Interview with Laura Moise
Laura Moise was, for many years, Sira’s theatre teacher. When we realized we needed to work with a stage director to improve our Selkie project, Sira had no doubts: we have to call Laura!
Laura is an actress and theatre teacher, with a degree in Dramatic Arts from the University of Bucharest. After an international career as an actress at the State Jewish Theatre in Bucharest and numerous training programs across Europe and the United States, she now lives in Gandía, where she runs the Act&Play theatre school. In this interview, besides getting to know Laura, we explore the story behind Selkie and dive into its scenic dimension.
1. Tell us, Laura, how did you discover theatre? Why did you decide to dedicate your life to this art?
Theatre took hold of me when I was three years old; I don’t know how to live any other way.
2. Your main work today revolves around the Act and Play Theatre School, which you founded in 2005. What led you to create the school? What are your main goals?
The desire to enjoy a kind of theatre created from the deepest truth. The plan was to develop years of work that could change the way several generations act and perceive theatre. Theatre is art and culture; Act&Play allows me to enrich the lives of many people.
3. Although Sira already knew you well, the rest of us in Lítore have also seen how hard you work, and your enormous professionalism and passion for theatre. What do you enjoy most about your work?
Being a witness to the infinite generosity of actors when they reveal what is most intimate, profound, and human to complete strangers.
4. You’ve known Sira for many years, and you prepared numerous theatre productions with her. What was Sira like when you met her? Has she changed much since then?
Working with thousands of children who later become young adults gives you enough material to draw conclusions. Experience shows us that personality traits—the essence—remain from the very beginning. At five years old, Sira had the same essence she has now: she works with great seriousness and commitment; “no” doesn’t exist for her. She throws herself into everything she’s asked to do because she fully trusts the person guiding her. That’s what we call a professional artist.
5. Selkie is an innovative format defined as a “scenic tale” by its composer, Brais González. What challenges does Selkie present on a scenic and dramatic level?
Brais González’s work is impeccable. There is so much passion and creativity in his music; it surprisingly completes the storytelling with visual imagery. I have always relied on music to create atmosphere and to complete a scene. My challenge was to connect with the primordial emotion, with the composer’s experience while creating the music.
The difficulty in Selkie lies in achieving dynamic stage movement and suggesting the atmosphere of each moment. At the same time, the spotlight must belong to the instrument—to the music.
6. For many spectators, Selkie will be a type of performance they have never experienced before. What makes Selkie special? Why should people go see it?
Selkie is pure poetry, a cry in defense of freedom. Being a mythological tale, it anchors us in what is deeply human, which is exactly what we need right now. It is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the essence of art thanks to four first‑class saxophonists—brave and full of strength.
7. The story hides many emotions. For you, what lesson or moral lies behind Selkie? What is the soul of this story?
Freedom and love are universal themes, represented on stage in countless versions; Selkie speaks about the power to survive thanks to dreams. Gaining freedom becomes a vital necessity.
8. For us, working with you and learning more about dramatic interpretation has been an incredible discovery. What is it like to work with the Lítore Quartet?
A tremendous pleasure. Lítore Quartet radiates freshness, openness, and many skills that make the work very easy. Their willingness to leap into the unknown with courage and complete trust is a gift.
9. How would you define the Lítore Quartet in three words?
Contemporary, artistic, authentic.
10. It’s clear that you still have so much to offer and experience in the world of theatre. What are your future projects? What dreams do you still hope to fulfill?
I’m used to living in the moment, without planning long‑term, but I do have a desire that guides my artistic life: to create with decency, with honesty, thinking of the audience as intelligent, demanding, and critical beings. As I said, my life only makes sense when I live theatre fully.
In the short term, what I would love most is for the Selkie experience to be a wonderful journey for the audience and, personally, to continue training future generations of actors with the same tireless strength and imagination.
Discover more about Laura Moise and her project at Escuela de Teatro Act and Play
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