In Conversation: Cristina Varga – Finding Belonging, One Laugh at a Time
When Cristina Varga arrived in Plymouth just three months before Brexit, she couldn’t have predicted how deeply the city would shape her life and artistic voice. Now, she’s returning to Theatre Royal Plymouth with Close Enough, an autobiographical one-woman show that blends comedy, original music and mixed media to explore the realities of migration, identity, and belonging — all with sharp wit and heart.
Having first developed the show through TRP’s IdeasLAB programme while studying at the University of Plymouth, Close Enough has grown from a student idea into a fully realised touring production. It also marks the first major project from Everything but Theatre, the Plymouth-based company Cristina co-founded with fellow creative Danni Watmore.
Set against the backdrop of post-Brexit Britain, Close Enough is a love letter to finding connection in unlikely places — a show that invites audiences to laugh, reflect, and see the world through new eyes. As Cristina returns to the city that helped launch her career, she reflects on how Plymouth has become not just a starting point, but a home.
Your show Close Enough had its early beginnings in Plymouth, as part of the IdeasLAB programme at Theatre Royal Plymouth. How has the city influenced your creative journey?
Plymouth has played an essential role in my artistic journey right from the start. I came here to study Performance Art, and everything unfolded from there. The idea for Close Enough actually started while I was still a student. I applied to IdeasLAB with a very early version of it, and they liked it — and now here we are. That early support I received helped me trust my voice as a theatre maker, especially at a time when I wasn’t sure anyone would care about an unknown artist who had just landed here from Romania.
You first moved to the UK just before Brexit. What role has Plymouth played in shaping your experience of life in the UK?
Moving just before Brexit was… intense. But I think I was lucky to have chosen Plymouth. The people in Plymouth are kind and welcoming, and I’m incredibly grateful to have met so many lovely Plymothians — many of whom have become close friends. Of course, no city is perfect. I’ve had my fair share of negative experiences, not necessarily because I’m an immigrant, but just the kind of things anyone might go through. Overall, I think Plymouth is a genuinely lovely place to live — the good far outweighs the bad.
Many people in Plymouth might not be familiar with the nuances of Eastern European migration. What do you hope local audiences will take away from Close Enough?
I hope they see the human side of it and that they relate as much as possible. It’s not just headlines or statistics. Migration from Eastern Europe, is often a story of in-betweenness—of laughing while your heart is kind of breaking. Close Enough isn’t about victimhood; it’s about trying to belong. If someone leaves the show thinking, “Oh, I hadn’t thought of it like that,” then I’ll be happy.
Plymouth is a city that often welcomes people from different cultures and backgrounds. Have you felt a sense of belonging here? What moments helped build that connection?
Belonging is something that takes time, but I’ve definitely felt it growing over the years. When I first moved to Plymouth, I was met with kindness — people were welcoming, and that really helped me feel at ease in a new country. Some of the strongest connections came through everyday things: being remembered at the café, getting invited to someone’s home, or just laughing with friends who now feel like family. I’ve also met so many lovely Plymothians, especially through theatre and community spaces, and those relationships have made a big difference. It’s not that every moment has been perfect, but over time, those little things added up to a real sense of home.
You describe Close Enough as a comedy with a touch of tragedy — very much in the Romanian spirit. Why did you choose humour as your way into these deeper, often difficult topics?
Jokes have always been a coping mechanism for me. It started from an early age with my family. Everything that we were going through had to have a funny side and we were responsible to find it. So when I started thinking about writing a show, it came naturally for me to write a comedy. I think laughter is such a powerful tool that can help you as an artist to make a statement that the audience will remember for a long time. Laughter also makes everyone relax and therefore be more open to new perspectives.
Theatre Royal Plymouth supported your work early on, and now you’re returning with a fully-fledged production. What has that journey been like for you as an emerging artist?
The journey has had its ups and downs—as I’m sure every artist can relate to. It’s a tough time for the arts, with funding becoming increasingly difficult to secure. There were moments when I honestly questioned if it was worth continuing, because sustaining yourself as an emerging artist can feel almost impossible.
What kept me going was the incredible support of fellow artists—people who lifted me up when I was feeling low, and believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. In those moments, I’ve learned to lean on their faith until I can find my own again.
Theatre Royal Plymouth has been a huge part of that support. They’re doing vital work in championing local and emerging artists, and having their backing at such an early stage in my career has made a real and lasting impact.
Tell us more about Everything but Theatre, the company you co-founded here. What are your hopes for its role in Plymouth’s theatre scene and beyond?
We are so proud to be able to say we are a Plymouth based theatre company. Plymouth and the wider southwest have incredibly talented artists who love what they do and we are so excited to be a part of the sector here. The great thing about Plymouth is it feels like a big village, everyone knows everyone and there’s always someone willing to help you. We have been so grateful to everyone who has supported us in setting up our company so far and we want to always do the same for others. We have already started doing this by working with Plymouth University to present our story so far to current students and really get into the nitty gritty of setting up a theatre company! We hope to build a strong foundation in Plymouth as we grow and bring more local shows to the southwest theatre scene.
Do you think there’s something unique about developing work in Plymouth, away from the pressures of bigger cities like London or Manchester?
I think Plymouth really strives to keep up with the bigger cities, and that’s something I admire about it. There are pros and cons to both types of cities. In smaller cities, you often get the chance to do more with fewer resources, but the trade-off can be less exposure. On the flip side, bigger cities offer a wider platform but come with more pressure and competition. For me, though, Plymouth has been the perfect fit — it’s a place that allows you to grow and experiment without the overwhelming noise of larger cities.
The show uses comedy, original music and mixed media — how do all those elements help bring your story to life?
These elements are all things I truly enjoy and work with outside of theatre as well. I’ve always had a passion for comedy, singing, and experimenting with film and editing. By bringing all of these into the show, it feels more authentic to who I am as a creator.
Finally, what excites you most about sharing Close Enough with audiences across the South West — and especially here in Plymouth once again?
At this point, everything is exciting — and honestly, I think it’ll stay that way for the rest of my performing life. Right now, we’re on our very first tour with Everything but Theatre, and the fact that we get to share our work with so many people feels amazing. I’m also really proud to be bringing Close Enough back to Plymouth, this time to The Drum. It feels like a full-circle moment. Over the past year, Dani and I have accomplished so much with Everything but Theatre, and we can’t wait to bring even more new work to audiences in Devon and beyond.
