Who is Bek Schilling?
I am a queer non-binary actor, singer, dancer, writer and creative with a huge passion for exciting and new Australian stories on stage and screen.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I think I would live my life a little louder. I spent a lot of my adolescent years hiding so many parts of myself and making myself smaller so other people were more comfortable. Now, I say stuff that! It took me so long to find who I am, authentically, and I don’t want to ever lose that again – and the people that are truly worth it that celebrate me for my authentic self have always come along on the journey with me.
Who inspires you and why?
There is a very long list of inspirations in my life. Though, the first people that come to my mind are my closest circle of friends, who are all also creatives in their own right, that inspire me every single day in how they live their lives with such joy and passion.
I am so often drawn to people with ambition, that are always on the front foot pushing for that next step, living authentically and with pride, that take any setbacks on the chin and continue to push on. I think in the world of creative arts, it’s so easy to be discouraged but there is such power in sticking to your guns and keeping going.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I think we can all make a difference by simply showing up and doing the work constantly. The world can sometimes make you feel like you are fighting an uphill battle, but every single person can make a difference through simple actions whether that’s through art or not. If one person in the audience can see me telling a story that somewhat reflects theirs, and that inspires them to live their lives out loud, then I’ve done my job.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I was very lucky to take a trip to New York a few years ago and I’ve been itching to go back ever since. The circumstances around how I ended up there were a little sticky, but it was the first time I truly felt at ease overseas. The theatre culture is so incredible, and I had a friend of mine that lives over there take me under their wing and introduce me to so many people and places that it really felt like a home away from home.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I love tailoring my tour guide skills to each person when they come to town – to me it’s kind of like picking the right playlist for a car trip! My family comes to visit from out of state pretty frequently so I’m always trying to find something new for us to do, but I always start with brunch at any one of my favourite local cafes.
My brother and I both collect vinyl records so we’ll always hit up Happy Valley (our favourite record store). Or take them out to Abbotsford Convent to hit up the bakery, wander around the gardens and suss out the galleries and stores – there’s always a little something for everyone!
What are you currently reading?
My books always seem to sit in the intersection of crime/murder mystery, young adult, and queer – a dramatic gay, til the very end! Most recently, I read Bright Young Girls by Jessica Knoll which made me sob hysterically. Others I’ve just picked up or finished are Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin, The Girls by Emma Cline, and Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins-Reid. I always have a memoir on the go as well, to mix things up when I don’t want to dive into fiction. I just got gifted My Brother’s Ashes are in a Sandwich Bag by Michelle Brasier which I am itching to dig into.
What are you currently listening to?
I am definitely a creature of habit so I tend to get locked in to listening to the same 4 albums on repeat until I wake up one morning and explore Spotify to find the next 4 albums. Currently, those are Bleachers by Bleachers, Older (and Wiser) by Lizzy McAlpine, Charm by Clairo, and Out Of My Mind by Trousdale. If I’m not listening to one of those, there is always a podcast playing in the background, usually Two Idiot Girls or Call An Adult – pretty much anything silly and/or goofy.
Happiness is?
A backyard dinner party with my chosen family: with laughter filling the open air between us, music playing softly, the sun is just setting in the late hours of the night and it’s that perfect temperature where it’s not hot enough that you’re sweating but there’s not too much of a chill in the air, you’ve got a good glass of red and a painstakingly cooked 4 course meal – it’s absolute chaos but I’ll take it any day.
What does the future hold for you?
I honestly don’t know, which is terrifying and also SO exciting. I’m at a point in my life and career where I feel like I never want to stop learning and growing, so all I can hope is that whatever comes next continues to challenge me and excite me. I see a huge future for Bearded, so I hope I get to have even a small piece in that going forward. And I hope there are many more backyard dinner parties to come!
Bek stars as Bet in the new queer musical, Bearded – which will be presented at St Kilda’s Theatre Works from 8 – 18 January 2025. For more information, visit: www.theatreworks.org.au for details.
Image: Bek Schilling – photo by Steven Mitchell Wright