Award-winning comedian, artist and author Alia Rasul joins us to discuss Moro Girl. The solo show puts a spotlight on her journey as a half-Christian and half-Muslim Filipina immigrating and settling in Canada.
Hi Alia, welcome to Close-Up Culture. Can you tell us about yourself and what led you to become an artist?
Growing up, my parents always encouraged me to do art but I don’t think I ever really thought I could actually pursue it as a career. When I was a bit older, I sort of stumbled into performing out of a desire to cure my fear of public speaking and then I just fell in love with it and never looked back.
Can you tell us about the inspiration for your solo show, Moro Girl?
I think this show comes from a desire to be seen as my full self. I think a lot of us see the world through the lens of film and TV, and the scopes of that kind of storytelling has been limited for so long that it has also limited our worldview. I know the world is changing and is becoming more inclusive but that’s not happening fast enough for me. So I have resolved to just take it on myself and teach people about the Moro people, my people.
What can you tell us more about the show and the experience it will offer audiences?
The show has been described as a “low pressure, giddy hang-out sesh with a funny lady”. It’s a very chill stand up/storytelling show about colonialism. I promise it’s funny.
The show played at the 2022 Toronto Fringe Festival. What impact do you hope it has?
My main goal is that people will begin to understand who the Moro people are. That’s my biggest ambition!
How therapeutic and useful to yourself has the process of putting together this show been?
It has been tough! This is probably the hardest thing I have ever written but telling my stories again and again has been helping me find truths in them that I never noticed before, I am learning a lot about myself.
What are your hopes and ambitions for the future?
I would love to continue to make decolonized history accessible to people through this storytelling format! Also world peace.