“It’s given me a new way to think about some of the questions I was asking, who gets to be seen, why and how?” she says of the show’s impact. “Who gets to decide who’s included and do they even want to be included to begin with?”

Written and performed by Ginader, Canadian Psycho takes a humorous look at the public’s fascination with entertainment content about serial killers, both real and fictional.

Bizarre standards

Through satire, Ginader explores how the audience’s appetite for horror turns serial killers into hit shows and media sensations – while pointing to a contradiction. Like many others during the pandemic, the playwright was watching “true crime” shows, following stories of real-life serial killers.

She recalls being aware of the disturbing logic behind the phenomenon and decided to use the contradiction as a starting point for a satirical piece.

“I’ll never get over the amount of serial killer content that gets made and that white men can become celebrities even for doing the worst things imaginable – it’s just terrible!” she says. “I wanted to see what would happen if I flipped those bizarre standards and played with the biases we have around them.”

Ginader saw an opportunity to engage with conversations about representation and diversity. Despite Hollywood’s efforts to diversify its casts and creative teams, the figure of the serial killer remains conceptualized as a white man.

“I’m mixed-race, Canadian American, and an actor,” she says, noting her “perceived identity” has always factored into her professional opportunities. “I had a lot more to say about it than I realized.”

Out of these explorations came Canadian Psycho: Ginader sets out to reclaim the spotlight from American serial killers by reimagining what it would mean for her to become a “Canadian psycho.”

Seen and centred

Ginader is curious to see what audiences – unprompted – will take from the show. She invites them to reflect on the stereotypes embedded in crime stories – and on what it might mean to imagine a “Canadian” version of infamous serial killers.

“I think it’s so funny how many titles have ‘American’ in them: ‘American Nightmare,’ ‘American Crime Story,’ ‘American Horror Story,’ ‘American Beauty,’ ‘American Psycho,’” she adds that the word ‘Canadian’ has just as much relevance. “I’ll leave it to the audience to decide how much relevance that is.”

Drawing on a wide creative palette – from video design and original electronic music to movement – Ginader blends multiple disciplines to bring her show to life.

She adds that the project took shape through an open creative process.

“This piece really came together in a non-linear way, which is new for me and very satisfying,” she explains.

Early ideas were explored through Boca del Lupo’s SLaM program, and then, during a residency at the Banff Playwrights Lab. It was in Banff that Ginader first connected with the show’s director and dramaturg Jenna Rodgers.

“I was writing scenes, recording songs, editing videos – basically using any creative impulse I had just to see what was there and say what I needed to say,” she recalls of the early process. “We’ve been developing and refining those things over the past few years, and it’s become something completely different.”

While some of these “early creative rabbit holes” aren’t included in the current show, the playwright recognizes their significance. She’s also grateful to be working with two production partners – Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (vAct) and ITSAZOO Productions.

For Ginader, being able to reflect on diversity, representation and contradictions – experiences that happen daily – in this “heightened way” has been “oddly confronting.”

“It’s also a very silly show,” the playwright adds. “I hope people have a good time!”

For more information on Canadian Psycho, see www.firehallartscentre.ca/event/canadian-psycho