Art of Acting - Nimrita
Article by: Emily Chen
“Anything you think you might want to do, or not want to do, it can’t hurt to try.” - quotes Nimrita Bhogal, one of Collingwood’s rising talents.
As an active member of Collingwood's drama community, Nim is a talented young actress who has taken part in every fall play since the beginning of her time at the school.
Nim moved to Canada at the age of 4, she was born in Basingstoke, England. In her early years of childhood, Nim had lived in Surrey but later moved to West Vancouver where she attended Ridgeview Elementary School. From the start of Grade 8, Nim came to Collingwood, where she now has been ever since.
For as long as Nim can remember, acting has always been a part of her life. Nim’s first memory of being in a play comes from elementary school. She fondly speaks of the mini-plays she acted in as a kid and being part of the drama program near Ambleside.
When Grade 3 came along Nim continued to pursue her hobby of acting. She distinctively remembers a play she starred in, where she was one of two Cinderellas. Because there were too many students cast in the play, her teachers made it so that there had to be two princesses and two prince charming. Nim laughs while recalling this memory. It was a lot of fun, chaotic, and a really funny story, but to put it briefly there had to be two princes kneeling down proposing at the same time. In grade 7 nim performed in a series of greek plays.
Fun is a powerful world that Nim takes to heart. Despite performing in front of a large crowd might be exhilarating and at the same time nerve-wracking, she believes that at the root of each performance you should never stop having fun. Nim’s first experience in Collingwood's drama community is when she played a reporter and a series of background characters in The Visit. As one of only two grade 8 students who participated that year, Nim says she has the chance to be a part of one of the most caring and supportive communities. In the beginning, while Nim may have not known anyone at that time, older peers made friends with her and made her feel included. She remembers it just being so much fun going to rehearsals, with people who genuinely love doing what they do best… perform. Coming blind into an unfamiliar field was quite terrifying, not knowing the people you meet. Among a group of peers, Nim shares that Nickolai Osborn, who was grade 12 lead at the time, gave her a comment she still recalls to this day. Nickolai told her that he too started in grade 8.
Nim would describe her first play as an almost surreal experience. Her happiest memory resides in the full experience: going to rehearsals, getting ready in preparation before each show, working with everyone, giving it her all, and memories of getting off stage in the dark where everyone’s began whispering.
Outside of drama, Nim is also an athlete. She is an active volleyball and soccer player. She played in club volleyball and is a member of Collingwood’s volleyball team. Nim’s favorite subjects in school include sciences. In grade 8, Nim was also part of a group of choir members who traveled to Anaheim in California to perform. She attends choir for grades 8 & 9 and believes Mr. Buchan is one of her favorite teachers here at Collingwood. Nim's artistic abilities have also led her to take an Art 9 course, she jokes:
“Never choose a giant canvas to work with if you have limited time…” said Nimrita Bhogal, It took her 24 hours and more to color the entire thing.
Grade 9 fall play showcased The crucible. Nim played a leading role in the play as Tituba, one of the characters blamed for witchcraft rituals that make her feared by the people around her.
The crucible nim says is one of the most exciting plays she has ever done. She took the role of role of a slave for the first time. Nim shares that it was a very challenging experience for her as an actress. Nim’s part required her to have an ongoing accent, and it was always vital for her to have just the right amount of emotions each scene was looking for, which often was being scared for her life. Although nim found her role challenging, she was able to give one of the most memorable performances of that year; beautifully showcasing the growth, skill, and talent that nim has developed over the years…but most significantly is that the audience could clearly see the love she has for acting, every single time Nim is on stage.
It was hard to practice and get it right every time, but Nim recalls it being really fun when she got to experience enacting some stunts. She says that it was fun to wear a suit while Morgon Christopher, her fellow cast member who is an alumnus now, threw her across the stage. For anyone who remembers the specific scene in the play, Nim had the opportunity to perform some action scenes, when she was confronted dealing with the devil. Nim gave it her all in every performance, she screamed and cried on stage to prove innocent, which was her favorite scene of all time; the stakes were high or she would have been sent to death. Nim also had to sing live in front of an audience at beginning of the play, this gave her a chance to perform out of her comfort zone.
Nim has starred in every fall play since the crucible, which included: Almost Maine, and The Dining Room which was showcased recently this school year.
Nim has come to believe that she doesn't want to spend her entire life on drama, but she is determined that acting will always be there every step of the way as she decides what she wants to pursue later in life. Nim knows she will continue to find opportunities to perform in plays as an adult, she won’t do this for money or as a career, but purely for the fun of it.
Nim, over her many years as a principal member of Collingwood’s drama community, has learned that the art of acting is not set on a specific moment, but it's she believes that the gratification comes in doing the plays, being with the people who enjoy doing what they love, and in reality when that is succeeded the wonderful result of seeing students putting in the hard work that they have --- just ignites on stage.
Nim's advice for her fellow students, who have any lingering thoughts of wanting to try out for the play:
“JUST go for it, give it you're all when at the audition, and you can decide later… I encourage everyone to do it if they have any inclination, because it's not just a performance, it's an experience.” -Nimrita Bhogal
Article by: Emily Chen
“Anything you think you might want to do, or not want to do, it can’t hurt to try.” - quotes Nimrita Bhogal, one of Collingwood’s rising talents.
