Fat Joke mixes standup comedy, storytelling, and research, at The Cultch's Vancity Culture Lab, April 25 to May 5
Taboo-buster Cheyenne Rouleau traverses more personal terrain in new one-woman show
Cheyenne Rouleau. Photo by Sewari Campillo
The Cultch and Neworld Theatre, in association with Rumble Theatre, present Fat Joke at the Vancity Culture Lab April 25 to May 5, as part of the Femme Festival
VANCOUVER PLAYWRIGHT, actor, and producer Cheyenne Rouleau has been busy since she hit comedy gold with The After After Party (co-created in 2016 with Katie Hoffman), an instant Fringe Festival hit. The hilarious two-hander focused irreverently on wasted, outsider teenagers Jules and Fiona, who have to, well, snort Ritalin to travel back in time and figure out what exactly their night has entailed so far. It was a sign of cheekiness and taboo territory to come—as well as a bold new voice in women’s stories. Last year saw the debut of Rouleau’s Sunrise Betties, inspired by East Van’s Clark Park Gang.
Now the artist is getting a bit more personal, mixing standup comedy, storytelling, and well-researched “fact-blasting”, in a new one-woman show that calls out a different kind of taboo: fatphobia. Produced by the acclaimed innovators at Neworld Theatre and directed by Chelsea Haberlin, Fat Joke challenges cultural assumptions about fat people and unwraps media portrayals of fat femmes.
In case you’re wondering about Rouleau’s use of the term “fat”, here are part of her stated reasons, excerpted from the artist’s show backgrounder: “1. It is simply a descriptive term, akin to other adjectives such as ‘short’ or ‘tall’. Thus, ‘fat’ can be used to identify someone who is fat.” And “2. For political purposes. Fat Joke intentionally uses this word for both reasons. It is simply a fact that the majority of those working on this production are fat and identify as such. However, it is also important to emphasize the political uses of this word.”
There's another term the solo show also explores: “body neutrality”—the idea that whatever package you come in is just fine. So think of the performance as a chance to upend the prejudices you might hold against others—or against yourself. And to laugh while you do that. 
Related Articles
