The Kingston Grand Theatre is producing the World Premiere of Sophia Fabiilli’s latest work, Why it’s imPossible. A complex work about parenting, finding yourself, and the delicate relationship between parent and child, Why it’s imPossible will bring you laugter and tears in equal meaure. I got to ask Sophia about her inspiration for this play, the 2SLGBTQIA+ issues it tackles, and much more in the following interview!
- Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and talk a bit about your role with Why It’s i̶m̶Possible?
I’m Sophia Fabiilli and I’m the playwright and co-producer of Why It’s i̶m̶Possible. We’ve had a very collaborative process. Myself and my fellow co-producer Zoë Sweet and our colleague Sarah Kitz helped craft the story together, and then I went away and wrote the (many!) drafts of the script since then. Zoë’s and my roles as co-producers involve everything from securing grant funding, to hiring the team, managing the budget, and so forth. In the last 24hrs as a producer, I helped finish our show program, I bought muffler tape and paint brushes, and I booked a lunch of Syrian food for 10 people to help keep the team going through our long tech days! It’s a little bit of everything.
- Where did you find your inspiration for Why It’s i̶m̶Possible?
Our inspiration for this play stemmed from long conversations that Zoë, Sarah, and I had about what kind of theatre we wanted to make and see on stage. Zoë and Sarah both have small kids and one of the big questions we kept coming back to is how do you support a child through their exploration of their gender identity? In order to dig into this topic with care and authenticity, we worked closely with a group of phenomenal trans folks and advocates from TransFamily Kingston (a local support group for families of trans children here in Kingston) who have helped us research and given on-going feedback on the script. We also have a brilliant team that includes queer and gender nonconforming voices who have given vital feedback on the script throughout its development. The process has been deeply collaborative, and I want to credit where it’s due: I could not have written this play alone. It’s the result of four years of collaboration with many helping hands.
- Your play discusses some very timely 2SLGBTQIA+ issues! What is it about the notions of gender and identity which made you want to include it in this play?
I teach high school and many of my students are so open-minded about gender. I actually feel a little envious that I didn’t grow up with that kind of openness. But at the same time, there is so much contention about gender and trans rights. And, unfortunately these issues have only become more contentious in the last several years as we’ve been working on this play. Spoiler alert, the play offers no easy answers to any of these questions! But, I think what it does do is show a character who 100% loves and accepts her kid, but is struggling with how to help their child navigate the challenges of an uncertain world.
- Societal pressures, particularly on parents, can be absolutely wild. What is the worst piece of advice for a parent have you been given (asked or unasked for)?
I am not a parent (yet!), but as a teacher I have had some interesting interactions with parents. On more than one occasion, I’ve been asked for parenting advice and I always find that surprising. But, I think this points to a disconnection between parent and child which — to a certain extent — is normal during those teenage years but is still painful. The disconnect between parent and child and the idea that, as a parent, you have to let go of expectations of who your child is and will be are cornerstones explored in the script.
- Do you have any other projects coming up which you’re excited about?
After we wrap up the production, the show is travelling up to Ottawa in early 2025 to be a part of the Great Canadian Theatre Company’s season, so I’m looking forward to that! I’m also very grateful to have been granted a residency at the Tett Centre here in Kingston. So, for the remainder of the year, I’ll have access to a studio where I can go to write. I’m genuinely looking forward to some quiet time to start a new project.
I want to thank Sophia for taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions. Why it’s imPossible runs September 19-29 at the Kingston Grand Theatre. For more information and tickets, visit: Why It’s imPossible | Kingston Grand Theatre
Thank you to my Patrons:
N. Bushnik, B. Kinnon, D. Moyes
And to my supporters who’ve bought me a coffee:
Angelica and Paul, Anonymous, Adrianna, and Caitlin
Would you like to become a Patron? Check out my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/AViewfromtheBox
Or, you can buy me a coffee at: buymeacoffee.com/aviewfromthebox
A View from the Box 