Interview with Deb Filler - Cohen, Bernstein, Joni and Me
Conducted by Emmie for Theatre and Tonic
Cohen, Bernstein, Joni & Me is a phenomenal one-woman show performed by Deb Filler about her own larger than life experiences. The acclaimed New Zealand born writer/performer, character artist and producer brings her solo show to London for its full debut here. We caught up with Deb Filler to find out more.
1. Where did the inspiration behind your show ‘Cohen, Bernstein, Joni & Me’ begin?
I reckon telling these stories to my friends at dinner parties, and getting such terrific responses from them all, urging me to make a show about them was an early, positive indication. Another was my family, who are such an endlessly rich kaleidoscope of characters. I’ve performed since I was very young and it was important to me to continue to tell their stories in a way that would honour them, keep their extraordinary spirits alive, as it were. My family’s attitude, their lack of bitterness, their example of, “no matter what," finding a way through, despite the unfathomable circumstances they experienced, I wanted to share that with audiences. And audiences seem to be deeply affected by it all as well.
I’m honoured to be able to pass on the baton of music and humour, of hope and Joy.
2. The production makes it way through the 60s, 70s, and 80s which is a huge timeframe to work from. Was it difficult to condense that into the material that aligned with the development of your work?
Well, those were incredible decades, decades without world wars. But the civil rights movement in the United States, the war in Vietnam, apartheid in South Africa, the Cold War, corruption and oppression were all reflected in the music of the time, calling for freedom and liberation. As a child, I met Peter, Paul and Mary whose songs truly touched my nine year old soul. And I sang in a children’s folk group who covered Peter Paul & Mary, listened to Dylan, and Josh White - an incredible blues singer- et cetera. All of that music calling for liberty and singing about HOPE was a deep and early influence. Plus my parents who loved classical music, my Mum who loved Broadway and Judy Garland. And since music is the lifelong accompaniment along the journey we all take, I looked at how that could connect the stories I wanted to tell. We all dream as young people, we all have great hope! These are those stories.
During the 1970’s I met Leonard Bernstein, who had played Rhapsody in Blue in the Displaced Persons’ camp in Landsberg, Germany where my Dad was a stateless refugee after the war. Bernstein’s playing hugely impacted my Dad, and stirred in him, feelings of Hope. Bernstein was an incredible mentor who deeply impacted me. Later Joni Mitchell, whose indescribably unique sound, broke the mold, really captivated my twenty-year-old soul. Leonard Cohen during the 80’s whose kindness and openness set an example to me of what a great artist should be, whose kindness and depth also scored bullseye. Those musical icons were the thread that bound those decades together. Venturing forward, finding my own path away from my family was a circuitous journey. I took the universal elements that any young person can identify with. And I cut a LOT of great stories out, keeping just the crème - otherwise we’d be sitting in the theatre till the morning!
3. For those who don’t know much about it, can you give a little synopsis of Cohen, Bernstein, Joni & Me?
37 characters! Music! Humour! The quest of a young musician from New Zealand,(interestingly enough her name is Deb! Funny that!)
Deb is a performer whose refugee European family have very strong opinions about the musical journey she should take. You meet her dad who was the most extraordinary, charismatic man. And Mum, who was her toughest critic and greatest ally. In Deb’s attempt to individuate, to find her voice, she leaves her safe home in New Zealand and adventures into the big, wide world.
What she encounters is unexpected and at times incredibly difficult. The challenges of trying to make it in New York, many highs and certainly desperate lows. The show has a very strong narrative arc and a lot of laughs. Embedded within that story are some phenomenally inspiring moments. Audiences tell me they are very moved and that they really relate to the story. We’re all survivors in our own rite. Laughter and a few tears, the very stuff of life.
4. Out of the greatest musical artists that you encountered and talk about in this piece. Who surprised you the most and why?
Has to be both the Lennys. Bernstein and Cohen. They were world famous yet also deeply kind, compassionate and generous to a fault. They set the bar VERY high and I aspire to that same generosity and seek it out. My friends, my colleagues and those closest to me personify it. How fortunate am I to be so close to that extraordinary generosity!
5. This is a one-woman show. What are the challenges of creating a piece of work in this way?
Well, the cast party is lonely, for starters. Seriously, I began performing characters as a child and more often than not, I get a wonderful reaction as I tell stories and morph into different personae.
I have done standup, improv, been a musician and an actor but for me the balance of being funny and deep at the same time, adding in music and performing characters, aye, there’s the rub.
Putting the story onto the page is a big leap. Conflict, drama, the tension driving the story while while keeping it true and relatable and funny for people of all ages and backgrounds.
That’s important, a challenge and an exciting one. There are always challenges, and not everyone is a Lenny - per your question number 3! When you telling a bloody great story though, audiences respond. Always.
I embarked on this show as a standup piece that has morphed and after international workshops bringing it to London in 2026 is literally the icing on the cake.
6. Have you developed the piece further as part of the London run or kept it pretty linear?
If only you knew! Two years of continual development post Edinburgh, rewrite after rewrite after rewrite, excavating, exploring, trying it out, filming it, trying it again, bringing on a brilliant director.
And having my incredible team, my co-producer David Daniels who has helped me so much, encouraged me to make it deeper, clearer, better, stronger. I am so fortunate to have the kind of quality team, compassionate people who believe in me and totally have my back. Truly, thoroughly humbling
7.Finally, why should people come to see Cohen, Bernstein, Joni & Me?
Well we all need a laugh! Especially now! And hope! These are actual, true stories about fortuitous meetings with some of the greatest musical icons of the 20th Century. Also songs, dirty Jewish jokes, an extraordinary drive in New York with Leonard Cohen, smoking backstage with Joni Mitchell, The Beatles in Yiddish, and the story of one man that is heart wrenching, funny and deeply compelling.
DEB FILLER’S COHEN, BERNSTEIN, JONI & ME RUNS AT UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE TO FEB 1 2026. Read our review here.
