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February
2004 |
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NEW JDA GROUP HELPS BUDDING DEAF/HARD
OF HEARING ACTRESS
TO BREAK INTO SHOWBIZ!
The Jewish Deaf Association has helped
one of its members to get her foot on the first rung
of the showbiz ladder! Sarah Moshe, who
lives in Pinner, joined the JDA's new group for young
Jewish deaf/ hard of hearing women who do not sign,
last autumn.
Sarah Moshe |
Always
looking for new challenges, Sarah, who is hard of
hearing - came across an opportunity to audition
for the part of Lydia in a forthcoming professional
production of Children of a Lesser God, which will
be staged at the Salisbury Playhouse this Spring.
Sarah's agent, whom
she joined quite recently, specialises in professional
acting assignments for people with disabilities
- and felt the part would be ideal for her. But
with no formal acting experience or training,
bar drama classes at school, Sarah didn't have
the confidence to apply for the part and nearly
didn't pursue it, even when she was offered a
second audition in December.
Luckily, she turned
to Jacqui Press, who co-ordinates
the JDA's young women's group and, with her constant
help and encouragement - much of which came from
Jacqui's own experience as a deaf orally speaking
woman - she was persuaded to return for the second
audition. Earlier this month, she learned that
she had got the part - so it is now full steam
ahead, as rehearsals start on 1st March in London
and the play opens on 25 March, with a projected
run of three weeks.
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'Jacqui was extremely supportive,' says
Sarah 'and truly believed I could take on this role,
because she knew I needed the challenge. Working for
a deaf organisation and being involved in this new group
allowed me to be more self aware of my own deafness
and Jacqui, along with the rest of the group, gave me
so much more confidence in myself! So I decided to take
this opportunity. I know that without Jacqui's constant
support and practical advice I would never have dared
to go along for that second audition.'
Sarah, who has a 2:1 degree in Business
Studies and Information Management from the University
of Sheffield, would like to extend her acting career
once the play has finished and will be happy to take
any extra film or promotional work, whilst she waits
for new parts to come through. She is also interested
in teaching opportunities abroad and has already completed
a one-month intensive TEFL course, which means she is
now qualified to teach English as a Foreign Language.
Jacqui would be delighted to hear from
any young Jewish deaf man or woman (aged 20 - 40) whose
main method of communication is speech, and would like
to join one of the groups specifically set up at the
JDA to provide a safe and welcoming environment in which
to meet, exchange ideas and experiences and organise
social, educational and cultural events of their own.
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