I Dream in Colour: Blind artist brings show to Edinburgh Fringe
A black and white portrait of Jasmine, partially illuminated by a rainbow light flare.
A visually impaired performer and artist will be bringing her one-woman show to the Edinburgh Fringe this August for the first time.
Jasmine Thien was just a child when she had one eye removed due to cancer. Twenty years later, she faced the decision to remove her remaining eye, or risk developing cancer a second time.
“I want to make it clear that I don’t speak for the blind community,” Jasmine says. “Neither do I speak for the Chinese community, or the immigrant community- I can only speak for my own experiences. But I want people to think about what it means to live this life, which is often under-represented in theatre.”
Speaking to sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, she adds, “I know how rare it is to see stories like mine on stage, and I want this show to open up conversations around disability, identity, and cultural expectations.”
Developed gradually over her career, Jasmine’s show ‘I Dream in Colour’ is a semi-autobiographical performance that combines the power of storytelling, poetry and comedy to explore memory, loss, and the intersection between disability and immigrant culture.
“This show is inspired by the choice I made in the summer of 2023 to surgically remove my one remaining eye, which my parents fought all my childhood to keep. My character Sophie’s journey from childhood and young adulthood is also inspired by my own memories and experiences,” she says.
“I like to think that in spite of the niche subject matter, everyone can find something to relate to in the show. The disabled community will recognise the relentless challenges of moving through the world with a disability. Women will identify with the constant fight to claim our bodily autonomy. The BESEA (British East and Southeast Asian) community will find something in the relationship between Sophie and her no-nonsense Chinese parents.
“Everybody else will see themselves in the young adult trying to figure out how to navigate friendships, relationships and sex in the 21st century.”
And what does Jasmine hope is next?
“I cannot wait for I Dream in Colour to have a future post-Edinburgh Fringe. I envision us going on a national and international tour, being adapted into a radio drama, and the dream would be to adapt it for TV as well.”
Don’t miss the opportunity to see Jasmine’s show ‘I Dream in Colour’ at Venue 302, Friesian at Underbelly, Bristo Square, 14:20-15:20 from 30 July – 24 August. Tickets available online.
