Comedy about the trials of growing up in north London returns to the west end
Deli Segal's sell-out one-woman show explores the young, Jewish, female experience
Louisa Walters is Features Editor at the Jewish News and specialises in food and travel writing
If a play called Pickle sounds familiar it’s because it’s been here before – but it’s back for a second turn in the West End after two sold-out runs at Park Theatre.
Created by writer and actress Deli Segal, Pickle is a hugely entertaining and brilliantly funny one-woman show featuring Ari, a young single Jewish female in north London.
Ari still lives at home with her parents, and is desperately trying to escape and to find Mr Right (via numerous Mr Wrongs) who are so vividly described, you might even know them. “I felt like there weren’t any plays or TV shows that represented the contemporary, Jewish, young female experience,” says Deli, 32. “There are a lot of stories about the Holocaust, or history like Ridley Road, and of course there was Friday Night Dinner, but nothing that showcased the experience that I had growing up in a north west London Jewish family.”
The show isn’t autobiographical, per se, but Deli has experienced many of its themes and she has grown up in the world of Jewish dating, singles events and Purim parties that she portrays to hilarious effect. “There is such rich humour, entertainment, heart and warmth in Judaism, all of which I wanted to bring to a Jewish show. After two years of lockdown people don’t want to watch something that’s about suffering. Having two hats on and thinking from both the writer’s perspective and the performance perspective was daunting but writing your own show makes it a lot easier to learn!”
Pickle is at the Soho Theatre until 27 April. sohotheatre.com
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