As we gear up for two unforgettable nights of the paranormal, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Hilary Fillier to dive deeper into her character and share what audiences can expect from this award winning show.
Can you give us a glimpse into your show—what can the audience expect, and what inspired you to bring this story to life?
ParaNorma PI came about as most of my characters do, with a question: What would it be like to be a Paranormal Private Investigator with an ironic fear of ghosts? I’m incredibly inspired by the folklore and ghost stories of my home province of Newfoundland, so I took ParaNorma home for a visit and sure enough inspiration hit. With the help of my closest friend, I quickly borrowed one of my mother’s spotless white bed sheets to create a makeshift ghost costume. With our plan set, we headed to the muddy graveyard, ready to shoot a TikTok video. That video quickly gained over 900k views and ParaNorma PI was born.
Audiences can expect a belly-aching good time! It’s absurd, relatable, and a whole lot of fun. I have an absolute blast playing this character, and I hope the audience enjoys it just as much as I do. ParaNorma PI is an exhilarating fusion of mystery, humour and the supernatural that whisks audiences away to a realm where even the most formidable demons can be vanquished with the aid of a trusty unicorn bubble gun.
You won an award at Vancouver Fringe 2023 for this very show—how long have you been developing this particular character and has anything developed since the 2023 show?
Since ParaNorma PI first debuted in 2023, the show has gone through some exciting changes. It’s an interactive experience, with the audience becoming part of the story, so every time you see ParaNorma PI, it’s a fresh and unique experience!
Here’s a not-so-secret spoiler: ParaNorma is half human, half demon—and her demon side loves the spotlight! As a female-identifying performer living in a fat body, I’m committed to promoting body diversity on stage, exploring art forms that have often excluded people in larger bodies. ParaNorma’s demon alter-ego, Lilith, is an unapologetically fat, sexy, and fiery hellion who’s confident in her body and definitely puts the “boo” in booty! Through her, I get to dive into Burlesque. The show is truly an unapologetic celebration of my fat body on stage.
What are you most excited about as you prepare to take the stage? Any special surprises or moments that you’re especially looking forward to sharing?
I’m not giving away any surprises just yet! But I will say, I’m thrilled about this run of ParaNorma PI presented by Vancouver Fringe, especially with spooky season upon us. I can’t wait to share the show with both new audiences and familiar faces. But watch out! Sometimes ParaNorma PI just takes over my body and brain. You never know what sort of mischief ParaNorma, or more likely, Lilith will get up to! I’m excited to see how they both utilize Chill X Studio to the fullest!
What do you hope audiences will take away from your show? Is there a message or feeling you’d love them to leave with?
I love doing comedy because it provides audiences with a space to forget about the outside world for a bit and just laugh. I’m a big believer that laughter can be transformative. The show touches on themes like fat phobia and self-love, and if people walk away with a new perspective on those, that’s amazing. But ultimately, if people leave having had a belly-laughing good time, that’s a win in my book!
With Halloween just around the corner, your show is the perfect mix of spooky, fun, and daring. What makes it a must-see for anyone looking for a Halloweeny night out—and why should they grab their tickets now before it’s too late?
As Halloween approaches and ghosts come out to play, it’s the perfect time for a crash course in ghost hunting from none other than ParaNorma PI herself. In this seminar for Paranormal Private Investigator trainees, you’ll learn everything you need to pull off a successful Halloween ghost hunt, including how to summon otherworldly witnesses to crack open even the most chilling cases. Throw in a tantalizing titty tassel twist from a mischievous demon, and you’ve got a one-of-a-kind Halloween experience! Get your tickets now!
Tickets for ‘ParaNorma PI‘ are on sale now, taking place at Chill X Studio October 25 & 5. Book your spot today for this Halloween treat!
