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If Calla Hughes could be described in one word, it would be storyteller, through her words, her movements, and the characters she brings to life.
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I am Maura is just one of Hughes’ performances in her extensive body of work which also includes The Importance of Being Earnest, Shakespeare’s Women, The House That Was Not and most recently Lisa McGee’s How to Get to Heaven From Belfast.
Like many other performers, Hughes didn’t arrive to the bigger stages fully formed she was built on community stages.
Newry is where Calla’s talent in the arts took root. It's where she started performing under Ann Marie Morgan with Morgan Theatre Arts at just two years old. Her performing talents extended into Bosco Drama Group through her teenage years, where she performed in shows such as Footloose. The actress has also been part of the newest addition to Newry’s performing front Common Ground Theatre, where she starred in Shelby Connolly’s Almost Functional.
Calla spoke on Newry growing as a creative hub for the people of the town and around, and how as the expression rises, the judgement lowers.
“These places like the Bosco give people not only an opportunity to socialise and make friends, but a safe space to feel confident and comforted in your interests.”
Calla isn’t the only Hughes from the household to show her talent, she speaks on her parents always allowing her to reach for the stars, and that dreams were always deemed achievable. With a violinist mother, a drummer father, and two creatives for sisters, she speaks on the home being such a creative space where ideas were constantly nurtured.
“My parents pioneered who I was rather than who people thought I should be. They allowed this to be my plan A, without pushing me to choose a plan B.”
She speaks on the themes that she enjoys, varying from comedic to emotional to thought provoking and everything in between. Limits are not something that Calla has set, with the constant being her ability to tell a story through her work.
“What excites me is being able to mould myself into different versions of me through different chances and opportunities.”
Outside of her creative work, Calla has worked as a one-to-one SEN assistant. She speaks on her role in the creative industry and the educational industry overlapping.
“I get the chance to make someone feel something, whether it’s a child smiling or someone in the audience laughing. I look forward to getting up in the morning whether it’s going to a theatre or a classroom.”
Calla’s warmth and kindness extends beyond the stage, evident not only in her performances, but her job as a classroom assistant, and how she carries herself as a person.
Her creative journey shows no signs of slowing down. With places like London’s theatres, to Netflix formally within reach, her talent and ambition points towards a long and evolving career in the arts.
