We sat down with the incredible Moira, to learn all about her background with theatre, what it’s like to work on comedy vs dramatic performances and what she likes most about Jewish jokes. 

Can you tell us about yourself and your background with theatre?

I started telling stories when I was 10 years old, performing on our back garden patio to neighbourhood children sitting on the grass.   I’m only comfortable when I’m creating.

The great American novelist Kurt Vonnegut says –

‘Practice any art ………not to get money or fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.’

 Can you tell us about The God of Isaac?

The God of Isaac is a quirky comedy telling a very important story about a young man’s search for his identity.  When a neo-Nazi group announce that they’re coming to town to demonstrate, Isaac goes on a quest to get answers to his question ‘What is it to be Jewish’.  Nobody has the full answer. His mother – who happens to also be in the audience – tells him he has to find out for himself. She says ‘You can’t chew with someone else’s teeth.’

What do you like about working with Shalom?

It’s great to be working with people with the same cultural commitment and the same passion for making connections through community.

In the past, you’ve been involved with many dramatic works. What are the differences between working on dramas vs comedies? 

There is actually no difference in the process of achieving  the end result. We study the text, we find our place on the stage, we get to talk and listen to our partners, we face an audience.  We never play for comedy – we just tell the story and we wait for the response. 

Comedy is that moment when everyone on stage and everyone in the audience are instantly on the same wave-length – resulting in a roar of laughter. Nothing more rewarding!

What do you like most about Jewish comedy? 

It’s so familiar;  it is universal and it has no boundaries – even G-D comes in for a joke in the play.  It has a rhyme that is instantly recognisable, and a gentle wisdom in what it says.

BOOK FOR THE GOD OF ISAAC HERE