Depression and anxiety are serious health issues and often debilitating. Aparna Nancherla deals with these issues daily, but as an acclaimed comedian, she’s turned self-aware experiences into self-deprecating humour.
"Depression is one of those things that sublets space in your head, so no matter how far away you get from it, it exists as a permanent houseguest," Nancherla said. She adds, "So while it can significantly impede productivity and mood, it also contributes to my point-of-view and sense of humour."
The Los Angeles-based comedian has spent the better part of 20 years carving a name for herself as a comedy writer, stand-up comedian, actor and the author of Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome. On Friday, Sept. 27 she makes her debut performance at the Arden Theatre.
Nancherla is a rising comedian, a headliner at comedy shows and music festivals, and a frequenter of late-night television shows. Despite the success she’s achieved, if you ask her, she’s a fraud – an imposter.
“As an artist you follow your instincts and what moves you creatively. You start to get success as a comedian and you assume when you get to this marker you will feel comfortable. But it wasn’t happening to me. As someone with a psychology degree, I was thinking about it, and it wasn’t happening,” said Nancherla, describing her version of imposter syndrome.
Born in Washington, D.C. to South Asian immigrant parents, Nancherla was a shy, withdrawn child. She grew up before YouTube and Facebook dominated people’s lives, and she created her own interests. After graduation, Nancherla’s parents were both doctors and encouraged post-secondary studies. She complied and opted for a psychology degree at Amherst College in Massachsetts.
“I haven’t always been the most motivated in school. I was interested in psychology. It presented an opportunity to deal directly with topics in my life. One of those was observing people, and it fit in with my personality, and as a subject, it lends itself to stand-up by closely observing people.”
After graduating in 2005, she pursued a journalism internship. Her life was split in two, chasing down stories by day and breaking down the doors of comedy clubs at night. Like many starting careers in the arts, she began by dipping her toes into the circuit, and gradually, she was given longer sets.
As an American-South Asian woman in a field peopled primarily by men, she faced an uphill battle.
“When I started comedy, it was dominated by men – usually straight white men. If you were outside the box, you had to explain yourself more. Sometimes it made people skeptical, but I also started at a time when the industry was attracting more diversity.”
Nancherla’s humour is dry, existential, absurd and at time whimsical. She’s also supplied voiceovers in more than 15 animations including Quiet in Orion and The Dark, Gilly in Baby Shark’s Big Movie, Snail in Frog and Toad, Kiff in Ms. Moufflé, and Frankie in The Boss Baby: Back in Business.
“I feel very lucky to have found voice-over work. I’ve been told I have a unique voice, but it’s still a competitive market to break into. Voiceover is one of the more special things I do. Animation has always brought me joy.”
As for the Arden show, Nancherla brings her brand of day-to-day observational humour centering around her wife, relationships and moves around the country.
Her guest opener is Leif Oleson-Cormack, an award-winning Julliard trained playwright who performs dark, queer comedy in a confessional style. He was winner of the 2019 Calgary Funny Fest Comedy Competition and has opened for Alan Carr, Scott Thompson and Eleanor Kerrigan.
The comedy show is on Friday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.69. Visit tickets.stalbert.ca or call 780-459-1542.
