Regina Co

Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, I'm a multi-disciplinary creative, who has recently finished a BA in English at University College London. My pronouns are she/her. I am also a part of the first cohort of LAMDA's new MFA in Musical Theatre.

As an actor, I’ve acted in a wide variety of plays, from Shakespeare to contemporary new writing. Further, I am a trained vocalist, having taken classical singing under the tutelage of Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, the Philippines' National Artist for Music, for 9 years and counting. But most of my recent creative experience has emerged out of the bustling theatre scene at UCL.

At university, I discovered a love for songwriting and directing. I directed Jonathan Larson's 'Tick, Tick... Boom!' in my second year and won the award for 'Best Contributor to the Arts' at UCL's Arts Awards, as a result of my efforts. It was a vision that reimagined the musical, having integrated new biographical elements from Larson's life as well as influences from the recent film adaptation. I am more drawn to directing work that is organic, contemporary and ultimately meaningful.

My musical influences mainly draw from indie/acoustic pop, since I write using a baritone ukulele, but I am keen to explore how my songwriting ability can be adapted for a theatrical context. I particularly admire the lyrical craft of Stephen Sondheim, Taylor Swift and Shakespeare.

Representing my cohort in my department's EDI committee has also given me a richer understanding of the dynamics of representation within the arts and cultural spaces. With the rising ESEA scene in the UK, I am particularly eager to work with Asian and other Global Majority creatives!

Credits

ACTING

Lady (Ensemble), THE CONVENT OF PLEASURE (CAVENDISH), Strand Chapel, 3 shows, July 2023

Woman 1 (Lead), SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (BROWN), Mully’s Basement Bar, 3 shows, June 2023

Philostrate/Oberon’s Fairy, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, The Bloomsbury Theatre, 3 shows, February 2023

Claire (Lead), ORDINARY DAYS (GWON), UCL Musical Theatre Society, Concert, May 2022

Meg March/Clarissa, LITTLE WOMEN (KNEE, DICKSTEIN, HOWARD), Drama Studio UCL Institute of Education, 3 shows, December 2021

Don Adriano de Armado, LOVE’S LABOUR'S LOST, University College London (UCL), Online Production, June 2021

NEW WRITING, READINGS AND RADIO

Protestor, Partner, FILM DON’T RECYCLE (FIELDING), Theatre Royal Haymarket Script Sessions, August 2023

Sophia (Lead), GRAVITY (CADEN), Moveable Type Podcast Series, November 2022

Actor (Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing; Rose, Good O’ Love), SUNDAY SESSIONS: TV, National Youth Theatre, April 2021

Desdemona Wong (Lead), CHING CHONG CHINAMAN (YEE), Equity UK, November 2020

DIRECTING

Vocal Music Director (Voulez-Vous, ABBA), UCL Live Music Society's RHAPSODY 2023, The Bloomsbury Theatre, 3 shows, January 2023

Director*, TICK, TICK… BOOM! (LARSON), The Bloomsbury Studio, 3 shows, June 2022
*Winner of Best Contributor to the Arts (won for directing) - “Awarded to an individual for an outstanding non-performance contribution to the artsUCL community over the past year. This should be for a specific event/production/project.”

Tick, Tick... Boom! was also nominated for the following awards for UCL Students Union Arts Awards:
- Best Small Production - “Awarded to a show with an audience below 300, that has best performed in the following areas: Artistic Merit; Level of Organisation and Relationship with the Students Union; Publicity; Handling of Budget; etc.”
- Best Design - “Awarded to any form of design (art, lighting, sound, publicity etc) that performed best in the following: Creativity; Impact; Execution”

Songwriting samples are available upon request!

Training

VOICE
Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Alison Guill, Perpy Heath
Royal Academy of Music (Weekend Vocal Workout, July 2018): Mary King, Tim Richards

ACTING THROUGH SONG
Joaquin Pedro Valdes, Melisa Camba
Atlantis’ Theatrical Manila Workshop (May 2020): Nelsito Gomez, Franco Ramos, Arman Ferrer

Actor Therapy Workshop (March 2020): Adam Chanler-Berat, Lindsay Mendez, Ryan Scott-Oliver

WRITING FOR MUSICAL THEATRE
Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong (Almeida Theatre, February-March 2023)

ACTING
Shakespeare (As You Like It, September 2022)*: Ana Valdes Lim
Royal Central School of Speech & Drama (Acting: An Introduction, August 2020)*: Jake Harders

CHINESE OPERA MOVEMENT
Teresita Lim (Philippine Hoc Kian Chinese Opera Group, 2019)

KRUMP
Max Lee (February 2023)