Name: Irina Varina

Show in 2017 Festival: Socially Conscious Friends

Past Festival shows: Speculum Diaries

FringeArts: Tell us about your show.

Irina Varina: In the past couple of years I’ve become increasingly aware of unfair things happening in the world (lucky me). I’ve also binge-watched Friends (a lot). I started to notice moments in the show reflecting current conversations in my head/the world. Each day of the 18 days of the festival, I’ll post one of these moments.

This project came out of that “Look, look, did you see that?” impulse that arises while watching an old, very popular TV show. It’s doing two things for me. It pokes fun and calls out inactivity (like binge-watching a TV show) at times of much needed real life action. And, at the same time, points out surprising and currently relevant conversations hiding in a universally loved TV show.

FringeArts: How have your interests in or approach to art making changed in the last year? 

Irina Varina: I am becoming more open to different containers for my work, like doing Digital Fringe or possibly starting a podcast. But also, through that openness, gaining a deeper understanding of why I want to continue performing live and the intimacy and connection that I can only find there.

FringeArts: Tell us about an instance from 2017 when your interaction with art provided some much needed solace or refuge from outside troubles.

Irina Varina: I think this project is a manifestation of your question. Including the possible danger of looking to hide from outside troubles too much.

Socially Conscious Friends
Irina Varina

Free / Ongoing

INFO