Meet Oluchi Nwokocha

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Oluchi Nwokocha. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Oluchi, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

My mother. My mother is freaking awesome. My mom came to this country with my dad from Nigeria in the 80’s. I’ve watched them raise seven kids from a small two-bedroom townhouse in San Jose to the six bedroom house we now have in Sacramento. I have watched my mother raise seven kids while obtaining two different Master’s degrees. I have watched her fail, persevere, and triumph. My mother continuously shows me that nothing is impossible with a little grit and a lot of prayer. I would not be the woman I am today if it wasn’t for my mother’s grace, ambition and determination. Whenever I feel life slapping me in the face and I think I cannot go on, I think about how hard it was for my mom to be in this country not knowing the customs and struggling with the language. My mom inspires me to keep going. She inspires me to pursue my dreams with pure unadulterated ferocity. My mom is the dopest woman I know!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

In 2016, I moved back home from New York City. I was devasted. My jobs that I had were all winding down during the summer and as I was living paycheck to paycheck I did not have the money to stay in NYC. I moved back home to Sacramento. I was 26 with a MFA in Acting from The University of Florida, and I had to move back home. I felt like a complete and utter failure. I had dreams of being on Broadway and in TV/Film and I felt like it was even more out of reach now that I had to move back home to Sacramento. But, as always, I had the support of my family and friends behind me and I had the space to figure out what was next. I hit up my mentor Karen Altree Piemme who I had worked with when I was 21 at the San Jose Reparatory Theatre. Anytime I was home for break, I would get together with Karen and she would encourage me to keep going or give me advice on how to be a working artist in this industry. Well, this time she had a job. Come through Karen! She asked me if I was interested in teaching improv in prison with Red Ladder Theatre Company; a social justice improv company. I was hesitant but I knew Karen would never steer me wrong. So, that summer I started working in prison at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, CA. I remember when I first walked through the yard where all the incarcerated men congregated that I was shaking. I did not know what to expect. I did not know anyone personally who was incarcerated nor have I ever been to a prison facility before. Nonetheless, I made it through the yard and to the gymnasium where our program was to be conducted. I remember waiting for the men to walk through the door, I was so nervous! Then, this big black dude walked through the door. He had face tattoos and the whitest teeth ever. I was like omg! He smiled as he reached me “wassup my sistah.” I let go of the breathe that I didn’t even realize I was holding and shook his hand. We laughed and talked like regular people. My perception of incarcerated individuals changed that day.

Our program runs for twelve weeks. We spend the first half tapping into the creative process of theatre utilizing the imagination, imaginary objects and character work. The second half we devise a play based on what they feel is important to them. My life as an artist has become richer because of the work that I do in the prison. Since 2016, I spend my days working with the most creative and talented individuals that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting throughout Northern California. We currently serve men and women in nine different prison facilities. Throughout my time with Red Ladder, I have moved to LA, moved back, become a Professor at Miami University of Ohio and have written and directed plays.

I never thought this is what I would be doing when I dreamed of being on Law and Order: SVU as a child. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to work in my field and to make a deep impact in the lives of the men and women that we work with in prison. Upcoming, I will be working on a documentary so that the world can see the work we do and also note how theatre is one of the most transformative art forms out there.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

For me, my biggest skills or knowledge that I have obtained that have helped me in my journey were my interpersonal skills, ability to let things go, and my want for a better life. I always tell my students these two things. I must sound like a broken record to them at times, but, it is not what you know it is who you know, and your reputation will precede you. Keeping that in mind, it does not matter how talented or experienced you are if you know the right people. And you never know when your time will come but having faith that it will come will get you through the hard times. Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. The industry that we are in is not easy and it will challenge you in the worst ways at times. It will test your resolve and expose your insecurities. It matters how you react when you don’t get the audition, or you are down to your last dollar. I believe for those folks who are in the early part of their journey the biggest thing to remember is to not compare yourself to your peers. Compare yourself to who you were the day before. That is a better litmus test. You do not know the support or people that your peers may know that has gotten them ‘ahead.’ Comparison is the thief of joy. What you can be doing instead is working on yourself and your craft. Move horizontally instead of vertically. Get in the gym, take classes, take an improv class, go to the museum, travel, go live life! Your time will come. It is a matter of when:) Also, your wants and needs will change as you get older. What you thought you wanted in your 20s might not be the same thing in your 30s and that is totally okay. Adjust, and shift accordingly. And if you have to move back home to reset (as I have) it is okay. Reset as many times as you need to in order to achieve what you want. Be grateful that you have a place to go home to and rest your head and recover. Not everyone has that.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

The book I recommend to everyone to read especially when they are feeling lost is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This book saved me. The first time I read it I was super depressed and lost. I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. I was recommend this book by a friend. I ate it up. I found myself searching and activating my own ‘personal legend.’ Seriously, go get this book. It will change your life. The biggest thing that I got from this book is that everyone is called to various destinies and you can miss your signs to your calling if you are not looking for them or are closed off to them. We are all on this earth seeking our own ‘personal legend’ and in order to obtain it we will have to make sacrifices and take risks. It will be uncomfortable and not everyone will get what we are doing or why, but don’t let that stop you. The journey is greater than the reward. Stay present.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @loochluch

Image Credits

Oluchi Nwokocha
Jeffrey Nicholson
Jeff Sabo
Peter Merts
Joseph Giammarco