+3 Interview: Sajeela Kershi: Fights Like a Girl!

Posted in EdFestivals 2017, Plus 3 2017 - Features, Written Interviews by

“10 years down the line I’ve learned a lot, found my voice and what I want to say.”

WHO: Sajeela Kershi, Writer/performer

WHAT: “‘My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style’ (Maya Angelou). Hilarious multi award-winning comedian is putting up her dukes and picking her battles! Winner of Asian Women of Achievement Award 2015 and Star of Edinburgh Award-winning show 2007. Written for and featured on a variety of BBC Radio.”

WHERE: Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap (Venue 259)

WHEN: 18:15 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

ALSO: Immigrant Diaries – Sajeela Kershi and Guests; 15:15 (60 min) @ The Three Sisters

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This will be my 10th year of dipping in and out of the fringe. My first ever fringe as a performer back in 2007. Infamously I starred in the Edinburgh award winning show from Brendon Burns that year, ‘So I suppose this is offensive now’.

10 years down the line I’ve learned a lot, found my voice and what I want to say. However, you never stop learning. And Edinburgh is a boot camp to ship your show into shape no matter what level or experience you have.

This year I have bought up 3 shows, not only my solo stand-up/storytelling show ‘Fights Like A Girl’ but my award winning ‘Immigrant Diaries’ the run has finished now and a compilation show ‘Nasty women on the fringe’ which showcases some of the best female performers on the fringe. All three shows are attempting to make a comment on the state of the world events in the past couple of years.

Tell us about your show.

This show was written after the Anti-Trump Women’s march in London. I found myself at the front line and was also asked to be one of the key speakers. The show is about the things we fight for and fight against. I explore if the audience are ‘Fight or Flight’ by nature. Of course it’s my show so have a lot of personal experiences which lead to a story with myself and members of my family being held hostage in Karachi by an extremist group (don’t worry it’s funny given the circumstances).

I’ve been previewing the show before Edinburgh on what I call my ‘Comedy at your house tour’. In the absence of getting previews at circuit clubs as they have been snapped up by big agents. I took matters into my own hands about 7 years ago and asked friends initially and then contacts on FB and Twitter if they would host a taste of Edinburgh fringe in the venue of their choice so could be their living room, back garden, picnic, office etc (I’m known for doing gigs in strange places) they just need to get an audience of 10 or more people – they can have a whip around at the end for a charity of their choice (or pick one of mine) This years previews raised over two thousand for different charities as well as gave me an opportunity to test out material.

I’m proud of this show and all those who have been on the journey, It’s getting tweaked getting better every day.

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

The best night I’ve had out this fringe is watching Rob Kemps The Elvis Dead.

LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!

INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!