'In the beginning, Katie and Body were best friends. In the beginning, Katie and Body were infinite with possibilities…’
Katie’s taken up synchronised swimming. She’s buoyant and beautiful, but it’s a lot harder than they thought. When the promise of campy fun and liberation fails to materialise, Katie feels further from her body than ever before.
Join Katie and Body on their quest traversing forgiveness, beauty and whales as they ask: what does care look like for a fat body?
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| Photo by Michael Aiden Photography. |
Award-winning artist Katie Greenall and The Hale’s new show takes audiences on a joyous journey of storytelling, ebbing and flowing to explore what placing kindness and care first can look like.
We sat down with Katie Greenall to learn more about the show.
What can you tell us about BLUBBER?
BLUBBER is a solo autobiographical show exploring my quest to reconnect with my own body through the journey of synchronised swimming, forgiveness and whales- asking the audience what does care look like for a fat body?
BLUBBER is a solo autobiographical show exploring my quest to reconnect with my own body through the journey of synchronised swimming, forgiveness and whales- asking the audience what does care look like for a fat body?
I first performed it in Edinburgh in 2024 and am really excited to be taking it on tour this Spring.
What first inspired you to write the piece?
When doing some workshops alongside my last show FATTY FAT FAT, I learned about the Padded Lillies who were an all-fat synchronised swimming group from San Franscisco in the 90s. I had always wanted to be a synchronised swimmer and felt really inspired learning about bodies like mine who were doing this thing I had always wanted to do, so I started to learn! Whilst the process of learning synchro inspired the show, BLUBBER isn’t as much about synchro as I first thought it would be, and I talk about this at the start of the show.
When doing some workshops alongside my last show FATTY FAT FAT, I learned about the Padded Lillies who were an all-fat synchronised swimming group from San Franscisco in the 90s. I had always wanted to be a synchronised swimmer and felt really inspired learning about bodies like mine who were doing this thing I had always wanted to do, so I started to learn! Whilst the process of learning synchro inspired the show, BLUBBER isn’t as much about synchro as I first thought it would be, and I talk about this at the start of the show.
How have you approached bringing so much of an autobiographical show to life?
This is my second autobiographical show and writing from my own experience is the only thing I know how to do! It’s taken a long time to make this show and it has been really challenging at times, but we work really hard to make sure the vulnerability of the process is still safe and sustainable for me as an artist. I work with such a fantastic team of collaborators, who help create a space that is feels as safe and brave as possible.
This is my second autobiographical show and writing from my own experience is the only thing I know how to do! It’s taken a long time to make this show and it has been really challenging at times, but we work really hard to make sure the vulnerability of the process is still safe and sustainable for me as an artist. I work with such a fantastic team of collaborators, who help create a space that is feels as safe and brave as possible.
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| Photo by Michael Aiden Photography. |
How has writing this show helped your own self-discovery?
This show has been with me a long time and so has grown with me as an artist and human. There’s a moment in the show, without giving too many spoilers, which is a very intimate and vulnerable moment that I share with the audience and doing that across the performances has really allowed me to feel more connected and present in my body, in a time that feels increasingly difficult to be fat.
This show has been with me a long time and so has grown with me as an artist and human. There’s a moment in the show, without giving too many spoilers, which is a very intimate and vulnerable moment that I share with the audience and doing that across the performances has really allowed me to feel more connected and present in my body, in a time that feels increasingly difficult to be fat.
You combine song, sound and water work in the show, how have you approached bringing these in?
As soon as I knew I wanted to make a show about synchronised swimming, water became a huge part of vision for the show. We always wanted water on stage and it is a really exciting part of the show - despite its obvious challenges! I have always felt most at home in my body in water and felt like learning synchronised swimming might allow me to rebuild my relationship with my body and find community. The sound of the show is all made from my voice, recorded and manipulated to underscore the whole piece and create an epic storytelling world.
As soon as I knew I wanted to make a show about synchronised swimming, water became a huge part of vision for the show. We always wanted water on stage and it is a really exciting part of the show - despite its obvious challenges! I have always felt most at home in my body in water and felt like learning synchronised swimming might allow me to rebuild my relationship with my body and find community. The sound of the show is all made from my voice, recorded and manipulated to underscore the whole piece and create an epic storytelling world.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
To find people that look like me and surround myself with them! To give them the understanding that their body is their greatest gift.
To find people that look like me and surround myself with them! To give them the understanding that their body is their greatest gift.
What was the first piece of theatre you remember having a big impact on you?
I used to be a real theatre nerd, keeping a track of everything I saw and what I enjoyed about it. I used to rinse every young person’s cheap ticket scheme out there, and it was through just seeing as much as possible I started to work out what I liked and didn’t. Getting the train to Waterloo and seeing stuff at the NT Shed and the Dorfman (RIP!) and wandering along the Southbank made me realise this is what I wanted to do.
I used to be a real theatre nerd, keeping a track of everything I saw and what I enjoyed about it. I used to rinse every young person’s cheap ticket scheme out there, and it was through just seeing as much as possible I started to work out what I liked and didn’t. Getting the train to Waterloo and seeing stuff at the NT Shed and the Dorfman (RIP!) and wandering along the Southbank made me realise this is what I wanted to do.
What keeps you inspired?
Spending time with other artists. Rest. Doing random things. Going on adventures. Seeing really great work, as well as stuff I don’t enjoy.
Spending time with other artists. Rest. Doing random things. Going on adventures. Seeing really great work, as well as stuff I don’t enjoy.
How has House Southeast Theatre Network supported BLUBBER across the tour?
It is a really challenging time get theatre shows out on tour at the moment and so this tour simply wouldn’t exist without house’s support. As an artist from the South East, having a chance to take this show to the theatres and communities that shaped me as an artist is a very special full-circle moment.
It is a really challenging time get theatre shows out on tour at the moment and so this tour simply wouldn’t exist without house’s support. As an artist from the South East, having a chance to take this show to the theatres and communities that shaped me as an artist is a very special full-circle moment.
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| Photo by Claudia Legge. |
What would you hope an audience member takes away from seeing the show?
It’s hard because I never want to decide how an audience member will feel about any show but I hope, perhaps, they feel more connected to their own bodies and see bodies like mine in a different light.
It’s hard because I never want to decide how an audience member will feel about any show but I hope, perhaps, they feel more connected to their own bodies and see bodies like mine in a different light.
Where can audiences see the show?
This spring BLUBBER will tour from 18 to 28 February and 15 to 25 April 2026 across 12 venues in the South East. We’ll be in Canterbury, Farnham, Worthing, North London, Oxford, Bordon, Havant, Reading, Chichester, Lowestoft, Kings Lynn and Norwich.
This spring BLUBBER will tour from 18 to 28 February and 15 to 25 April 2026 across 12 venues in the South East. We’ll be in Canterbury, Farnham, Worthing, North London, Oxford, Bordon, Havant, Reading, Chichester, Lowestoft, Kings Lynn and Norwich.
You can find all the dates and links to book your tickets at https://housetheatre.org.uk/events/blubber
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