"So much of this play is about food."
As Lisa Zahra prepares to open her new play at this month, Rhys Edwards sat down to discuss writing and the rhythm of voices, with Lisa and director, Izzy Rabey.
Lisa Zahra doesn’t think of herself as a writer. This is despite the fact that she has written a new play - Baba Joon, directed by Izzy Rabey – that is set to premiere at the Swansea Grand Theatre later this month.
This is Lisa’s first play, and for the time being at least, she has no plans to write another.
‘I haven’t got the writer’s bug, no. I’m an actor, first and foremost.’ Lisa tells me, as we meet at the Swansea Grand.
I wonder whether this will make the play all the more impactful, knowing that her writing itch has well and truly been scratched. Is it indicative of her confidence in the piece - having said exactly what she wanted to say, precisely how she wanted to say it?
Director Izzy Rabey, who joins us in a break from rehearsals, is inclined to agree: ‘When I first read the script, I just thought it was so poetic. It really celebrates the reality of mixed heritage – but embraces all of the messiness and complexity and pride in it. Lisa really has expressed this story so beautifully.’
Lisa’s switch from actor to writer was never part of the plan and yet, as she reflects on the last few years of her career, she recognises that in many ways it was inevitable: ‘When I look back at my recent run of projects, it’s like they have all been leading to this.’
To read the rest of this interview click here.