“Music Ur the 1” – Behind the scenes
Live at PuSH Festival, 2022
How to Fail as a Popstar
Stage play · Debuted
Illuminating, raw, honest and hopeful, How to Fail as a Popstar is Vivek’s debut theatrical work, chronicling her journey to “not quite” pop music superstardom. A reflection on the power of pop culture, dreams, disappointments and self-determination, this astonishing performance is a triumph in finding one’s authentic voice.
Now available: a print edition from Arsenal Pulp Press, with colour photographs and a new foreword and afterword.
- Play and original songs written and performed by Vivek Shraya
- Composition by Vivek Shraya & James Bunton
- Directed by Brendan Healy
- Set and costume designer: Joanna Yu
- Lighting designer: C.J. Astronomo
- Associate lighting designer: Imogen Wilson
- Sound designer: James Bunton
- Choreographer: William Yong
- Photography by Heather Saitz
- A Canadian Stage production
A smart, funny portrait… and worth seeing.
How to Fail as a Popstar is a qualified success.
Shraya may not have reached the top echelon of pop stardom, but sharing her persistence and self-discovery just might be a bigger gift. After all, these are the stories we rarely hear told.
Shraya scores a big success.
A moving tale that any person who’s struggled to achieve their dreams can easily relate to, and Shraya has a certain magnetism to her performance that keeps the one-woman show moving fluidly.
Vivek Shraya is such a charming presence, sings beautifully and certainly has a facility with lyrics, that she draws in her audience… One thing is for sure—this show is a winner.
You leave feeling all the feels.
One of the most vulnerable things I’ve seen onstage.
Featured
- The Best Toronto Stage Shows to See in February 2020
(NOW Toronto) - Things to Do in Toronto This Week
(The Star) - Best Music of 2020
(NOW Toronto) - Things to Do in Vancouver This Week
(Vancouver Magazine)
More Press
- Intermission Magazine
- The Globe and Mail
- NOW Toronto
- Herizons
- Avenue Calgary
- CBC News
- HuffPost
- The YY Scene
- Calgary Herald
- More with Anna Maria Tremonti
- CBC Radio
- The Globe and Mail
- Intermission
- NOW Toronto
- The Social
- The Star (2, 3)
- CBC Arts
- Daily Xtra
- q (CBC Radio)
- Yohomo
- Cityline
- Chosen Family
- The Georgia Straight
- Vancouver Magazine
- The Globe and Mail
- The Tyee
- The Ticket
- Montreal Gazette
Productions
- Queer Performance Camp (2023) · La salle Multi – Méduse, Quebec City · Info
- Queer Performance Camp (2023) · La Chapelle Theatre, Montreal · Info
- Ontario tour (2022) · Multiple venues, Across Ontario
- Belfast International Arts Festival (2022) · The MAC, Belfast · Info
- Festival Theaterformen (2022) · LOT-Theater, Braunschweig · Info
- Mois Multi (2022) · Salle Multi, Quebec City · Info
- Queer Performance Camp (2022) · La Chapelle, Montreal · Info
- Intrepid Theatre, Victoria (2022) · Info
- PuSh International Performing Arts Festival (2022) · Performance Works, Vancouver · Info
- World premiere production (2020) · Berkeley Upstairs Theatre, Toronto · Info
- High Performance Rodeo (2020) · Engineered Air Theatre, Calgary · Info
“I’m a fag 4 U” (Owen Pallett remix)
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
The official playlist
All the songs featured in the play, including four originals by Vivek.
Gallery
Related projects
“I’m a fag 4 U” (Remixes)
Single ·
How to Fail as a Popstar
Book ·
“I Won’t Envy 2.0”
Single ·
“Showing Up”
Single ·
“I’m a fag 4 U”
Single ·
“Music Ur the 1”
Single ·