AT seven years old, Cara Barredo played her first role as Tiny Tim in Repertory Philippines’s (Rep) production of Scrooge in 1994. Since then, there was no turning back for the 29-year old stalwart of the theater company founded by the late Zenaida Amador and Carmen Barredo.
For that role, she was paid P100. After her initial sortie in the theatre, Barredo says there was no turning back because she was bitten by the acting bug. She credits mother Letty, her eldest sister Maya Barredo-Duffy as her the biggest influencers.
Barredo believes her stint with the company has developed her into a more disciplined and confident individual. Since I started young, I was able to instil discipline to balance my studies and acting in theatre,” Barredo said in a recent interview during a rehearsal break at Onstage, Greenbelt.
Unlike in other institutions where athletes and other so-called campus figures were given leeway in their academics, Barredo says the Rep leadership emphasized that studies should be the priority.
If an actor has failing grades, they are not allowed to perform, according to Barredo.
Everybody got an equal treatment. “’Tita Bibot (Amador) treated kids as the same as the professional artists,” said Barredo, a graduate of classical music in Santa Isabel College. Nevertheless, she recalls the regimen of the mercurial Amador not tough as long as you follow the rules.
Just like any typical youngster, Barredo also planned to pursue other career options during her student days. She planned to take biochemistry upon her graduation from high school. In fact, she was already set to study in De La Salle University to study the said program which she would use a stepping stone to become a forensic doctor. However, her grandmother Cita told her she should take up music because it is in her DNA. “My mama Cita told me I was born to perform,” she says.
“I later realized I wasn’t born to do a day job,” she adds.
It has been a good run for her. Teaches acting workshop during summer The only one among her contemporaries who is still active in theater.
Barredo considers herself lucky for being able to develop a long staying power in theatre because of her early training she acquired from Rep. She explains that acting has become a second nature to her citing that she is the only one in her Rep batch that continues to perform on a regular basis. “The discipline developed by staying in the theatre is a great motivation for me. “ In terms of pursuing discipline, Barredo ensures she takes care of her voice and body to guarantee she will give a good performance. This means having six to eighth hours of sleep and avoiding spicy foods She says they are also encouraged to go to the gym to strengthen their muscles.
Blessed with an equally excellent singing voice and acting talent, Barredo admits it is difficult for her what to prioritize- signing or acting. Fortunately, she Rep recently gave her a chance when she appeared in Stepping Out. In the stage play, she and the other cast members were required to act, sing and dance. “Stepping Out gave me a chance to learn tap dancing,” she notes.
She is glad theatre is very alive nowadays which is shown by the various presentations of various companies.
“Theatre is very different these days because all doors are open. You can now see Rep actors doing PETA [Philippine Educational Theater Association] while Rep artists join PETA in their production,” she notes.
As a result, Barredo and the other actors can broaden their horizons with these exchanges. It is now a big family, according to Barredo.
As far as she is concerned, Barredo plans to go back singing classical music. “Unlike musical theatre, classical musical is quite hard because it is very technical and your voice will need a lot of training.”
One of her classical favourites is “The Maidens of Cadiz.”
“If you’re classically trained, you can sing everything.”