Krishna Istha
{{Short description|Indian comedian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Krishna Istha
| image = Krishna_Istha_Barcelona_2024.jpg
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| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|25|2019|10|09}}
| birth_place = Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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| occupation = Comedian, writer, performance artist
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| website = {{URL|krishnaistha.com}}
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Krishna Istha (born {{birth based on age as of date|25|2019|10|09|noage=1|slash=y}}){{cite web |last1=Bridgeman |first1=Laura |last2=Istha |first2=Krishna |title=A Butch Dandy & A Trans Man Get Real About The Intersection Of Their Identities |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/butch-trans-l-with-the-t |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=Refinery29 |date=9 October 2019}} is a comedian, writer, and performance artist based in London.{{cite news |last1=Lawes |first1=Ruth |title=Trans artist trying to conceive baby among winners of Netflix documentary fund |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/06/13/trans-artist-trying-to-conceive-among-winners-of-netflix-doc-fund-18940776/ |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=MetroUK |date=13 June 2023}} They have performed across the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and the United States of America.
Early life and influences
Istha, who is of Indian descent, is originally from Bangalore.{{cite news |last1=Codling |first1=Lauren |title=LGBTQ+ performer Krishna Istha talks life and comedy |url=https://www.easterneye.biz/lgbtq-performer-krishna-istha-talks-life-and-comedy/ |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=Eastern Eye |date=3 July 2019}} They grew up in Sydney.
Istha first became interested in stand-up comedy after seeing performances by Zoë Coombs Marr and Hannah Gadsby. This experience broadened their perspective on the potential of stand-up comedy and its inclusivity. Growing up, Istha recalls being a "goofy" child, often engaging in performances to make others laugh.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-11 |title=Exclusive Interview: performance artist Krishna Istha on Hannah Gadsby's Gender Agenda Netflix special "I realized what I was doing was actually stand-up comedy" |url=https://thequeerreview.com/2024/03/11/interview-krishna-istha-on-hannah-gadsbys-gender-agenda-netflix-comedy-special/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=The Queer Review |language=en-US}}
Career
Since 2013, Krishna Istha has been involved in various artistic endeavors across theatre, opera, comedy, and performance art.{{Cite web |title=Krishna Istha |url=https://www.wheelercentre.com/people/krishna-istha/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=The Wheeler Centre |language=en-AU}}
Istha’s first solo show, Beast, directed by Zoë Coombs Marr, is a stand-up comedy piece that reflects on their experience being transgender.{{cite web |title=Krishna Istha |url=https://www.artsadmin.co.uk/profiles/krishna-istha/ |website=Artsadmin |access-date=16 February 2024}} They've also been part of Fck Fabulous*, a variety show by Yana Alana{{Cite web |date=2021-04-18 |title=F*ck Fabulous Is Anti-Glamour, Neo-Punk, Says Sarah Ward |url=https://www.starobserver.com.au/artsentertainment/scene-events/fuck-fabulous-is-anti-glamour-neo-punk-says-sarah-ward/202361 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Star Observer |language=en-US}} and have collaborated on a play with Travis Alabanza and Emma Frankland for a company of young trans actors.
In 2017, Istha helped establish the Australian chapter of the Cocoa Butter Club, alongside Dani Boi. The cabaret and performance night showcases and celebrates Indigenous and performers of colour, with events running quarterly at the Melba Spiegeltent in Melbourne. The Cocoa Butter Club Australia also staged a sold-out show at Arts Centre Melbourne as part of the Midsumma Festival in 2018.{{Cite news |title=This Midsumma comedy show is searching for non-toxic masculinity |newspaper=Time Out Melbourne |url=https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/news/this-midsumma-comedy-show-is-searching-for-non-toxic-masculinity-011819 |last1=Russell |first1=Stephen A. }}
In 2020, Istha was awarded a bursary from Artsadmin to support their artistic work.{{cite web |title=Artists' Bursary Scheme |url=https://www.artsadmin.co.uk/project/artists-bursary-scheme/ |website=Artsadmin |access-date=16 February 2024}}
Istha wrote for season 4 of the Netflix series Sex Education, which was released in 2023.{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Jack |title=How the writers of Sex Education got queer and trans representation right for season 4 |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/sex-education-season-4-trans-representation |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=GQ |date=22 September 2023}}
In 2023, Istha won a grant from Arts Council England to produce their show, First Trimester,{{cite news |last1=Chudy |first1=Emily |title=Trans Sex Education writer to stage new show seeking sperm donor from audience |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/23/trans-sex-education-writernew-show-sperm-donor/ |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=PinkNews |date=23 October 2023}} which was performed at Battersea Arts Centre. This performance explored their journey to start a family as a transmasculine person with their partner. The show featured intimate live interviews between Istha and participants in search of a suitable sperm donor,{{cite news |title=Writer and performer Krishna Istha chats about First Trimester, Battersea Arts Centre 1 – 11 November. |url=https://www.qxmagazine.com/2023/11/writer-and-performer-krishna-istha-chats-about-first-trimester-battersea-arts-centre-1-11-november/ |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=QX Magazine |date=6 November 2023}} focusing on qualities beyond genetics. The performance was also the subject of the documentary short film Sperm Donors Wanted!, directed by Logan Rea, with the help of a Netflix Documentary Talent Fund.
In March 2024, Istha appeared in a Netflix comedy special, Hannah Gadsby's Gender Agenda, hosted by Hannah Gadsby and also featuring fellow genderqueer comedians Alok, Chloe Petts, DeAnne Smith, Jes Tom, Asha Ward, and Mx. Dahlia Belle.{{cite news |last1=Hailu |first1=Selome |title=Hannah Gadsby's Netflix Special 'Gender Agenda' Sets Lineup of Genderqueer Comedians: Jes Tom, Alok and More (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/hannah-gadsby-netflix-special-gender-agenda-queer-comedy-1235907944/ |access-date=12 February 2024 |work=Variety |date=12 February 2024}}
Personal life
Istha is non-binary and transmasculine,{{cite news |last1=Wratten |first1=Marcus |title=How Sex Education season 4 became one of the best examples of trans+ representation in TV history |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/09/24/sex-education-season-4-trans-representation-cal-abbi-roman/ |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=PinkNews |date=24 September 2023}} and goes by they/them pronouns.{{cite news |last1=Crosara |first1=Nic |title=Sex Education writer on telling authentic trans stories |url=https://diva-magazine.com/2023/09/21/sex-education-writer-on-telling-authentic-trans-stories/ |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=Diva |date=21 September 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|krishnaistha.com}}
- {{instagram|krishnaistha}}
- {{IMDb name|nm7564027}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Istha, Krishna}}
Category:Actors from Bengaluru
Category:British people of Indian descent
Category:Entertainers from London
Category:LGBTQ people from London