Whose House? Cairn Moore’s House!

Modernist in a Victorian space

Cairn Moore in her home.

Photo by Amol Samra

“Theatre is the most powerful way to change the world.”

Director, playwright, instructor and actor Cairn Moore wields the power of theatre to make a difference and support social causes.

Moore is a well-known name in Winnipeg’s theatre and acting community, owing to her extensive portfolio of work and involvement with local theatre organizations. She is closely involved with Sarasvàti Productions, an independent theatre company in Winnipeg.

Moore is directing the Bake-Off event for FemFest, Sarasvàti’s annual festival celebrating women playwrights. The Bake-Off is a creative event where women playwrights are invited to submit mini plays, and the best five are chosen for performances with only two hours
of rehearsals.

“I love doing the Bake-Off and have been doing it for nine years. This year, we have a real mixture of age and playwrights, and the scenes are also different,” Moore says.

Besides Sarasvàti, Moore is active in several organizations. Her experience working in commercials, television and documentaries – coupled with a yearning to inspire young and diverse actors – motivated her to start her own acting studio.

“I used to be the commercial queen here in Winnipeg,” she says. “I used to do a ton of commercials on radio and TV, and I did documentary work, so I have had a lot of experience.”

While Moore’s thoughts and ambitions are progressionist, her home is a historic beauty.  She lives with her family in a 4,500-square-foot home that dates back to 1915. The house has Victorian architecture with modern accents and textured lamps with fur and white roses.

“When I was a kid, I used to go in old, abandoned buildings. I had this obsession. So, I love imagining the stories in the things that have happened in the last 100 years in this house,” she says.

Moore now wants to move on to living with less, something she learned from younger people.

“I am learning this from the young people: we don’t need all the shit we have.”

1) The kitchen

“I designed the kitchen. People love the kitchen, because it won’t date itself, ever.”

2) The ceiling

“I did the punched tin and was trying to go for the 1920s look. It was big back (in) the day. You’ll see in Old Market Square, you’ll see these a lot on the ceiling.”

3) Art

“This is an artist from prison. We bought her art, Hope (McIntyre, the artistic director at Sarasvati Productions) and I.”

4) FemFest 2019

“Every FemFest poster has a different woman on it. It’s not the same person.”

Published in Volume 74, Number 3 of The Uniter (September 19, 2019)

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