Keshia Cheesman and Bianca Miranda are the dynamic duo behind The F Word, a theatrical tour-de-force that fearlessly tackles their experiences as fat women of colour, weaving together themes of resilience, friendship, and unadulterated joy. Director Clare Preuss sat down with Keshia and Bianca to discuss how their bond began, the powerful drive to create their own stories, and why their show is more relevant than ever in today’s evolving (and increasingly hostile) conversations around body image.
Describe the beginning of your friendship.
Bianca: Most people think we met in university and while that is where our friendship developed, we actually met briefly in high school. We had some mutual friends who were convinced we would be really good friends if we only met but sadly, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. That first meeting was awkward and weird and neither of us felt inclined to pursue a friendship then. Fast forward to university, where we re-met, and instantly clicked. We were in a lot of the same classes and found ourselves connecting over food, family, RENT the musical, and other shared experiences –– some of which you’ll hear about in this show!
What gave you the impetus to make the show?
Keshia: When we were majoring in Drama at the University of Calgary’s School of Creative and Performing Arts, we didn't see ourselves reflected in a lot of existing material. As fat women of colour, we struggled to find plays and monologues we related to. So we ended up immersing ourselves in student led work like scene studies for directing classes and eventually, performance creation class. It was through that class that we realised we had the power to create our own work. We thought, “Why wait for someone else to write our stories?”
We began by unpacking the word “fat" and how it had been weaponized against us and how those wounds shaped us growing up. But as we dug deeper, we discovered that our experiences touched on so much more, like joy, resilience, and friendship. That spark grew into a fire, and with it, The F Word was born.
Why are you bringing the performance back? has anything changed about the show?
Keshia: Our dream has always been to tour this show! In 2023, we premiered The F Word in the Martha Cohen Theatre, a Downstage production, presented by Alberta Theatre Projects, in association with Handsome Alice and Theatre Calgary. This was an amazing experience and almost 2,000 people saw the show. But the reality is that a set design for the Martha Cohen Theatre is a lot bigger than what most touring venues can support. So in order to bring the show on the road, we had to redesign a smaller scale so that it is more tour-able.
Bianca: Honestly, we’re also excited to get back to our roots, which is performing in more intimate theatres. This version of the show is also 30 minutes shorter. We knew we wanted to make this cut but we were surprised with how easily it came to us. With the help of our dramaturg, Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, we were able to get clearer about what’s important for us to say NOW. The world premiere version was a culmination of 5+ years of working on this show –– there was so much we wanted to say and we truly felt we had to include everything. We’re still incredibly grateful for the other version but it’s a real privilege to revisit the script and update it to reflect our shared priorities.
Why conversations around fatphobia are so important to have today?
Bianca: The reality is that anti-fatness, diet culture, and weight discrimination are still very much alive in our society. The only thing that changes is how this is being enacted. Two years ago, people were only finding out about “body positivity” and getting on board with it. Now, people are like “ok so you’re fat –– we accept you as long as you’re quiet and accept the status quo,” but once you’re vocal about your needs, people are then like, “or you could just do something about it and not make it everyone’s problem?”
Keshia: With the rise of Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications being used for rapid weight loss, we knew we weren’t done with this show. The F Word feels more relevant than ever and we are excited to continue to share the story with the Calgary community and beyond.
Bianca: Unlearning fatphobia starts on a personal level. It includes deep reflection that requires us to challenge our own internal biases. If you’re feeling called to start this work, we invite you to come to the show with open minds and hearts –– there’s song, dance, and we even think you’ll laugh AT LEAST once and be entertained.
Tickets available now at werklundcentre.ca.