Fempaths: Transistor Radio Hour - Mari Moriarty AKA FEMPATH on bringing Fempaths: Transistor Radio Hour to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
- Cultural Dose
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
American transfem writer and performer Mari Moriarty arrives at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Fempaths: Transistor Radio Hour, a cabaret fantasia blending live music, storytelling, comedy and political performance. Performed alongside a trans-led live band, the show draws on verbatim material, personal experience and voices from trans history and culture, transforming them into original songs that celebrate trans expression and community. We caught up with Fempath to hear more about the inspiration behind the show.
For readers discovering the show for the first time, what can they expect from an evening with Fempaths: Transistor Radio Hour?
Fempaths: Transistor Radio Hour is a queer cabaret fantasia featuring original music and lyrics taken from texts by famous trans icons past, present, and future. I lead the charge on piano and vocals, with accompaniment by a fabulous cellist & wind instrumentalist. Think lyrics by: Marsha P Johnson, sexual assault survivors’ rights activist Emma Sulkowicz, Kim Petras, 12 y/o trans kid Ari Bowman, my brother, my mother, the Reform Party, the RNC, Twitter trolls and me (to name a few). The evening explores queer history, bathroom politics, deepthroating, tarot, Alzheimers disease, sexual assault, PTSD, immigration, fascism, addiction, disability and Sappho. It’s a show for trans rights and wrongs, sinners and slags, and all those in between!
Why did you want to tell this story now, at this particular moment in your life and in the wider culture?
In the words of the 12-year-old trans kid, Ari Bowman “the hate the trans community has been receiving recently is terrible, people say things without an open mind as if we are not human beings… like they are”. Sadly, since this 2016 speech things have only gotten worse. On a personal note, I’ve left the U.S. due to the government's hostility and increasing threats of violence towards trans people. We continue to be a global political football and are talked about far more than listened to. When trans art is given the spotlight it’s almost always uncomplicated, and overly earnest depictions of our experience made palatable for cis audiences. This is my angry, funny, slutty, sweet, messy, harrowing, complicated, joyful, and ultimately human alternative.
Music is central to the show. What do you think music can express that straight drama or stand-up sometimes cannot?
One of my favorite songs from the show is called “My Beloved”. The lyrics were taken from a love letter my grandfather wrote to my grandmother when she was in the throes of Alzheimer's disease. It couldn’t have been read by my grandmother at the time it was written; she was too far gone. But my grandfather wrote it anyway. The letter sat in his bedside drawer until we discovered it after they had both passed. Of all the things my grandmother lost, music stayed with her till the very end. Even when she couldn’t speak, she could still hum. Even when she couldn’t hum, she’d still smile when she heard a familiar tune. In the end, music stays with you. There’s just nothing better. It’s like love.
The show explores themes including identity, family, trauma, and belonging. Was there one theme that became more central as you developed the work?
It’s about saying thank you. Thank you for the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s saying thank you to the bigots. To J.K. Rowling. To The Reform Party. It’s saying thank you for empty seats and bad reviews. Thank you for war and warts. It’s also saying thank you for magic. Thank you for Marsha P. Johnson. For tarot. For sex. For love. Fempaths feels like a kaleidoscope of my trans experience. It's about embracing all the paths of life and loving them through music and color.
Live cabaret can feel especially immediate and communal. What do you love about performing in that form?
Cabaret is fucking fun! Everything is better late at night and with a drink in your hand (if that’s your thing). The informality and intimate audience leaves more room to take risks and have a truly communal experience. We have a live tarot reading number called “Witch Bitch” where I read an audience member's tarot cards and then sing the responses (you are warned). Another number called “The Ex Files” - we poll the audience before the show asking them, “if you saw your ex today what would you say?”, and I sing the responses. Lastly, who doesn’t love rhinestones?
What have past Fringe experiences taught you that you’re bringing into this run?
My first time bringing my own show to the fringe was Jet of Blood back in 2018. It was a play about my own PTSD from sexual assault. At the end of each performance, I outed my rapist’s identity to the audience, writing his name on my naked body. As proud as I am of that show, it wasn't emotionally sustainable in the long run. So, I knew when I came back to Fringe, I wanted to have a show that was a) artistically fulfilling but also b) spiritually fulfilling and lastly c) could be a major hit and was in the wild and joyful spirit of Fringe. This is that show!
For audiences who may feel unsure or unfamiliar with some of the themes, what kind of invitation does the show offer them?
Do you like tarot? Do you like erotic performance art? Do you hate your ex? Are you concerned about the rise of fascism? Are you trans? Are you blind? Are you a human with a body? If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, then this shows for you! Plus, in the words of Broadway actor Noah Pyzik “I didn't take any photos because I was so engrossed in the BEAUTIFUL, transcendent, poignant, heartbreaking music and storytelling of Fempaths. As the world burns and fascism rises, I instantly felt from the first song that there was no room more important tonight than this one telling powerful trans stories in such a gorgeous way. Everyone needs to see this show and be transformed.” That being said, we do explore heavier topics so please do check out our content warning on the Underbelly website and see if it’s a right fit for you. Also, if you are a member of the blind / partially sighted community, I’m happy to share that we have integrated creative captioning for every performance. Plus, if you are trans & NB you can go for free! Check out our website for how to get your free ticket.
When you think about a successful Fringe run for this show, what does that actually look like to you?
The success of this show, and my career in general, hinges on two very important things: my hair and my makeup. I’m only half kidding. But, in truth if I’m able to bring in and connect with the trans & NB community of Edinburgh and the Fringe at large, I’d consider it a success.
And I can’t stress this enough: trans folks go for free!
Fempaths: Transistor Radio Hour will be performed at 8:45pm at Underbelly Bristo Square from 5th - 30th August.
