This April, Soho Theatre audiences are set to embark on an extraordinary journey courtesy of one of London’s most celebrated and versatile cabaret performers: Fancy Chance. Her debut autobiographical show Flights Of Fancy runs for 5 nights from April 25-29 following sell-out previews in 2016.
A globe-trotting, time-traveling mini-spectacle with turbulent polemics and unexpectedly poignant stop-offs, Flights Of Fancy tells the true story of the artist’s journey from Korean refugee to international cabaret performer. In-flight entertainment includes offbeat humour, songs, and scenarios, written and performed by the artist herself and developed and directed by Nathan Evans.
Fancy Chance says,
“For years I’ve wanted to put together something long-form that allows me to expand on themes I’ve explored in shorter work, such as feminism, racism and body politics, using my own experiences as a starting point. Which isn’t to say it’ll all be serious, but there may be tears amongst laughter”.
Fancy’s own travels started prematurely when as an abandoned baby, her life took an unchartered turn: “To this day I know nothing of my birth parents or birth name. If I hadn’t been adopted into a white family from the USA in the 1970’s then found home in London’s cabaret scene, who might I have been? This show is used to explore the politics of identity and migration, the ethics of interracial adoption and global gentrification and to leave the audience questioning their own privileges and perspectives”.
Fancy Chance’s work incorporates comedy, burlesque, drag, circus, cabaret and live art. Having made London her home she is consistently working and travelling. From Las Vegas (Caesar’s Palace no less..) to Latitude, and from Gothenburg to Glastonbury, cities as far afield as New York, Helsinki and Dubai have played host to Fancy’s multiple skills and personas. In 2009 she was crowned the Alternative Miss World by national treasure Andrew Logan after hanging by her hair from the rafters of the Roundhouse and in 2016 Fancy collaborated with Marisa Carnesky in Carnesky’s Incredible Bleeding Woman prompting positive reviews. She regularly performs at London’s Wonderground, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Leicester Square Theatre and The Box.
‘Twisted. Sick, even. But that’s the point.’ The Independent
‘Politically charged social critique with powerful feminist undertones.’ Exeunt
‘Consistently hilarious.’ The Stage
Nathan Evans is a writer, director and performer whose work in theatre and film has been funded by the Arts Council, toured by the British Council, broadcast on Channel 4, archived by the British Film Institute and awarded a few statuettes. Previous shows for Soho Theatre include 7 Deadly Sins with The Tiger Lillies, Unplugged with David Hoyle and I Love You But We Only Have Fourteen Minutes To Save The Earth with Fancy Chance. www.nathanevans.co.uk
Listings:
Date: 25-29 April 2017
Time: 7.30pm
Title: Flights of Fancy
Credits: performed by Fancy Chance, directed by Nathan Evans
Venue: Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE
Tickets: £10-15
Booking: www.sohotheatre.com
URLS: facebook.com/fancychances
TWITTER: @fancy_chance
