The Cayman Islands is rich in artistic talent. Many Caymanians have pursued careers in the arts overseas, gracing TV screens, or showcasing musical talent on radio waves and stages worldwide.
Here are four such women, who chose often challenging creative careers, and are representing our islands to the world, plus their advice to women in Cayman seeking to do the same.
RITA ESTEVANOVICH
Rita has been pursuing her acting career in London since 2019 alongside work for Cayman Connection, a not-for-profit supporting Caymanians and affiliates of Cayman overseas.
Introduced to the stage at Triple C, Rita soon became involved with the National Children’s Festival of the Arts, Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s Young at Arts, and CINDC Dance Unlimited.
Her early career took her into telecoms, including TV reporting, as well as radio work with DMS Broadcasting, which developed her love of voice-over.
“I have had a long-standing relationship with the Department of Tourism, voicing international ad campaigns promoting the Cayman Islands,” she says. “I have been fortunate to voice for many local projects and continue to do this professionally in London.”
It was her work with the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) which immersed her in the arts as well as cultural preservation.
“We worked as a Foundation by day and as theatre-makers by night – I couldn’t have asked for more,” she says. “I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Gimistory, ‘Rundown’ and a host of other stage plays and productions including Cayman Islands Folk Singers concerts.”
CNCF and DMS both supported Rita’s year of study at New York Film Academy (Los Angeles) in their Acting for Film conservatory programme.
Not long after winning Best Actor Senior Division and Grand Champion Performer while representing Cayman at the 2018 World Championships of Performing Arts (San Diego) Rita made the decision to pursue her arts career overseas.
“Within a year, I was in London with my family and studying full-time at Rose Bruford College.” She completed the MA in Actor Performer Training and has since signed with agents Cowley, Knox & Guy, and voice-over agents Yakety Yak All Mouth.
Her most memorable projects she has worked on are wide-ranging, but working with other Caymanians is particularly special.
“In theatre (besides ‘Rundown’ which is a staple for Caymanians) I would have to say ‘Fallen Angel and the Devil Concubine’ playing the elderly, marginalised Katie.” More recently, away from Cayman’s shores, Rita appeared in the ‘Black Cake’. television series, and played Gina Miller in the political drama ‘Bloody Difficult Women’ directed by Stephen Unwin at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
To pursue it, you have to do it, so find a way to get involved in the theatres, choirs, dance groups, artist retreats, exhibitions, festivals, or whatever area you want to work in. Learn new skills whenever possible (playing football, fishing, public speaking, husking coconuts, pottery, juggling etc.) as it will develop you in other ways that will only enhance your work.
– Rita Estevanovich
ARIANNA BRODERICK
Based in Shoreditch, London, Arianna Broderick performs under her stage name Maeve. In 2021 she released her debut EP ‘Caravaggio in a Corner Store’.
“On tour, I got to play at some of the most iconic venues in the UK and Europe,” she says – her favourites being London’s The Roundhouse and O2 Academy Brixton, and L’Oympia in Paris. “Playing the O2 Academy Brixton was a bucket list moment. It was sold out, so there were 5,000 people in the crowd, and it has always been a favourite venue of mine.”
Describing her style as experimental, lyrical pop, Arianna says she enjoys the challenge of writing universal music that pushes the boundaries.
“I’ve always been drawn towards innovators and whenever I’m creating something I’m always thinking of how to make it new, how to push things forward and make people think.”
Arianna has always had a love of singing and performing. At 15 she started performing at open mics and hotels around Cayman.
“There were so many people in the community and fellow Caymanian musicians who supported me.”
Arianna attended school in the UK and remained there after graduation. “I had met some contacts over there and I felt like I could be creative, experimental and carve out my own lane…”
She is inspired by artists from many different genres. “I love Patti Smith and Tom Waits for their poetic lyrics, I love Bjork for her experimentalism. I am drawn to artists who create their own worlds and stand outside of genre.”
Her career so far has provided moments she will cherish, a tour with Banks and Marina being one of them.
“I got to travel all over the UK and Europe and play to thousands of people every night – it was incredible,” she says.
An Aston Martin campaign directed by iconic photographer Rankin, in which she starred and composed music for, also tops the list.
“We filmed it in Lithuania with a massive crew and the locations were breathtaking. We fi lmed with wolves, in misty forests, and I got to work with the incredible stunt drivers who had done blockbusters like the ‘Fast and the Furious’. It was surreal.”
This month Arianna released ‘Can we just get high?’, the debut song from her upcoming EP.
