5 Questions with Vidya Rajan
Vidya Rajan is an award-winning screenwriter, theatre artist, comedian and performer, working mainly in theatre and television.
A former writer-in-residence at the Malthouse Theatre and a recipient of Screen Australia’s Developer Program, she has recently worked as a writer and performer with Amazon, ABC Comedy, The Feed SBS, Belvoir Sydney, Channel 10, Red Stitch, Griffin Theatre and The Blue Room, among others.
Her work is often funny and formally adventurous, and frequently about the internet, technology, the slipperiness of identity, how we exist with each other within systems, and butts.
NO.1
Vidya, the first question—’Do you believe in life after... life?’—in the copy of your new comedy show Respawn intrigues me. What kind of ‘life’ do you mean? Who is ‘respawning’, and why?
I mean ‘life’ as in existence!
I'd been thinking a bunch about reincarnation, which is part of the religious belief I was raised with, and also about [the] loss of that belief, death and cute things like that! And also how the idea of reincarnation is 1) very much like a video game, hence the phrase 'respawn'; and 2) very fun for a comedy show as you get to go through a bunch of lives and characters. So I guess I am respawning to think about some things but mainly for your silly pleasure.
NO.2
When I interviewed you in 2020, you said, “So even though I joke a lot about the
brand stuff and really love playing up the narcissism of that world, particularly in my
comedy or comedic persona online, there’s more a way for me to sit with these
thoughts [as an artist in a world concerned with capital] and maybe prompt people
to see things--it’s never what I want to be or am (I hope).”
Do you think making and producing Respawn responds to this, or have you moved on?
It responds to it a little bit; if you like that comedic persona then you will definitely enjoy this show!
Also that obsession with the ego or being a performer is very much tied to how hard it is to be a good person in a competitive world, and like, what does being a comedian mean at the moment? That vibe is definitely in the show.
There's other stuff in there too, though! Like, a worm.
NO.3
How do you feel about taking the stage again, after what seems like a long time of
not being able to do so?
I feel alright! I was doing heaps of live performance and then for about two years (hmm wonder why) it's mainly been pre-recorded things or screen acting, so it was, of course, a bit overwhelming to return, but it’s nice to do it again. I think audiences are finding their way back too and hopefully we can do that together.
NO.4
Here’s another hot question: in recent years we have noticed more platforming of
artists and writers of colour, which is cool to see, and it appears that many more
comedians are not doing the Diaspora 101 trope we have seen in the past, instead
leaning into the topics they care about and want to do, which sometimes integrates
aspects of their identity. Do you want to speak more on this? We are entering an
accelerated era of racial capitalism, for sure, which we’ve discussed privately in the
past, but I’m interested to hear what else you have to say about it.
There's definitely a good shift! There's a lot to say here so it's hard to choose. One thing I've been thinking about lately is how there are very few absurdist comedians of colour or more ‘alt’ comics of colour. I think there is still an expectation—especially for mainstream audiences—that you perform an immediate legibility for them. Why are you there? What's their relationship to your position?
This results in more comedy that tells a story about your identity, or jokes which revolve overwhelmingly around pointing out [racial] difference. All of which is great if that's what you want. But I think a lot of people do feel that pressure to be in that mold when they don't want to be, and I personally have in the past. If you think about absurdity, it's all about transformation, about audiences seeing you as mutable and silly in various ways—it can be harder to do this if the prevailing vibe when you walk on [stage] is: "Oh how brown this brown? Tell what type brown please but in nice way! Confused!"
Look, my stuff is usually quite absurd, or conceptual, or playing with a persona, and it may not be very commercial in some ways, but I guess at this point I am demanding the right to just fucking do it—you come along and have a ride babiezzz.
[But] I do think it's quite encouraging that there is more of this kind of comedy though, especially in the US. The internet has broadened this vibe too massively.
NO.5
I feel like I have to ask you a final boring question. What do you hope the audience
will take away from Respawn?
Nothing less than a full change in their worldview will satisfy me. If they're not running into the streets writhing and yelling ‘Nanette!!’ and ‘Je suis Respawn’, I will retire to a monastery forever more.
Failing that, I guess if they just have a good silly weird time, think a bit about life and death, feel like they've had a shared experience, and immediately follow me on social media it will be okay too.
Do you believe in life after... life?
Alt-comedy ace Vidya Rajan brings you an hour of fun obsessed with the big questions (will I reincarnate as a dung beetle?) and the small questions (does mother love me?).
A giddy mix of stand-up, sketch and passive-aggressive PowerPoint from an exciting new voice.
As seen on The Feed, ABC Comedy, the Sidney Myer Bowl stage and probably your (ew) twitter feed.
Directed by Michelle Brasier. Runs 12-24 April 2022, tickets here.
The show on 21 April will be livestreamed. Purchase a ticket to the digital session here.