‘Fat Joke’ in Surrey to thrust fatphobia into the spotlight Saturday
Published 7:30 pm Monday, April 20, 2026
“As a fat person, I never thought of myself as ‘sexy,’” says Cheyenne Rouleau, actor and writer. “Society never allowed me to. It just wasn’t in my cards. So I got funny.”
Rouleau performs Fat Joke, which promises big laughs and biting wit in a sassy yet educational show that squashes fat shaming.
Neworld Theatre’s touring show stops at Surrey Arts Centre’s Studio Theatre on Saturday (April 25), 7:30 p.m. curtain. Tickets are $49 on surrey.ca.
Fat Joke is hyped as a fusion of stand-up comedy, storytelling and unapologetic fact-blasting in which Rouleau, based in Burnaby, thrusts fatphobia into the spotlight.
“Brace yourself for a social commentary that challenges conventions, sparks crucial conversations, and keeps you laughing in the process,” says a post on neworldtheatre.com.
Topics include online dating, Rebel Wilson and other celebrities who’ve lost weight (and those who didn’t), the Heavy Hitters softball team and the problematic history of the BMI (Body Mass Index).
The show, set in a comedy club, contains significant discussion of fatphobia and diet culture, the website notes. “Additionally, it contains sensitive themes, including depictions of Jared, the Subway guy, who is a child predator. An image of cannibalist Jeffrey Dahmer, mentions abortions, complicated pregnancies, misogyny, slavery, eugenics, racism, and systemic oppression. The performer discusses when they were sexually assaulted but does not go into graphic details.”
Rouleau’s TV/streaming credits, listed on imdb.com, include Blockbuster (NBC), The Good Doctor (ABC ) and Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (Paramount+).