“It’s a dream I only became conscious of a year ago, but I’m realising it’s a dream that has been there all along.”
WHO: Narie Foster
WHAT: “How do we uncover our true colours in a world full of reasons to hide? A life-affirming, thought-provoking comedy about trying to blend in everywhere yet belonging nowhere, from engineer, entrepreneur (Forbes 30 Under 30) and award-winning storyteller Narie Foster in her Edinburgh Fringe debut. Born in New York to Thai and Canadian scientists, Foster takes us on a multifaceted exploration of freedom, authenticity and scantily camouflaged metaphors. ‘Beautifully written. Raw and honest. Naturally hilarious.’ **** (InReview.com.au).”
WHERE: Summerhall – Red Lecture Theatre (Venue 26)
WHEN: 13:00 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Would you believe I hadn’t heard of EdFringe until two years ago? I grew up in New York State and my world revolved around tech and business. I came to EdFringe 2023 on a whim, and it changed everything. I devoured 60 shows (while working remotely in my old job) and was so inspired by the risks everyone was taking that I promptly decided I needed to create my own. It’s a dream I only became conscious of a year ago, but I’m realising it’s a dream that has been there all along. The Fringe showed me that you can do *anything* you want, and people (even if it’s sometimes only two of them) will enthusiastically sign up to see you do it. The whole festival is a beautiful gift of permission and inspiration.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
Putting on a solo show has to be one of the most masochistic and efficient forms of personal growth. Last year I was just starting to admit to myself that I wanted to perform and make theatre. Since then, I previewed the first version of my show at the Adelaide Fringe, and now it’s been picked up by Summerhall to come to Edinburgh, where the seed was first planted. I still feel naive and intimidated, but I’m also loving the firehose of new learnings. I think the biggest thing that I’m trying to defy is that fear of looking stupid, of making a fool of myself. And it’s working. Though the perfectionist in me would probably be mortified of the show I put on in Adelaide, and I’m sure in six months I’ll feel like I’ve outgrown this EdFringe version, the only way to create anything is to take the first step.
Tell us about your show.
My show, ‘1 in a Chameleon’, is a comedic theatre piece that investigates the natural tension between wanting to belong and wanting to be authentically ourselves. It’s a lot about finding our own paths despite family and societal pressures to fit in, which in my case is connected to a mixed-race upbringing (Thai and Canadian). There’s storytelling, physical humour, and there may or may not be a dance number. It’s playful yet poignant, and I think anyone who comes will get a lot out of it. I’m writing and producing (and performing) it myself, and what’s nice about that is I can make whatever changes I want. The show has gotten a major glow-up since previews at Adelaide Fringe, and I can’t wait to share it in Edinburgh. Beyond that – we shall see! I’m keen to develop a fictional play next.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Chris Grace! His ‘Chris Grace as Scarlett Johansson’ show was one of my top inspirations last year, and he’s returning with it along with a new show!
I could watch Garry Starr’s quite lewd and brilliant ‘Classic Penguins’ over and over, it’s a must-see, as is his new all-ages show, ‘Monkeys Everywhere’.
Also a big fan of Janine Harouni, Elf Lyons, Josh Glanc, and Xhloe and Natasha, and I’m looking forward to seeing Charlene Kaye’s ‘Tiger Daughter’ and Jo Tan’s ‘Forked’, along with everything at Summerhall because it’s a brilliant venue and I think they do such a good job with programming.
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