Sebastiao Willy Silveira, popularly known as Willy Silveira on the Konkani stage, hails from the serene village of Verna in Salcete taluka. Born on May 25, 1979, at the tender age of 10, at the inter-ward singing competition in his village, he rendered a solo and bagged the first prize.

The following months offered Willy ample opportunities to participate in one-act plays at the village and state levels. During the Christmas season then, he received offers from Jerry Rodrigues and Calado de Verna, with the latter’s plays bringing him laurels and helping to bag the ‘best actor award’.

After completion of HSSC at Fr Agnel Multipurpose High School, Verna and graduating in Commerce through YMCO University, Nasik, Willy along with Calado de Verna joined Wilmix and Sharon’s TACT institute, at the request of the assistant parish priest, Fr Britto, and received training in theatre art. He was cast in Wilmix-Sharon’s tiatr ‘Tiatrist’, which was presented at the Kala Academy’s Tiatr competition and was Willy was awarded a merit certificate for best acting.

“Initially it was a small role which was provided,” informed Willy, “but the actor in the lead role could not make it for the competition and it was passed on to me.” “Merit certificate for best acting at first go brought in enthusiasm and encouragement,” he added.

Willy continued in Wilmix-Sharon’s 2-3 tiatrs presented at KA’s Tiatr competition, besides participating in their musical shows and skits. “When Kezia, who was one of the artistes in Wilmix-Sharon’s productions, got nominated for the lead role in the Konkani film ‘Ordhem Chador’,” he revealed, “she proposed my name for the lead role opposite her”.

During the Lent season, Willy received an offer from Fr Conceicao and Sr Agnes to participate in their show ‘Jezun Rogot Varoilem’. “During one such show at Fatorda,” he mentioned, “Prince Jacob, who was the chief guest, was badly in need of a male artiste. After watching my performance, he welcomed me in his production ‘Rupia’, opposite Annie Quadros and professional cast.”

Thereafter, Willy acted in F D Cunha’s 3-4 tiatrs, which included ‘Sat Jiv’ and ‘Moronn’. Maxie Pereira also roped him in his 3-4 productions which included ‘Bottam Dakhoiat’, ‘Hanv Tuzo’ and ‘Tum Fattim Asa’, followed by Menino de Bandar’s two tiatrs ‘Ho Uzo Paloiat’ and ‘Taxi Driver’.

Willy also featured in Camilo Fernandes’ tiatr ‘Nit’, besides Tony Dias’ two productions ‘Argham Tuka Dhonia’ and ‘Ami Jikhle Vo Harle’ and Anil-Olga’s two tiatrs ‘Mhozo Hixeob Chuklo’ and ‘Chondrim Liplo Kupamni’.

In 2005, seeking greener pastures, Willy flew to Dubai and returned to his roots in 2010. Back in Goa, he made an entry in Peter/Roshan’s tiatrs ‘Goem Soddun Pavlem Ghanttar’, ‘Hi Chavi Sanddlolea Mogachi’, ‘Hancher Ani Visvas Asa’ and ‘Kallim Kupam Dovo Paus’.

Willy also made his appearance in Kenny Ferns’ tiatr ‘Tujea Dolleantlem’, Cajie de Curtorim’s tiatrs ‘Tallnent Poddum Diumnaka’, ‘Gorjek Pavat’ and ‘Kristanv Ami?’, Valencio’s tiatr ‘Giddh’, comedian Ambe’s tiatrs ‘Osleo Chuki Goenkar Kortat’ and ‘To Fottoilear Fottovna’.

Willy’s longer innings can be traced in Irineu Gonsalves’ five productions, namely ‘Goem Goykaranchem’, ‘Modhli Vatt’, ‘ICU Bed No 2’, ‘Omor Mogachi Kanni’ and ‘Goodbye Papa’. Likewise, he continued in comedian Agostinho’s 9 tiatrs, namely ‘Pai’, ‘Picnic’, ‘Strike’, ‘Police’, ‘Apleachem Lipoita Dusreanchem Dhuita’, ‘Amchem Noxib Tem’, ‘Eka Meka Pasot’, ‘Fight for Right’ and ‘Mog Kazar Divorce’.

Willy also acted in Filipe Almeida’s tiatr ‘Ami Jikhle’, Milagres de Chandor’s two productions ‘Zero’ and ‘ATM’, Ligorio Fernandes’ tiatr ‘Judas’ and Patrick Dourado’s tiatr ‘Ostori’ (both being re-produced). He also featured in Samuel Carvalho’s tiatr ‘Xezarim Jevnank Soirim Mornank’, Mario Menezes’ tiatr ‘Dev Konn Hindu, Kristanv Musolman’, Simon Gonsalves’ tiatr ‘In or Out’, Mariano Fernandes’ tiatr ‘Tujem Bhangar Tujea Angar’.

During the season of Lent, Willy made his appearance in Calado de Verna’s six productions, besides Cruz Pinto’s one production. His foreign tours came about in Simon Gonsalves’ tiatr ‘Chalis Dis Chalis Rati’ (Kuwait), A B Luis tiatr ‘Munis Monxeacho Bhikari’ (Dubai) and Fr Lucas Rodrigues’ tiatr ‘Fator ani Mati’ (UK).

Willy has two DVDs to his credit, which include ‘Vizmit’ and ‘Mhojem Noxib’. He also acted in Konkani films ‘Vizmit’ and ‘Mhojem Noxib’, besides several video films.

After a taste of acting on stage as an artiste, Willy plunged into his own productions during the season of Lent with releases ‘Kaklut Mhoji Kor’ in 2017, ‘Kor Mhojem Kalliz Tujea Kallza Sarkhem (2018) and ‘Khursachi Vattt’ (2019).

Though Willy can sing and act on stage, “acting is my forte and always been my passion,” he conceals, thus seeking character roles from his tiatr directors, which help showcase his acting skills on stage. If he recalls, in Peter-Roshan’s tiatr ‘Goem Soddun Pavlem Ghanttar’, he played character role of a ‘ghantti’, which fetched him nomination as best actor at Tiatr Academy Goa’s Popular Tiatr Festival.

There’s nobody in Willy’s household who have served the tiatr stage in the past, but the stage has always been his life and he wishes to continue doling out performances as long as golden opportunities keep knocking on his door.