As an active member of Collingwood's drama community, Nim is a talented young actress who has taken part in every fall play since the beginning of her time at the school.
Nim moved to Canada at the age of 4, she was born in Basingstoke, England. In her early years of childhood, Nim had lived in Surrey but later moved to West Vancouver where she attended Ridgeview Elementary School. From the start of Grade 8, Nim came to Collingwood, where she now has been ever since.
For as long as Nim can remember, acting has always been a part of her life. Nim’s first memory of being in a play comes from elementary school. She fondly speaks of the mini-plays she acted in as a kid and being part of the drama program near Ambleside.
When Grade 3 came along Nim continued to pursue her hobby of acting. She distinctively remembers a play she starred in, where she was one of two Cinderellas. Because there were too many students cast in the play, her teachers made it so that there had to be two princesses and two prince charming. Nim laughs while recalling this memory. It was a lot of fun, chaotic, and a really funny story, but to put it briefly there had to be two princes kneeling down proposing at the same time. In grade 7 nim performed in a series of greek plays.
Fun is a powerful world that Nim takes to heart. Despite performing in front of a large crowd might be exhilarating and at the same time nerve-wracking, she believes that at the root of each performance you should never stop having fun. Nim’s first experience in Collingwood's drama community is when she played a reporter and a series of background characters in The Visit. As one of only two grade 8 students who participated that year, Nim says she has the chance to be a part of one of the most caring and supportive communities. In the beginning, while Nim may have not known anyone at that time, older peers made friends with her and made her feel included. She remembers it just being so much fun going to rehearsals, with people who genuinely love doing what they do best… perform. Coming blind into an unfamiliar field was quite terrifying, not knowing the people you meet. Among a group of peers, Nim shares that Nickolai Osborn, who was grade 12 lead at the time, gave her a comment she still recalls to this day. Nickolai told her that he too started in grade 8.
Nim would describe her first play as an almost surreal experience. Her happiest memory resides in the full experience: going to rehearsals, getting ready in preparation before each show, working with everyone, giving it her all, and memories of getting off stage in the dark where everyone’s began whispering.
Outside of drama, Nim is also an athlete. She is an active volleyball and soccer player. She played in club volleyball and is a member of Collingwood’s volleyball team. Nim’s favorite subjects in school include sciences. In grade 8, Nim was also part of a group of choir members who traveled to Anaheim in California to perform. She attends choir for grades 8 & 9 and believes Mr. Buchan is one of her favorite teachers here at Collingwood. Nim's artistic abilities have also led her to take an Art 9 course, she jokes:
“Never choose a giant canvas to work with if you have limited time…” said Nimrita Bhogal, It took her 24 hours and more to color the entire thing.
Grade 9 fall play showcased The crucible. Nim played a leading role in the play as Tituba, one of the characters blamed for witchcraft rituals that make her feared by the people around her.
The crucible nim says is one of the most exciting plays she has ever done. She took the role of role of a slave for the first time. Nim shares that it was a very challenging experience for her as an actress. Nim’s part required her to have an ongoing accent, and it was always vital for her to have just the right amount of emotions each scene was looking for, which often was being scared for her life. Although nim found her role challenging, she was able to give one of the most memorable performances of that year; beautifully showcasing the growth, skill, and talent that nim has developed over the years…but most significantly is that the audience could clearly see the love she has for acting, every single time Nim is on stage.
It was hard to practice and get it right every time, but Nim recalls it being really fun when she got to experience enacting some stunts. She says that it was fun to wear a suit while Morgon Christopher, her fellow cast member who is an alumnus now, threw her across the stage. For anyone who remembers the specific scene in the play, Nim had the opportunity to perform some action scenes, when she was confronted dealing with the devil. Nim gave it her all in every performance, she screamed and cried on stage to prove innocent, which was her favorite scene of all time; the stakes were high or she would have been sent to death. Nim also had to sing live in front of an audience at beginning of the play, this gave her a chance to perform out of her comfort zone.
Nim has starred in every fall play since the crucible, which included: Almost Maine, and The Dining Room which was showcased recently this school year.
Nim has come to believe that she doesn't want to spend her entire life on drama, but she is determined that acting will always be there every step of the way as she decides what she wants to pursue later in life. Nim knows she will continue to find opportunities to perform in plays as an adult, she won’t do this for money or as a career, but purely for the fun of it.
Nim, over her many years as a principal member of Collingwood’s drama community, has learned that the art of acting is not set on a specific moment, but it's she believes that the gratification comes in doing the plays, being with the people who enjoy doing what they love, and in reality when that is succeeded the wonderful result of seeing students putting in the hard work that they have --- just ignites on stage.
Nim's advice for her fellow students, who have any lingering thoughts of wanting to try out for the play:
“JUST go for it, give it you're all when at the audition, and you can decide later… I encourage everyone to do it if they have any inclination, because it's not just a performance, it's an experience.” -Nimrita Bhogal