Fat Joke heading to the at Anvil Theatre stage in New West

Fatphobia will be in the spotlight when a show that has been billed as fearless and full of laughs hits the New West stage.

Anvil Theatre is presenting NE world Theatre’s Fat Joke by Cheyenne Rouleau on Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1 (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday, Feb. 2 (2 p.m.) Fat Joke has been described by reviewers as a fusion of stand-up comedy, storytelling and unapologetic fact-blasting that leaves audiences confronting their assumptions.

Fat Joke made its première at The Cultch at last spring’s Femme Festival and is now at Anvil Theatre. It is soon heading to the Syd Williams Theatre in Courtenay, with more tour dates expected to be announced soon.

Vancouver-based actor, producer and writer Cheyenne Rouleau wrote and stars in the show, which is directed by Chelsea Haberl. The New West Record recently connected with Rouleau for a Q&A:

Q: Have you personally experienced body image issues? Earliest memory?

I think it would be extraordinary to find someone who hasn’t – let alone a femme-presenting person. I have a distinct memory of seeing a commercial for The Biggest Loser reality show and recognizing consciously that fatness was something society hated – and therefore I should hate mine.

Q: Did this impact your self-esteem? Relationships? Career path?

A: When you choose a public-facing career such as acting, you are going to get a lot of people placing you into categories based on how they perceive your looks. And unfortunately, when you start at a young age, the public’s perceptions of your body impact your own perceptions of your body. This trickles down into many aspects of your life and self worth.

On the bright side, it made me funny.

Q: When did you decide you wanted to be an actor?

At the tender age of six I was cast as the lead in my elementary school Christmas play. I played a kitten learning the true meaning of Christmas, fondly summed up in the only line I remember: “So this is what Christmas is all about!” My friend Marley played a parrot. This incredible moment in time (and undeniably poetic script) served as the catalyst for my unfortunate career choice.

Q: You are the creator and star of Fat Joke – how did this project come about?

It actually started as a mini “TED talk” style presentation at my office job. Having experienced some fatphobia in both an indirect and direct way there, I took the opportunity to educate my coworkers about the history of fatphobia, the misinformation around the health and wellness industry in relation to fatness, and honestly just give the middle finger to the body-shamers I was dealing with (professionally.) From there, I found myself deep in a rabbit hole of research around the subject and ended up sharing the presentation with some friends – which is how director Chelsea Haberlin got her interest piqued. She approached me about turning the information into a show, and Fat Joke was born.

Q: You use the adjective fat – not curvy, plus-sized etc. Tell us why you’ve done that.

While I recognize that not everybody in every body is comfortable with the term “fat,” I see it as a neutral descriptor – the same as thin, short, tall, bald, etc. By treating it with neutrality we are taking away the myth that fat = bad.

Q: Can you give theatregoers a snapshot of what to expect when they see Fat Joke?

Expect to laugh, expect to be uncomfortable, expect to laugh uncomfortably, and then laugh at the fact that you were uncomfortable. In a fun way.

Q: What do you hope folks take away from this production?

I hope folks continue the conversation that I start with this show. Whether you agree with me or not – keep talking about it.

What is Fat Joke about? Let's hear it from the creator Cheyenne Rouleau and director Chelsea Haberlin. Here is an interview excerpt from when Fat Joke premiered in 2024.

Get your tickets to Neworld Theatre's Fat Joke, Jan 31-Febr 2: https://t.co/aF3XEA5X9P #newwest #comedy pic.twitter.com/yrkwHLsiSZ
— Anvil Theatre (@anviltheatrenw) January 17, 2025