Comedian, Heli Pärna, is taking to the stage with her new one woman show to put Estonia on the map (largely because no one knows where it is…)!
After years of performing in theatre and trying out improv, Heli turned to stand up in 2022 to share all her stories of life as an immigrant and living in Estonia. To date, she has performed her debut one woman show in several cities across Europe and New Zealand.
Heli is based in Brussels where she regularly performs, directs and writes. She also runs and hosts the bi-weekly Funny Women comedy night in Brussels. The Adventures of the White Unicorn was first performed at the Tallinn Fringe Festival in August 2023 and her Edinburgh Festival Fringe run will be the first anniversary of her performing the show.
Tell us about your show.
In short, my show is an observational comedy with a splash of sarcasm about growing up in Estonia as a double immigrant and what it’s like to date as a geriatric millennial. The show itself is very relaxed as I wanted it to feel like myself and the audience are old friends catching up over a drink rather than people watching a comedian on stage – so there’s a lot of me talking to the audience! I talk about all my adventures that make up being a ‘double immigrant’ like cultural stereotypes, heartbreak and the craziest pick up lines I get. I also discuss if there’s more than one eastern European stereotype, if feminism can be flexible and why I decided on including a white unicorn!
How does it feel to be performing at the Fringe?
Coming to the Fringe for the first time is quite the experience, especially as a solo artist without a team of people to help. It is physically, mentally, emotionally challenging as you need to take care of everything – between admin, going to workshops and performing in the evening. You still need to find the time to do groceries, shower and simply put your feet up and rest. It is a huge honour and privilege to be able to come here and I am taking it all in, but it takes a lot out of you. I think that there is definitely recovery time needed after the festival just to digest everything that you’ve learned and discovered.
Have you got any tips for comedians going up to the festival for the first time?
My main advice would be to be kind to yourself, cut your losses and make it clear to yourself what your priorities are for the festival. You might only discover these while you are at the festival, so give yourself the time. It took me a whole week before I started feeling like I understood what I was doing. If you are coming with someone, divide and conquer the tasks and take care of each other. Don’t feel the pressure of having to do everything and be everywhere!
Which funny women do you recommend seeing in Edinburgh this year?
I am really looking forward to watching Lara Ricote and Olga Koch and I definitely recommend seeing Whore’s Eye View by Kaytlin Bailey, it’s brilliant storytelling! Of course I’m really looking forward to seeing some of the Funny Women who have been to our Brussels show including Sharon Em and Mari Volar.
Heli Pärna: The Adventures of the White Unicorn, 7-10 and 12-17 August at 9.35pm, at theSpaceTriplex (Studio). Book tickets here.
