She started performing on stage since she was four years old. Her passion for theatre eventually drove her to start a theatre group in the city. Suzanne Patel started Mint Tea Creatives in April 2014 and since then has focused on making theatre a financially viable option for the artistes. “I need the artistes as much as they need me, so I make sure that everyone who works with me gets paid,” she says. With this in mind, she has given numerous performances in the city and has also conducted several workshops for budding artistes.
Ask her what made her take up theatre as a career, Suzanne who worked as English language trainer till 2010 says, “If I had practiced theatre only on weekends, it would have remained as my hobby. I knew that I would make very less money out of theatre but I prepared myself and turned my passion into a career,” she informs.
Suzanne has been part of several dramas in the city much before she started her own venture, though she was not seen on stage in all of them. “I enjoy doing anything related to theatre like training people, working backstage, preparing props or anything else that is required,” she beams.
Her journey of theatre performances start from 2010 when Samahaara, a theatre group from the city was performing Hamlet. “I was speech and language instructor for the play,” she says adding, “I also helped artists from Nishumbita with their expressions and dialogue delivery for their play Khamosh Adalat Jaari Hai. She was part of Aam Aadmi by Nishumbita, Woody Allen’s God, Sure Thing by Dramanon, The Final Cry and a monologue VD by Mint Tea Creatives.
She has also introduced the concept of Café Theatre in Hyderabad, by performing multiple shows of David Ives’ short play Sure Thing over a weekend in 2012.
Having been in the industry since quite some time, Suzanne says the key to be a good performer is to let go of your inhibitions, express yourself freely and avoid mixing ego with art. “That is the way one can give good performance on stage.”