Producer helps new talent to bid for stardom

Maria O’Hare, right, is producing and appearing in The Messiah, at the Ruby Lounge A HEATON Moor producer who propelled young Australian actors to West End stardom is about to help Greater Manchester actors break into the big time.

As founder of bigM Productions, Maria O’Hare 42, helped launch the careers of many performers, while living in Australia for five years.

Now she has returned home and says she is determined to use the skills she acquired 9,000 miles away to support local talent.

The first play she has produced in Manchester, called The Messiah, will be performed at the Ruby Lounge in the Northern Quarter this Friday and Saturday.

Based on a monologue first performed at The Lowry, the darkly funny tale is getting its second outing as part of the Manchester Fringe Festival.

As well as producing the play, Maria is starring in the part of a lovelorn mill worker called Sheila.

Former Xaverian College student Maria moved to Australia in 2003 when damage to her voice threatened to shatter a career that had seen her sing in Manchester jazz bands and perform for am dram companies across the region.

She said: “The move was meant to be a clean break, a move to a healthy place where I could recuperate.”

With the encouragement of her peers, Maria set up bigM Productions and staged two seasons of a show called, Open Mike Idol – to great acclaim.

Maria, who has two children and spends her day-time hours teaching toddlers music and dance, added: “My ethos is to offer new talent a credible platform to showcase their incredible acting – and that’s exactly what The Messiah will be.”

Shows start at 8pm. For tickets see therubylounge. com.