The F Word world premieres on stage about the self-acceptance of being fat
Keisha Cheeseman, left, and Bianca Miranda perform a skit about not being picked as a dancer during a rehearsal of The F Word at the Martha Cohen Theatre at Arts Commons in Calgary on Thursday, February 9, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
The F word is a production about a few other words that begin with F: fat, friendship, and most of all, funny.
Through skit and song, self-described fat women of colour Keshia Cheesman and Bianca Miranda explore their friendship, and society’s perceptions and taboos of what it means to be fat.
“We are proud to have a small part in demanding a better future for fellow fat folks who deserve to feel seen and celebrated on and off stage,” the pair said.
From an opening dance routine about not being picked for doing dance routines, to fairytales, mock news casts, lectures, and more, the pair confront self-acceptance, fatphobia, and what it means to feel like a person has worth in a culture that embraces fad diets and junk science.
The world premiere of The F Word is being produced by Downstage and presented by Alberta Theatre Projects.
“Keshia and Bianca are such bright lights in our community,” said Clare Preuss, Artistic Director of Downstage.
“The F Word is filled with adventure, honesty, humour and music, and the final song Go, Glow, Grow, is bound to have audiences singing along in their seats.”
The production is also a first of it’s kind to have fully accessible seating available, with larger seats having been installed into the Martha Cohen Theatre to accept patrons up to 500 lbs.
Keshia Cheesman, stands on stage during the opening scene rehearsal of The F Word at the Martha Cohen Theatre at Arts Commons in Calgary on Thursday, February 9, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYBianca Miranda performs in a skit about not being picked as a dancer during a rehearsal of The F Word at the Martha Cohen Theatre at Arts Commons in Calgary on Thursday, February 9, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYKeshia Cheesman performs in a skit about not being picked as a dancer during a rehearsal of The F Word at the Martha Cohen Theatre at Arts Commons in Calgary on Thursday, February 9, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYKeshia Cheesman, left, and Bianca Miranda perform a skit protesters against one-size-fits-all clothing during a rehearsal of The F Word at the Martha Cohen Theatre at Arts Commons in Calgary on Thursday, February 9, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYKeshia Cheesman, left, and Bianca Miranda perform a skit about eating cake during a rehearsal of The F Word at the Martha Cohen Theatre at Arts Commons in Calgary on Thursday, February 9, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYKeshia Cheesman performs in a skit about not being picked as a dancer during a rehearsal of The F Word at the Martha Cohen Theatre at Arts Commons in Calgary on Thursday, February 9, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYKeshia Cheesman, left, and Bianca Miranda perform a skit about not being picked as a dancer during a rehearsal of The F Word at the Martha Cohen Theatre at Arts Commons in Calgary on Thursday, February 9, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
