Teesside talent heads North of the border for Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Rachel Stockdale is showing Fat Chance at the Pleasance Dome through the month
Last updated 5th Aug 2022
A Middlesbrough born theatre maker is venturing North of the border - as she takes her one woman show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Fat Chance is on at the Pleasance Dome until the 28th of August.
The show tackles the fat phobia and classism that creator and performer Rachel Stockdale herself has experienced in the world of entertainment and acting.
Rachel tells us although the ideas for the show were originally conceived before the Covid-19 pandemic, she hopes the shared experiences of lockdown will help audiences understand the message of the play:
"I still think we've got a long way to go, especially when you look at American shows and the representation over there - in terms of size compared to here.
"But I do think after lockdown, everyone's bodies changed - and we came back into the world.
"And I feel like this is why people are ready to listen - because everyone's been through a similar thing."
She hopes the audience takes away a hopeful, positive message from her work;
"I would hope that people would challenge their internal fatphobia and be kinder about other people and their own body
"Just be more forgiving of themselves - and others! And just treat each other equally."
Fat Chance has already had several Fringe Preview shows around the North East and Teesside - with rave reviews.
Rachel tells us how it felt to get the phone call from the Festival to say she was in;
"I couldn't believe it! We were just working things out - like "I think this will work..."
"And then got the phone call and they said "we need the copy, we need you to tell us ticket prices" and I said "I don't even know what the script is yet!"
"It just felt ridiculous but yeah - it just felt amazing... but then the panic set in!"
You can find out more about Fat Chance through Rachel's website, and the Pleasance Dome, as well as social media.