Meet Teddy Sambol | Actor & Circus Performer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teddy Sambol and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teddy, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose a creative career because there were times when it honestly felt like I had no other choice. I’ve been consuming other peoples’ stories and creating my own for as long as I can remember, and I can’t imagine a life without art. I’m lucky enough to have access to environments like the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern where I’ve been able to explore different aspects of my creative calling, and I can’t wait to bring everything I’ve learned and continue to learn into my future career.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My favourite part about what I’ve gotten to do with Shakespeare and cirque is bringing parts of myself into each and every performance. It took me a long time to feel comfortable approaching a character or a role without preconceived notions of how I “should” be playing it, but I feel like I’ve come so far in that regard in the past few years. In the summer of 2022, I played no less than eight minor roles in Timon of Athens and that experience was sort of a shock to my acting senses. There was so much work to be done and so many scenes to be in that I didn’t have time to build a vision of the characters in my head beforehand, and I just had to exist in the moment and in that space. Being transgender in the arts field is easier than in many others, but it does still come with its challenges. There are many times when I’ve felt like a show, role, or environment wasn’t “for” me, but as I learn and grow in my artistic career, I hope to help break down those barriers for other trans folks, along with anyone else who has felt that they don’t belong.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would absolutely have to take them to Little Five Points, especially if they had an interest in clothing and fashion. Little Five is the epicentre of streetwear and alternative culture in Atlanta, and we would visit Junkman’s Daughter, Kolo, Aurora Coffee, and Psycho sisters without a doubt. I would also bring them to Midtown, where three of my favourite artistic institutions in Atlanta live. We would have to visit my bass instructor, Gloria Allgood at the Atlanta Symphony, along with visits to my second home at the Shakespeare Tavern, and the wonderful exhibits at the High Museum. There are so many places to eat in and around the city that trying to name them all would be like writing a novel, but I would have to take them to Herban Fix, Raging Burrito, and Fellini’s Pizza, and Cafe Intermezzo. If the timing was right, I would also bring them to a Cirque Du Soleil show (Kurios is my favourite) and have them participate in a bring a friend day with me at Akrosphere Aerial and Circus Arts.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to each and every one of the teaching artists I’ve had the pleasure of knowing in my time at the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern. I would especially like to thank the Tavern’s artistic director, Jeff Watkins, for creating and providing that environment, MR Ralston for introducing me to aerial arts and stage combat, and Adam King and O’Neil Delapenha for being the most supportive and encouraging mentors I could have ever asked for.

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