Deli Segal is the writer and performer of Pickle, a new one-woman, 60-minute play produced by Tanya Truman and directed by Kayla Feldman.
It tells the story of Ari: Jewish, still living at home with her parents in North-West London and struggling through life in a secular world. But can she get the voice of Jewish guilt out of her head?
As part of the ‘Come What May’ festival Pickle will open at the Park Theatre on Monday 2nd May 2022.
Your new play Pickle is coming to Park Theatre what can you tell us about the show?
Pickle is an uproarious romp of a one-woman show that follows Ari, a young Jewish woman from North-London as she tries to reconcile the differences between her Jewish life and her secular life.
What first inspired you to write Pickle?
I wanted to write a play that explores Jewish contemporary life from the female perspective. I’d seen a lot of plays and TV shows about Jewish topics that were either historical, or centred the male experience, but not much about contemporary Jewish life now in the UK. I wanted to share some of the humour and richness of the culture in which I grew up.
You’ll also perform the show, why were you keen to perform your own work?
It’s incredibly empowering (and terrifying!) to perform your own work. It’s a unique form of creative expression that means that, as a performer, you can feel truly connected to the words you’re saying, and understand the significance behind them. In every line there are layers of meaning that might not have gone down on the page, but create the thought behind the line.
Pickle has an all-female Jewish creative team, why do you think that’s so important to the telling of this story?
One of the aims in creating Pickle was to celebrate the female experience of being Jewish today and bring that narrative to the forefront, so it was really important to have an all-female core creative team working on the show. It brings that authenticity of experience, which is essential in the rehearsal room when you’re dealing with topics such as antisemitism, toxic masculinity, and the complexities and pressures of dating as a Jewish woman.
Following the cancellation of VAULT Festival, what opportunities does the Park’s Come What May Festival offer you?
It’s amazing to be at the Park. We’re so delighted that Pickle found a home here in this festival – not only because it’s my local theatre! It’s a great opportunity to perform in this excellent value and share this work with Park audiences.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Pickle?
If you like bagels, dating and self-deprecating humour – get yourself a ticket!
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