Caitlin Tait (she/they) is a writer who focuses on gender, sexuality, politics, and pop culture. Facilitating the spoken word poetry night Draw Your (S)words, and having been a part of ActNow's queer writing group since 2019, they are a full-time celebrator of young queer folk and the arts.

This week, we’re celebrating them, and welcoming Caitlin to the ActNow Theatre team as our new Associate Artist! Exciting things ahead, folks!

Smriti, our Marketing and Development Coordinator, had some questions for Caitlin.

We first met you through ActNow’s queer writing group. What did you take away from that experience and what about it made you want to join the company?

It's easy to forget how glorious physical community is. Social media is brilliant for accessibility and how instantly you can connect with people, but nothing beats the real deal. Especially during 2020, it was so exciting to come together with queer folk and for us all to 'just get' each other. I joined the queer group in 2019, and we've all changed a lot in that time. It's really special to witness that growth. ActNow have always been supportive of their artists and enthusiastic about the art they make, and to have felt that and now work for them is a warm full-circle moment. To celebrate art and understand how much it means.

What is the piece of art you most often re-read/re-watch/revisit and why?

‘Spring and Fall' by Paul Kelly. The way Kelly walks you through a year is so moving. The final song, 'Little Aches and Pains' moves me in a way I've never completely been able to put into words. It's an album that deserves to be listened to with no distractions.

What is your go-to cure for writer's block?

By writing anyway. A teacher at uni told me the best way to get to the good stuff was to write the cobwebs out first. You'll hit gold pretty quickly.

What do you do when you’re not at ActNow?

I facilitate a monthly spoken word poetry night Draw Your (S)words. I sometimes write poetry, too. And I'm in a choir. I like to try my hand at as many things as possible.

What are you looking forward to the most about working with us?

Being around creatives in one space. It's common in the arts to work from home and only meet up for people when there's a meeting. It's exciting for a group of people to be working from one space.

Meet our new Associate Artist!