Rosa Laborde is an actress, screenwriter, director, and playwright whose work is coming to the stage once again with the World Premiere of Interior Design at Tarragon Theatre. We chat about her writing process, where she got her inspiration for the play, and where life’s messes come from.

1. Could you please introduce yourself to my readers and talk a bit about your role with Interior Design?

Hi Janine! Of course. My name is Rosa Laborde and I’m an Ottawa born, Toronto based playwright, screenwriter, actor, and director. I wrote Interior Design so my role on this project is playwright.

2. You’ve written for both TV and the stage, do you find that there’s a difference in your process depending on the medium?

I really believe that story is story no matter the medium. That said, there are still some big differences in process. Namely, with TV, you’re often ‘breaking’ the story, which means working out the beats of the whole story and the character arcs together in a group. While writing a play is a much more solitary act. However, in TV there isn’t really any rehearsal while plays thrive and grow through the rehearsal process. I truly love both mediums, though plays are often more personal, more challenging, but can ultimately be more rewarding.

What was your inspiration for Interior Design?

As I was moving towards my midlife point, I began thinking about friendships, those that had lasted and those that had drifted away. There’s a poignant sense of loss when a friendship ends but it’s not a grief we ever really discuss as a society. I wanted to explore that loss and dig into what it really means to be a friend.

 I love the idea of the show being “a comedy of messy renovations and even messier truths.” Do you think the comedy comes from the mess or the truths?

The mess! Doesn’t comedy almost always come from the mess? In this case though some of the comedy comes from how those messy truths are revealed.

Who’s your favourite character in Interior Design and why?

Every character has a moment of being my favourite. These women are a comic composite of friends I’ve known and pieces of me, they are all striving, struggling, and attempting to grow. They are wildly imperfect and that’s what I love most about them.

I want to thank Rosa for taking the time to answer my questions. Interior Design has already started previews, and runs until November 10th. For more information and tickets, visit: Interior Design – Tarragon Theatre

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