Krishna Istha is a performer, live artist and theatre maker. Their performance work looks at gender politics and queer culture using subversive text, cabaret and comedy.
Krishna has performed at Southbank Centre, the Soho, National, and Arcola Theatres, the Pleasance, the Victoria and Albert Museum (all London); the Latitude U.K., Edinburgh Fringe and Sydney Festivals; Anton Arts Centre, La Mama , Skirball Centre (all New York), Sophiensaele Berlin, and the Malthouse Theatre Melbourne.
In 2015, Krishna was named as ‘One to watch’ on the Rainbow List 2015 (the annual celebration of the 100 most influential LGBT+ people in the UK).
For such a young artist, Krishna boasts a rich and diverse portfolio of experience as a performing artist and writer. Here we’ve collected a scrapbook videos, articles and other snapshots of their work, which informs Beast.
Show Program: Beast
The show program from Beast‘s debut season in 2019 includes a writer’s note and additional credits.
Article: Beauty Is The Beast
“I’ve always shunned gender roles: I’m not a woman, and I never want to be a man, and yet I have this colossal need to be both.”
Review: Wild Bore
“‘Surprise performer’ Krishna Istha is just the most wonderful gift to this show. I didn’t know what I wanted for Christmas, but it’s Istha popping up two thirds through every show with their pokerfaced puckish critique.”
Video: Casting Kanchi
A video artwork featuring Krishna by Michelle Williams Gamaker in which candidates had to introduce themselves to an anonymous reader, recite some text referencing the history of gender politics and read lines from a script whilst seated and standing.
Video: Performance
A clip of some of Krishna’s performance art, performing with Travis Alabanza.
Learn and see more about Krishna’s diverse, adventurous career and work at their website krishnaistha.com