The story that poet/writer/performer Star Stone has to tell us is a difficult one: when she appeared in a YouTube reality show some years ago, she was the victim of a ‘villain edit’ that made her look… well, like a villain. 

And yet, this show was listed in comedy when our reviewer saw it, loved it, and gave it a 5/5 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last summer. 

I love it when people tackle tough topics with comedy, so I immediately pricked up my ears when I heard that she would be performing ‘Villain Era’ in London in June. 

I arranged a chat to find out more about Star, the show, and what we can do about cyberbullying. 

CM: Can you start by explaining the premise of ‘Villain Era’? What happens in the show?
SS: ‘Villain Era’ is my true story of getting cast in the YouTube reality competition show ‘Odd Man Out: Vegans Versus Meat Eaters’.

This video went viral at 17 million views, I was given the villain edit, and as a result experienced over five years of relentless cyber bullying, threats and harassment.

CM: What themes do you explore through it? 
SS: The impact of social media on our mental health, trauma and PTSD, online identity, the ethics of online reality competition shows, the villain archetype and its relationship to gender.

CM: It all sounds a bit terrible, to be honest – is it good for you to keep reliving it? Cathartic? Or not?
SS: As an artist, I am able to process my experience through art.

In this show, by speaking and sharing my story through the lens of comedy, it gives the audience permission to laugh, and if we can do that – if we don’t take it so seriously – we can heal.

I think it’s important to find humour in challenges, and also what we can learn. 

As a storyteller, I am way more interested in sharing vulnerable or challenging stories using comedy than creating trauma porn or retraumatising an audience. 

My director, Ryan Cunningham, says that “comedy is trauma plus time”. Comedy brings people together, because suddenly we are not alone. 

When I began to tell my story, it connected me with others who were able to identify with my story, and if I can use my experience to effect positive change, it’s worth it.

CM: What made you decide to make a show about this experience? Do you have a sense of wanting to raise awareness about the horrors of being demonised on the internet?
SS: The show was an opportunity to take agency and claim my story, rewrite this narrative.

This may have happened to me, but this type of situation is pervasive and it’s important to raise awareness about the dangers of cyberbullying on our mental health. 

I hope that this show sparks conversation and dialogue around solutions for cyberbullying, online harassment and safety protocols for actors who participate in online content.

CM: The internet really is a place where bullying and witch hunts thrive – do you think there’s anything we can do to stop it or at least improve things?
SS: Yes, I spoke about this recently on the Breaking Bullying Podcast: action at the federal and state level can be taken, like passing a bill. But I also believe in prevention, like courses taught in schools early on, to young adults and teens.

In the USA we grew up with a programme called DARE, to raise awareness about drugs – social media is a drug and yet we don’t have a programme yet for that, to teach the youth about the impact or side effects – and I think we should.

CM: What advice would you have to someone going through a similar scenario to the one you went through?
SS: To be honest, it’s hard to say. This situation would break anyone’s spirit, so I would say this: don’t let them. Don’t let anyone break your spirit, stay strong, don’t go away, just shine brighter. The most controversial thing you can do is to stick around.

CM: You performed this show at the Edinburgh Fringe – how did that run go from your perspective?
SS: Edinburgh is always amazing, such a rewarding experience.

CM: Can you tell us now a bit about your background in performing? What made you want to work in this industry and how did your career begin?
SS: I’ve performed my whole life and performed in musicals growing up. I majored in acting in college. 

Eventually, I began writing my own material. When I started to perform spoken word poetry that led me to write monologues.

I took a class at The Marsh with David Ford in San Francisco, where I started to develop my own solo show – at this time I had no idea what solo theatre was, but that was the beginning.  

I went to LA and studied with Jessica Lynn Johnson who directed my first solo show called ‘#MeToo’, a comedy about the wellness industry based on my true story.

CM: What aims and ambitions do you have for the future?
SS: I am passionate about speaking and sharing my story to advocate for cyber safety and the effects of social media on our mental health.

I would like to speak at colleges, universities and give a TEDx talk. My goal is to re-publish my book of poetry and also to author a book based on my show.

CM: What’s coming up next for you after this?
SS: I perform next at the RISK live show in NYC in September! 

Star Stone performs ‘Villain Era’ at the Bread & Roses Theatre on 8+9 Jun. See the venue listings here for more information and to book your tickets. 

LINKS: breadandrosestheatre.co.uk | starstonespeaks.com | instagram.com/starstonespeaks