‘I was never leaving New York’

From performing in underground clubs in apartheid South Africa to the bright lights of New York to Melbourne Yiddish theatre is an unconventional journey but it gives plenty of material for storytelling.

Natalie Gamsu uses her personal experiences as fodder for her performances. She will bring her stories of tsures (Yiddish for trouble) to an evening of storytelling at Kadimah in Melbourne on June 15-16. The show is in English with songs in Yiddish, Spanish and English.

Here's a peak into how the sausage is made.

You have a very impressive resume that includes cabaret, musical theatre and television. What inspired you to undertake one-woman shows?

Necessity! Haha! I was told by my agent at the age of 22 that I would stop getting cast in my late 30s early 40s. Other than a few wonderful roles in South Africa, she was right. Casting directors didn’t know where to ‘put me’, and truthfully, I didn’t know where to put myself.

So, it was either wait for 15 years, or create something for myself! Thankfully I chose the latter. Besides the enormous pleasure, challenge and fun it takes to create your own work, it has given me, a career, a way to keep working, and an incredible platform to keep learning, and to shape and hone my skills.

 Is it harder being a solo performer? What are the pros and cons?

In some ways it is harder being a solo performer, although it’s never really a solo show. There’s mostly a director, a musician, a dramaturg/writer, someone on lights and sound. I’ve been so lucky to feel supported and encouraged by many a team.