In this intimate episode of The Sound of Listening, Fi sits down with solo performer and playwright Lauren Harris to talk about her newest work, Have Fun Kids, a theatrical piece created in memory of her dear friend Jordan, who died by suicide just before the pandemic. What follows is a layered conversation about grief, remembrance, choice, and the beauty of unfinished art.
“I’m trying my best to bring that intimacy—even though it’s not just one-on-one.”
“It’s about grief. It’s about the loss of my friend. The fragile act of remembering.”
“The biggest act of love you can do for another person is to actually just do the action—even if it’s difficult.”
“People with hope often reach out. The ones you worry about are the ones who don’t.”
“Procrastination is the best form of suicide prevention.”
“This might actually have been a form of release for him. And that’s so hard to sit with.”
🪶 Fi and Lauren explore:
What it means to be the one left behind.
How Lauren navigated permission, ethics, and legacy with Jordan’s family.
The tension between sacredness and destruction in the creative process.
The blurry line between honoring someone’s story and interpreting it through your own lens.
💡 4 Actions You Can Take After Listening:
Check in with the quiet ones. Sometimes the people not reaching out are the ones most in need of care. Text someone who’s gone quiet.
Start your own “Dash Book.” What would you want others to find if you were gone? Begin collecting your unfinished thoughts, letters, or art in one place.
Sit with the discomfort. There may not be an answer or a reason that satisfies. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed to grieve well. It means you're present.
Honor someone’s legacy by sharing their story. Whether it’s a friend, a mentor, or someone who shaped you—tell someone else about them today.
🎭 Have Fun Kids premieres at the Next Stage Theatre Festival in Toronto, July 2–13. You can learn more or support the project at fringetoronto.com.
Laura Anne Harris is a writer/performer/director, born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia. She received her BFA in Theatre - Acting Specialty and in 2020 a MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. Her works have been performed in Lancaster, PA, Orlando, Toronto, Bangkok, and New York City.
Laura's most recent solo show, Destiny, USA, toured the Canadian Fringe circuit to Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Victoria, and Vancouver Fringe festivals. In 2019, Destiny, USA was listed as one of the best shows by Fresh Sheet, headed by Vancouver critic Colin Thomas. In March 2020, Destiny, USA, was part of Victoria's Belfry Theatre Spark Festival season and performed a digital performance through the Canada Performs series hosted by the National Theatre of Canada. In February 2022, she was privileged to be part of Pi Theatre's Provocateur Series, and in September 2023, she performed at the Sunset Theatre in Wells, BC. This summer she will be premiering her newest solo show, Have Fun Kids at the Next Stage Theatre Festival produced by the Toronto Fringe in Toronto, Ontario.
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