Interview: 'She's Her Own Worst Enemy': Actor Janet Moran on Returning to the Role of Mairead in Eugene O’Brien's HEAVEN

Olivier Award and quadruple Fringe First-winning Irish theatre company Fishamble bring HEAVEN to Southwark Playhouse Borough for its London premiere. 

Set in County Offaly in the Irish midlands, HEAVEN sees 20-year married couple, Mairead and Mal, find themselves at something of a crossroads, struggling to keep their relationship together and each with secrets they haven’t told the other. Returning to Mairead’s hometown for a family wedding, they each find themselves facing old temptations, and questions that are difficult to answer. 

BroadwayWorld spoke to Janet Moran, who plays Mairead, about bringing Eugene O’Brien's play to London for the first time and what the show means to her.

---

Tell us about HEAVEN - what’s the show like? Who do you play?

The show is a really brilliant excavation of the most private thoughts of a couple in a marriage that kind of works but is missing a fundamental part of a marriage, desire. It’s funny, surprising, sad and profound.

I play Mairead, who in many ways is her own worst enemy. She’s tough because she’s had to be but she’s emotionally intelligent, complicated and honest about herself.

You’ve performed the show in Dublin, New York, Edinburgh and now taking it to London for the first time. What’s it been like staying with a show that long? Do you feel like your performance has evolved from the first run?

It’s been a real gift to stay with a show like this for so long. Parts like this are the ones you wait for. It’s a big challenge to perform and in the early days there’s more nerves whereas now that I know it so well, it’s deeply satisfying to perform. I think as it’s gone on, I’ve been able to play it in a deeper, more alive, spontaneous way.

What are your favourite things about those cities? Any top tips?

The best thing about travelling with a show is getting to bring your family along and experiencing the city while you work and they holiday.

New York: the ice skating, the bars, the parks, the vibe, the food.

Edinburgh is such a joy to visit. I’ve never been outside of festival time so I’m looking forward to that and just walking the city.

Dublin is home and it’s a great city to live in. Compact, close to the sea and the mountains, and teeming with culture.

How does Eugene O’Brien’s writing resonate with you? How does Jim Culleton’s direction help translate O’Brien’s words?

Eugene’s writing is extraordinarily characterful and truthful. He can turn between edgy and tragedy on a dime. The characters are surprising but recognisable.

I love performing the bits where I get a bit unruly at the wedding reception but the whole thing is a thrill to perform. Jim has a brilliant confidence as a director. He’s endlessly reassuring and famously one of the nicest men in Ireland. He has real trust of actors and a lovely sense of detail.

What are you looking forward to most about performing at Southwark Playhouse or returning to the Traverse in Edinburgh?

Really excited to be in London. See shows, go to the galleries, museums. Can’t wait to see how the play goes down there. I also can’t wait to be in Edinburgh outside of the festival to get a real sense of the city. Also, the second hand books shops there are a real treat.

HEAVEN is at the Southwark Playhouse Borough, 5-22 February; Traverse Theatre Edinburgh, 25 February - 1 March; and tours Ireland until April.

To post a comment, you must register and login.