Meet Tyker Giselle Phillip | Caribbean-based Multi hyphenate Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tyker Giselle Phillip and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tyker Giselle, what is the most important factor behind your success?
A directing mentor told me years ago that every time I walk into a room or a space as my most authentic self, I would excel. It’s not something I didn’t know before he said it, but it was a beautiful reminder to always be me. As cliché as it may sound, my unique experiences and my intention to always add value wherever I go, has got to be the most important factor behind my success so far.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a multi-hyphenate creative based in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies who has been involved in the Creative Industry as a Performer, Stage Manager, Director and Producer for over a decade. In that time I have worked with children, teenagers and adults as a Drama and Theatre Arts facilitator.

Leading with joy and ensuring the intention of your work is based in creating value is paramount. THAT is what has set me apart as a director, producer, stage manager and as an actor. I am very proud to be able to work on an island rich in so much history, so many cultures, all lending themselves to create beautiful work. I’m currently workshopping the integration of Carnival Arts (performance, visual & costuming) into theatre and film. I’ve been involved in the creative sector in Trinidad and Tobago since I was a child and it has been very challenging. Like many of my colleagues in different parts of the world, I have often felt a bit disheartened by the lack of respect shown to the creative arts. I create to overcome obstacles. I’ve faced many adversities, personal and professional and as an avenue to deal with them, to heal or to encourage others to do the same, I have created shows, workshops and curated discussions among peers. I’ve learned that not everyone isn’t your friend, and those that are, will be honest with you. I’ve also learned that minimalist theatre is my favourite because I can make anything with very little and still have an impact. My brand is Trinidad & Tobago. Red, white and black. 868. Anything that I create is rooted in my Trinidadian & Tobagonian heritage. The world knows about other Caribbean cultures but not so much about T&T and I feel it’s very important for me to showcase us as our authentic selves in anything that has my name on it.

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 absolutely LOVE to eat, so our entire itinerary would revolve around food. Trinidad and Tobago has epicurean influences from all the people and cultures present on our islands. From the Indigenous People’s offerings of farine (dried cassava/yucca), to the East Indian roti and Cantonese mixed fried rice. Let’s go!!

DAY 1
Breakfast for most of the day… yes you read correctly. Fried bake, saltfish buljol or smoked herring buljol with a large slice of avocado and a nice steaming cup of real cocoa with coconut milk. We’ll have this home cooked meal to start our day before we head to the world largest roundabout – The Queen’s Park Savannah for coconut water. There we’ll take lots of pictures in nature and with the Magnificent Seven, which are seven colonial buildings that have a lot of history. Lunch is saheenas (split peas and callaloo bush patties deep fried) with tamarind sauce. For dinner we’ll walk through Woodbrook to get to Eagle’s for a scrumptious dim sum all you can eat. If there’s any theatre on we can go to a show before we head for a roadside beer, a quick lime (hangout) and then go home.
DAY 2
Roti Day! Taking a bus to Tunapuna so we can have Wing’s Roti. Any type of curried meat is available and if you’ve decided to go vegetarian, there are options for you. Buss up shut or paratha and dhalpuri roti are mandatory because we can eat rice at home. We’ll take a 15 minute walk to the Lloyd Best Institute where we can read at the library of this amazing economist and thinker. Ending the day with a sunset on the Lady Young lookout, observing the lights of the capital city come on with some geera pork and chicken necks and a cold beer.
DAY 3
Heading up to Maracas Beach for the day. On the way, we’ll stop at the Lookout where you can get lots of snacks like preserved fruit like mangoes and salted prunes as well as pineapple chow which is extremely good because it has loads of seasonings like chadon beni (culantro) and pepper. While we’re on the beach we’ll go to my favourite Bake & Shark place, Patsy’s for a filling meal after we’ve soaked up the sun and salt water.
DAYS 4 & 5
Tobago here we come! The sister isle has tours of the Buccoo Reef, the Nylon Pool that leave from Store Bay. At Store Bay, we can get some curried crab and dumplings followed by avocado ice cream from Zib’s. On our second day we’ll tour the entire island seeing important sites like The Mystery Tomb, the Arnos Vale Waterwheel and Argyle Waterfall. Stopping off in Castara for their island famous fried fish and cassava and have a limbo class. When we’ve finished our day we have to make sure we get sugar cake, nut cake, papaya balls and bene balls before we get our plane off the island.
DAY 6
Creole Food introduction. We’re starting the day with fresh fruit, coconut water and a session at the Bois Academy. Here we will learn about the history of stickfighting (kalinda) and participate in activities to practice the dances, music and the drumming. Pelau, a rice and peas dish is a must for lunch that can have either stewed chicken or oxtail and a salad, with a guava syrup laced snow cone for dessert. Studio 66 which is a few streets away is an open air art studio where artists are invited to participate in residences or mount shows. This space also has a library which you can sit and read or engage with the operator of the space Makemba about the history of the Caribbean or about visual art.
DAY 7
Enlisting RoadTripTT for our last day to head down to Manzanilla and Mayaro for their foodie tour. We’ll get to visit the Book Junkie which has a watermelon stand right next to it where we can sample fresh watermelons grown in Manzanilla before we go to the mud volcano. Then we’ll have a roast fish lunch, go to Doves for homemade bread made in a dirt oven, have coconut or soursop ice cream, a slice of seafood pizza and great company as we learn about the history of East Trinidad.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m dedicating my shoutout to my family, especially my mother “Foxy Roxy” who always encouraged my artistic endeavours. She took me to all cultural and religious festivals, celebrations and commemorations where I got exposed to so many aspects of my country.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tykergiselle OR https://www.instagram.com/pionero_productions/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyker-giselle-phillip-05852b202/

Image Credits
Stephen Foderingham-Garraway Anais Wilson