‘Tis the season for rain. How does one’s relationship to rain change in a new environment? Irish writer Mairead Brodie writes that it took her 20 years to miss rain in her piece, “Rain: In Spite of Everything, I Still Love You.” We are excited to perform this piece on Jan. 12 at our Beyond Boundaries show at the San Jose Museum of Art.

Mairead lived in Berlin, Brussels and Edinburgh, working in research communications and technology before moving to the United States in 2012. Since moving here, she has completed a two-year online novel writing program at Stanford Continuing Studies, worked in a nonprofit, written freelance and raised two children who are now 8 and 5. She is currently completing a masters in education at Stanford and teaching economics and government at a high school.

What inspired you to participate in Play On Words?

I had a piece performed with Play on Words at the San Jose Museum of Art last year and it was a wonderful experience!

Which writers or performers inspire you?

On the fiction side, mostly George Saunders, Mohsin Hamid, Edna O’Brien, Flann O’Brien (no relation!), Anne Enright. Recently, I have also enjoyed reading Colson Whitehead and Bay Area writer, Lydia Kiesling.

Join us Jan. 12 at the San Jose Museum of Art to see Mairead’s work performed. Tickets are free but going fast—reserve yours now.