Fresh ideas, fresh stories and an amazing opportunity to check out fresh local theatre? Sounds like the Fresh Meat Festival is back! The 13th annual Fresh Meat Festival, hosted at Arts Court Theatre, takes place from Oct. 23–26, and Apt613 has all the details.
“Fresh Meat is a low-stakes, high-reward playground for people who want to try something in the performance arts realm,” says festival director and producer of Fresh Meat Fest Cullen Elijah McGrail. “We’re not limited to theatre. We often get dance, improv, stand-up comedy — everything that’s basically done in front of an audience we’ve had on our stage.”
This year, there are six performances that will be taking centre stage that McGrail says were chosen from a larger list of 58 submissions.
“Last year, we had a record number of submissions at 27, which was the most we’d ever received,” he says. “So, a massive increase from last year, which tells us that there’s lots of new work that wants to happen.”
While some of the artists performing aren’t necessarily new to the stage, they have all taken a leap outside of their comfort zone.
The first show, called AC/DC which was co-written by Joshua P. Mayo and his mother, Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo, is about Joshua’s experience coming out to his Filipino family.
Poster for AC/DC. Art by Maggie Woods.
“Joshua had a show last year that was sketch comedy, and it was absolutely hilarious,” says McGrail. “And we were really excited that this is something that seems a little bit out of his comfort zone.”
McGrail says this is a more scripted show, and is a really authentic representation of what Joshua’s family was going through and the dynamics of family relationships.
The next show is called Diary of a Hallmark Black Best Friend and is written by Jinesea Lewis who has experience acting in Hallmark movies as the token Black best friend.
Poster for Diary of a Hallmark Black Best Friend. Art by Maggie Woods.
“She [Lewis] is a film actor, and over the past four years, she’s been in eight Hallmark movies where she’s starred as the Black best friend,” says McGrail. “She’s dissecting that on stage — why is that the only role she’s allowed to play in this, often Christma-themed universe? There’s going to be video elements, and a lot of storytelling, so it seems like it’s going to be something that’s very invigorating.”
McGrail also says that it’s a hilarious take on an experience that is so specific, yet showcases a unique perspective in the industry.
The next show, In Sickness and in Health Anxiety is written by couple Doug Wallace and Christina Meuhlberger who performed at the festival last year as well. Meuhlberger is a local stand-up comedian, and her husband Wallace is a musician, and this year, they’re exploring Meuhlberger’s debilitating health anxiety and its impact in her life and her marriage.
Poster for In Sickness and in Health Anxiety. Art by Maggie Woods.
“They are two of the funniest people I’ve ever seen on stage,” says McGrail. “Talking with Christina a month ago, she said that this is a little bit of a departure for them — it’s not going to be a stand-up comedy like their last show was, and it’s going to be a lot more vulnerable and truthful but with their signature hilarity.”
Ella Pegan’s show Hungry Girl is also performing at the festival. She’s a new artist this year, and her show is set entirely inside a clothing store’s changing room. Pegan explores capitalism, eating and diet culture while trying to find a pair of jeans that fit her.
Poster for Hungry Girl. Art by Maggie Woods.
“It’s inspired by her working at Starbucks, where she got all of these unlimited high-calorie drinks that she saw really affected her body in a negative way for her,” says McGrail. “She’s in university right now, and we were really blown away that she was willing to tackle these really big subjects in such a vulnerable way.”
Returning to the stage is Toasted Theatre Company’s performance of Spin Cult. Written by Lauren Cauchy and Amanda Logan, this one woman show explores how the fitness industry can sometimes resemble a cult — specifically at the spin studio.
Poster for Spin Cult. Art by Maggie Woods.
“They’re really playing on the thrilling true-crime aspect of a cult that’s a little bit more of a heightened theatre experience,” says McGrail. “Toasted Theatre is kind of known for their female empowerment and quirky sense of humour and we’re really excited to see them back on stage.”
The last show at the festival is called Schedule of Loss written by Claire Biddiscome. One year ago, Biddiscome lost all of her possessions when her apartment burned down, so this is a retelling of her experience itemising the things she no longer had.
Poster for Schedule of Loss. Art by Maggie Woods.
“This is a completely true story, and so we were really struck by how vulnerable she [Biddiscome] was willing to be with strangers,” says McGrail.
He also says that this performance will be playing in a smaller space — Arts Courts Theatre’s Studio Black Box — so it will also be a very intimate experience, which puts an interesting focus on the relationship between audience and artist. It’s also a space that’s pretty unique to the Ottawa theatre scene, and reflective of Fresh Meat’s theme of stepping outside your comfort zone.
“I’m hoping that the result is this kind of moving improvised piece about our possessions and what they mean to us,” says McGrail.
While there are some new and old faces taking the stage, one thing is for certain — this year is all about vulnerability, and letting people into pretty personal experiences. Not only is this a feature of the Fresh Meat Fest — allowing artists to perform something totally new and different — but, the festival also provides dramaturgy to every artist.
Dramaturgs sit down with artists and provide an extra set of eyes on their script and performance to get the most out of their performance. McGrail says it’s a great way for artists to get meaningful feedback in a safe environment.
McGrail also says that attending the festival is simple — you can see the entire lineup for just $6, and they also offer a pay-what-you-can tired system.
“We really try hard to be as barrier-free as possible,” he says. “You can see basically every show for just a dollar a show, which is something that you can’t find elsewhere in the city and very often you can’t find elsewhere in Canada.”
Above all, the Fresh Meat Festival is meant to be a party, so the festival is welcoming to all different folks who are able to make it downtown. While most of the festival will offer alcohol, on the evening of Oct. 24 will be a dry night — so even those who aren’t looking for a drinking party environment can feel a bit more comfortable.
“There’s no pressure of dress code, or how you’re supposed to behave,” says McGrail. “We really accept you as you are.”
As audiences come to watch these performances, McGrail says that he hopes the spirit of uniqueness and charting your own path resonate with folks.
“There’s a lot of power in telling your own stories, choosing how and when to be vulnerable and doing it in a way that’s safe for you.”
Make sure to check out the Fresh Meat Festival from Oct. 23–26 at the Arts Court Theatre. For more information on showtimes, ticket prices, or general information about the festival, you can check out their website, or follow them on Instagram.
