From Press Release
“Katharine Ferns is in Stitches” at the Toronto Fringe Festival
July 4th @8:45pm, 6th @11:00pm, 8th @2:45pm, 10th @8:30pm, 11th @12:15pm, 13th @3:45pm, 14th @9:45pm
Factory Theatre – Studio (125 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5V 2R2)
In Person: During the festival at main box office on the Fringe patio at Scadding Court – 707 Dundas St. West.
Manchester-Based Comedian Brings Critically Acclaimed Show to the Toronto Fringe
“It is a pitch perfect performance and a beautifully-written, perfectly-paced comedy script. Absolutely wonderfully done. A perfect Fringe show. Laughs. Tears. Jaw-dropping. It deserves a (formerly-known-as) Perrier Award” John Fleming
“Brutally honest from the start, this show just goes to prove you can make comedy out of tragedy…moving, witty and sincere.” **** North West End
“While some of us strive to destigmatize mental illness, to support victims of domestic violence and to empower women in embracing their sexuality, Katharine Ferns is out there doing the work, one theatre at a time.” Room Magazine
Brutally funny and unflinchingly honest, “In Stitches” is the latest Fringe hit from Manchester-based comedian Katharine Ferns (MTV, ichannel). This dark comedy show takes audiences through the visible and invisible scars of surviving mental illness, domestic violence, and drug addiction — with some feminism thrown in for comic relief. Based on true events from her own life, the story begins on April 21, 2016 — the day Prince passed away and Katharine ended up in stitches (literally). Through personal insights and a lot of laughs, Katharine’s acclaimed solo show leaves her audiences in stitches (figuratively).
Ferns says, “This is the most honest comedy show I have written. Violence and mental health are issues we don’t talk about enough, and through comedy I am able to talk about my experiences in a way that is empowering but also honest. Since performing this show in the UK, I have received so many messages from fellow survivors and people that want to be advocates for change in how we deal with domestic violence in society. These inspiring audience reactions propel me to keep telling my story and hopefully it helps others talk about their own experiences too.”
Following her critically-acclaimed performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Vancouver Fringe Festival in 2017, where she received an Honourable Mention for the Artistic Risk Award, Katharine is bringing her show to the Toronto Fringe at The Factory Theatre. After the festival circuit, Katharine will bring “In Stitches” to the small town where the events from her show actually happened. Ferns adds, “In a sense, I’m returning to the scene of the crime to tell my story and reveal the truth of what happened to me there, which I hid from everyone for so long.” A documentary on that journey is currently in development.
Industry and Audience Reviews:
“She takes intense personal moments, from physical pain to emotional scars, and makes them into jokes and heartbreak that we can share and relate to. This balancing act is very challenging, but Ferns is impressive in her quick turns.” TwoCents&TwoPence
“The most important and needed comedy show I’ve ever seen. Brilliant, hilarious, brave, poignant.” (Tara P)
“Absolutely brilliant, inspiring, heartbreaking and outrageously funny show.”(Mark P)
“The most incredible comedy performance I’ve ever seen.” (Phil J. as quoted on BBC Radio 2)
More about Katharine Ferns:
“Perky, charismatic performer with an acute sense of irony” – Chortle
“Observant and witty, Katharine Ferns is a modern, 21st century woman, who throws herself into life and consequently her jokes.”— **** The Wee Review
“Salty-sweet, savagely honest, brutally funny.”—The Scene Magazine
Manchester-based comedian Katharine Ferns is relentlessly funny with her confessional and brutally honest storytelling style of comedy. With seemingly sweet and innocent charm, Katharine finds dark comedy in her observations on relationships, family, mental illness, feminism and her past misadventures.
In 2012, Katharine was a finalist in the Toronto’s Funniest Comedian Contest at Just For Laughs (JFL42) and while in Canada had been the support act for Jay Oakerson, Ari Shaffir, Kurt Metzger, Tom Segura, Sam Tripoli, Baron Vaughn, Brian Redban and Brendon Walsh. Katharine was featured on Canada’s ichannel in the stand-up series No Kidding and as a panelist on Inside Joke in 2014. She also appeared in an episode of MTV’s Losing It and several theatrical productions with the PineTree Players in Alberta.
In 2014 Katharine moved to the UK to continue her career in her family’s home country. That year she was a finalist in the Laughing Horse New Act Competition and in 2015, Katharine brought her 4 star debut solo show “Conscious, Incompetent” to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2016, Katharine returned to Edinburgh with her work-in progress show “Faking It” and split hour with Evelyn Mok to rave reviews and she also was the support act for Dane Baptiste in Northern England.
In 2017, Katharine brought her new show “In Stitches” to the Leicester Comedy Festival, Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Greater Manchester Fringe and the Women in Comedy Festival. After a successful month at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the show was part of the Mainstage at the Vancouver Fringe Festival to critical acclaim where Katharine was awarded an Honourable Mention for the Artist Risk Award.
