Laura Irish is an award-winning actor, director, producer, trained at NYC's Stella Adler Studio of Acting, with a Masters of Arts Management (AUT) and having also studied Narrative/Emerging Media at the Sidney Poitier Film School (LA). She's creator and AD of The Barden Party, touring globally with Shakespeare and music. Laura has directed A Midsummer Night's Dream (NZ/USA tour, Winner Excellence Award Dunedin Fringe 2022), Much Ado About Nothing (NZ Tour) and co-directed Romeo & Juliet (NZ/AUS tour - Winner Best Theatre Week One Adelaide Fringe 2024) and has taught acting and Shakespeare in NZ/USA. She's portrayed Mercutio, Lady Capulet and Puck over 100 times each (Touring NSS and BP). Laura is the co-creator/director of the acclaimed immersive experience "Butterfly Smokescreen," also starring as 1920s starlet Marion Davies. She is also an award-winning music video director. The Whale is Laura’s first production with MSC, she could not be more excited.