We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Peter Trinh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Peter, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I very recently worked on a staged production of THE WORLD IS NOT SILENT by Don X. Nguyen at Northern Stage in White River Junction, Vermont. This was the second production of this play. The world premiere was in Houston, Texas in 2024. Having over 20 years of professional stage experience, it is not very often I get to perform in shows that reflect my Vietnamese culture. THE WORLD IS NOT SILENT is a father/son play about communication and languge. Not only does this play reflect my background as a first generation American raised by Vietnamese refugees, but I get to speak Vietnamese in the show. I played Dau, a 70 year old father who is losing his hearing. His son, the main character, moves home to be with him after the mother dies, in fear his father will completely lose all his hearing. As a token of good faith, the son is learing American Sign Language as a boon, to bridge connection with Dau. Only to find out Dau knows Vietnamese Sign Language, further widening the already large chasm of communication between father and son. The play is a deep dive into eastern and western dynamics, as well as the not widely discussed topic of loss of language amongst immigrant families. Being able to perform in English, Vietnamese, ASL, and VSL was a very challenging and rewarding experience. But what really fed my soul, was the chance to perform the work of a Vietnamese playwright, along with an all Vietnamese cast whom I have come to make lifelong friends with, following what I would call the best stage experience of my career.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an Asian American actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. I started acting almost 30 years ago, having obtained my Bachelor of the Arts degree in Theatre from Metro State University of Denver in 2007. I have wanted to act as far as I can remember, my earliest memory going back to 5/6 years old, immitating my drunk uncles at large family gatherings. I have a unique plethora of skills I am able to incorporate into my performances including experience in dance, singing, guitar and keys, martial arts, sports, clowning, and stage-combat. I am a native and fluent speaker in Vietnamese, and have a multitude of European and Asian accents. Along with stage and film, I also have experience in performance magic, Crisis Intervention Training (role-playing with law enforcement), Care Acting (role-playing with medical professionals), and art eduction teaching students from kindergarten to adults. In my writing, I am a playwright, screenwriter, and poet. I focus mostly on the Asian American experience, with an emphasis on providing roles for and improving the perspective of Asian American males in mainstream media.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

At an early age, I noticed that people essentially become their work. Doctors see the world in a way that’s always asking “How can I be of service?” Law enforcement are always stringent on rules and can’t help but see people as rule followers or rule breakers. As an artist – and particularly an actor – our work becomes life itself. And in turn, life becomes our work. Obervation on human behavior, human interaction, and the rhythms of life and nature are things I am constantly attuned to. In performance, or even in writing, we draw from our own personal experience, so if I am able to constantly and vigilantly attempt to be an objective purveyor of life in its wide spectrum of ugliness and beauty, I am always contributing to my art.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

When I was young, one of my closest cousins asked me, “You want to be an actor?? Isn’t that really… far-fetched?” I think what a lot of non-creatives can never understand, are the financial and economic sacrifices many artists make, especially early in their career, and often times throughout. The truth is, artists don’t really have a choice but to create. It is deeply embedded in the foundations of our person. For us, it truly feels like something that we would rather die than to do without. When we create and release it into the world, that very act can provide sustenance that goes beyond anything we can put into our bodies. And when another soul receives it and can identify with the unique way that we perceive the world, and is moved, changed, or uplifted by something we have created… it provides sustenance for the soul that goes beyond language or expression.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://petertrinh.net
• Instagram: @petertrinhartist
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/peterpttrinh
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/petertrinh01

Image Credits

Bailey Burcham (from ’26 The World Is Not Silent, photo with wig)
Eric Weber (Headshot and comedy shot and personal photo)
Aurora Fox Arts Center (Monk)