I am learning everyday myself, but I would say, first of all, get involved with the community locally. I feel very lucky to have grown up in a tight knit and supportive community like Cayman and even though I did leave island to pursue music further, it is really my roots in Cayman that got me going in the first place and I am forever grateful.
– Arianna Broderick
NICOLE WOOD
Nicole Wood is a singer and flautist now based in London, UK.
Hailing from a musical family (she counts professional musicians Lammie and Chris Seymour as family members), Nicole has been performing since she was seven years old, with fl ute her primary instrument until university.
“I’ve been surrounded by music my entire life, so it was inevitable I’d go the same route.”
As a child Nicole took part in every music event she could, including the Children’s National Festival of the Arts; duets; school wind bands from Bodden Town Primary to George Hicks, John Gray and St. Ignatius; the National Concert Band; and the RCIPS Police Band.
“I played at church, I played when Ms. Twyla did concerts with the after-school club at the public library…If there was a music event in Bodden Town that I could play at, I tried my hardest to be there.”
In 2009, Nicole commenced a BA Music degree at Bath Spa University, with the initial aim of becoming a music teacher.
“However, as I worked through my degree…that driving force and dream started to shift as I explored the world of opera, musical theatre, community-driven music and musicology,” explains Nicole. “All realms that I didn’t know or think were even a possibility for me to choose.”
Her primary discipline subsequently changed from flute to singing.
“From there, I took every performing opportunity I could get as a singer-actor; random gigs, chamber choir, performing in whatever musical groups were available in Bath, literally everything. I made it my mission to utilise the experiences I had access to that I wouldn’t have had back home.”
After graduation, and a reaffirming acting course at Rose Bruford College, Nicole has ensured she learns as much as she can about her craft.
“Acting is a muscle. You need to consistently exercise and stretch yourself and try everything and learn from everything and everyone.”
Her journey has taken her to the Edinburgh Fringe, the Bath Masonic Lodge, the Theatre Royal Bath, and the cliffside Minack Theatre in Cornwall, to name a few venues, and even back to university where she has undertaken a masters in ethnomusicology, which she says is “a fascinating blend of anthropology and music”.
Your Caymanian-ness is what makes you unique. Never feel like you need to hide your accent away to get more work or that only one accent is ‘the golden standard’. By all means, learn how to do different accents as a tool you can use when needed, but never be afraid to use and show off how we talk. Do that Shakespeare piece with a Bracka accent or play that posh character as someone who sounds like they are from East End. The way we speak is just as valid as anyone else.
– Nicole Wood
GRACE BYERS
Grace Byers needs no introduction. As Anika in ‘Empire’, Reeva on ‘The Gifted’, or alongside Nicholas Cage in ‘The Retirement Plan’ (to name just a few roles), she is fast becoming a household name.
Performing invigorated her from a young age, whether in ballet productions, or her favourite event – the Children’s Festival of the Arts.
“Whether I was dancing, singing or doing a monologue, I always enjoyed sharing the fruits of the preparation process,” she says.
This love of, and talent for, performing continued into university. Support at the start of her artistic journey came from Nasaria Suckoo-Chollette and Henry Muttoo, with Muttoo funding her honours thesis project – an hour-long performance piece focusing on Caymanian culture.
“He and I also had the wonderful opportunity to work together on an overseas production of Errol John’s ‘Moon on a Rainbow Shawl’,” Grace remembers fondly. “I’m fortunate and deeply grateful that I had that kind of sustenance on island as my artistic journey began.”
Grace’s support system is indispensable on her path.
“From God, who continues to anchor, stabilise and uphold me, to my husband who is a true partner in every sense of the word and a solid rock in my corner should I feel unsteady in any way, to family and close friends who are my truthtellers, side-holders and constant encouragers, I could not do what I do without this carefully woven together and deeply-rooted foundation.”
Up next for Grace is the release of the second season of ‘Harlem’ on Amazon Prime, which she has just finished shooting, and which she is thrilled to share.
“The character I play, Quinn Joseph, is a Caymanian-Jamaican fashion designer trying to piece together her identity in this chapter of her life,” she explains. “I’m so proud to not only bring Caribbean representation to the show, but specifically, a Caymanian one.”
‘The Blackening’, a comedy-thriller that just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is another upcoming project Grace is particularly proud of.
“The cast, script and experience were a hoot and the project was so artistically fulfilling. As a comedy-thriller, it’s the perfect cross between a few unexpected scares and a lot of belly-aching laughs.”
Never stop creating. If you’re a writer, keep writing. If you’re an actor, continue to perform on stage/ put yourself on camera. Find ways to continuously create, explore and share. This will help to keep your art alive, concise and powerful as your path is forged one step at a time.
– Grace Byers
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