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‘It’s brutal right now’: one-woman powerhouse Maimuna Memon on the surprise aftermath of winning an Olivier
The writer, actor and singer won an award for her role in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. Then everything went silent. As the rising star returns in her very own musical, she hits out at ‘massive’ celebrity casting
TL;DR
- Maimuna Memon experienced a quiet period in her career after winning an Olivier award, which she found to be a period of self-reflection.
- She highlights that the theatre industry is currently 'brutal' for working actors, with celebrity casting significantly reducing job availability.
- Memon is starring in a new version of her musical 'Manic Street Creature,' a semi-autobiographical show about a singer-songwriter supporting her partner with bipolar disorder.
- Her upbringing was influenced by music from her Irish mother and Pakistani father, leading her to pursue a career in composition and acting.
- Memon discusses her experiences growing up in a predominantly white area and feeling like an outsider due to her mixed heritage, which influences her writing.
- She criticizes the trend of celebrity casting, arguing that it prioritizes fame over the quality of writing and the potential for new talent to emerge.