be a part of a theatre community where I have so many talented peers! It’s really awesome watching my friends like Julianna Grace Pillsbury and Vinny Montague continue to shine on stage. There are so many amazing kids and teens in Atlanta who I am constantly learning from. I believe what makes me “me” would be the fact that I always show up in heels…just kidding! Though I do love a good pair of Irregular Choice pumps. Truly, though, I think what defines me as an artist is a hunger within myself to always improve upon my last performance. I have a desire to always give 110% – no matter how big the performance or how scary the audition, my goal is to always live in the moment and savor every second I get to perform. I’m always aware of the work that needs to be done and I feel a really deep desire to spend every second of my free time learning new techniques and fine-tuning my craft. That’s why my acting and voice lessons are some of my favorite places to be – because I get to witness myself growing in real-time.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I feel that one of the qualities important to my success is my dedication to constantly furthering my skills and improving upon my last performance. I value my training deeply and see every audition and lesson as an opportunity to both showcase my skills and also take inventory of what I need to continue working on. For example, when I was ten, I attended an audition with a really hard dance call. I noticed that I was struggling to keep up with the other kids my own age in the dance department. Specifically, I struggled with memorizing counts and getting my feet to keep up with my head. Since then, for the past four years, I’ve been working on my dance skills every day! I’ve learned how to correct my lines and my alignment and I’ve finally conquered the challenge that is my stubborn feet and their unwillingness to keep up with my brain and my arms.
Image Credits:
Kevin Harry Casey Gardnerford
