I can’t let my alligator attack consume me
Hi there,
I’m finding that I don’t have much left over for these weekly essays at the moment - my creative energy has been spent on press and selling tickets for I Miss Amy Winehouse, plus keeping my 10-minute set alive and kicking for upcoming gigs and competitions.
It’s so nice to be able to admit that! Add on Moderna Jab 2 and I am wiped out this week! Wiiiiiiiiped out.
Please be a little patient with me. Normal service will resume soon… ish…!
Camden Fringe picks!
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Funny Femmes Triple Bill (WIP): with Charlie George, Sharlin Jahan and Alex Bertulis-Fernandes
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Weapons of Mass Hilarity: with Maria Shehata, Jenan Younis and more comics with ties to the Middle East, who are fundraising for Medical Aid for Palestinians & Shlama Foundation
Links of the week
The Look of Love by Jameel Shabazz, 1995
Why Jamel Shabazz Is New York’s Most Vital Street Photographer
This is an utterly incredible longread from Zarlasht Halaimzai, co-founder & CEO of Refugee Trauma UK. She left Afghanistan as a child with her family, and they ended up becoming refugees in London. Her piece is beautifully written, but a damning indictment of how little aftercare we have in place for refugees, who have already experienced so much trauma. We can and should do better:
Seeking asylum makes you feel self-conscious about your very existence. There is a feeling that pervades all your interactions, as if you constantly need to justify your presence. Lying there, I thought about whether I had any right to expect the police to protect me and my family and I couldn’t work it out. I didn’t yet understand racism enough to feel resentment for what was happening – I just felt shame for who we were.
What Should I Do With My White Privilege at Work?
“One aspect that many clinics don’t always fully explain is what happens after you get a new butt.”
A perfect piece of comedy writing which contains this issue’s subject line, “I can’t let my alligator attack consume me,” and the whole thing is oddly reminiscent of what it’s like to live with grief:
Oh, I’m hanging in there! I’m honestly lucky; everyone has been so great about it. Ever since this swamp monster sunk its two-and-a-half-inch long teeth into my skin, a bunch of friends have been dropping off deli sandwiches every night. It’s been so nice not to worry about dinner! I’m also taking a few days off work to pull myself back together, which is much needed.
Sorry I’ve been so weird during this alligator attack
What I’ve been up to
I’m on the latest episode of The Week Unwrapped:
#238 Pay cheques, sporting pressure and ancient plants - The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann | Podcast on Spotify
Listen to this episode from The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann on Spotify. Should we all know what our colleagues are paid? How will Olympic athletes cope with social media scrutiny? And could a strange desert plant unlock human longevity? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Kate Samuelson, Alok Jha and Suchandrika ChakrabartiSummer sale: Get your first 6 issues of The Week magazine absolutely free, along with a stylish picnic blanket. To start your free trial go to theweek.co.uk/offer now and enter the promo code SUMMER
What I’m getting up to
I’m doing a gig in Nottingham that will be streamed to the Edinburgh Fringe on 18th August - and you can watch:
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Or join us in Nottingham (very limited tickets)
Lots more comedy coming up - keep an eye on my twitter @SuchandrikaC for the latest
That’s all from me! Thank you for reading, I’ve been and continue to be Suchandrika Chakrabarti.
I plan to keep this newsletter free, but it does take time to write and curate. If you fancy buying me a Ko-fi I’d be eternally grateful, and will thank you in the next newsletter <3