Jay Northcott: killing Kylie Jenner and making audiences gag

20 May 2024 - Photos courtesy of Jay Northcott 

Jay Northcott has a wildly eclectic resumé including theatre, film, reality TV, education, activism and drag. They also have a robust internet presence combined with a healthy wariness of that particular medium. Combining all of those with their continuing mission to forefront the work of queer BIPOC artists, makes them the perfect choice to tackle directing Jasmine Lee-Jones ambitious, brilliant and original, seven methods of killing kylie jenner. They managed to find time to answer a few questions about themselves and the play.

Drew Rowsome: What drew you to the script of seven methods of killing kylie jenner?

Jay Northcott: The memes are written into the script which I loved. I am always looking for newness and nowness in scripts and that’s what I experienced the first time I read this script.

What do you hope audiences will take from your vision of seven methods of killing kylie jenner?

Jay Northcott: That theatre can take risks. The story really resonates with the internet generations, it tells a story that connects to the reality of living in todays world of wanting to be seen and heard. 

How does your reality TV experience prepare you for directing a show referencing reality TV royalty?

Jay Northcott: I experienced a lot of hate coming off of Big Brother Canada, a lot of love as well, but it’s hard to see the love sometimes. I think my experience with that prepared me to tell this story. Reality TV has always been seen as low art but I learned a lot about myself and my art practice through it.

As a renaissance person, where does directing fit into your artistic ambitions?

Jay Northcott: Directing is my life, I directed Girls!Girls!Girls! By Greg MacArthur in 2015 and I was hooked. I don’t think there is anything else I would want to do. Theatre and performance art is my favourite medium to direct, I do enjoy acting for film and tv though.

Have you ever gone a Twitter rampage? What either triggered it or would trigger a rampage?

Jay Northcott: I have been on many Twitter rampages lol. But I like to leave those in the past. Me and Twitter are not friends anymore TBH.

Celebrity culture is so pervasive, one of your bios references your “post-Britney2007 (after she shaved her hair off) aesthetic.” Has that changed with Britney’s new aesthetic? Do you have a new celebrity inspiration and who is it?

Jay Northcott: My aesthetic is constantly inspired by pop culture. I am very interested in how it changes us without us even knowing. Right now one icon I take a lot of inspiration from is Doja Cat. She is a child of the internet like me and I love how she challenges the status quo.

Why do you think that we have any interest in Kylie Jenner and her ilk? Which of the seven methods would you recommend?

Jay Northcott: I have never understood the obsession with the Kardashians but I love the Real Housewives, especially Salt Lake and Atlanta. I think it’s because I saw the fakeness and the mask of who and how the Kardashians were created, I think that fascinates a lot of people though. My favourite method in this show is death by skinning, so I can wear her skin and live a day in white face.

There is a blackout night for seven methods of killing kylie jenner. What is your opinion on their necessity?

Jay Northcott: Blackout nights were created by Jeremy O Harris for a show called Slave Play. I think they are crucial to black people coming to theatre. Know that we have made something for ourselves.

As frustrating as it is that we still need gender and pronoun sensitivity consulting, how did you get into that line of work? Is it possible to distill what you teach into a short pithy paragraph?

Jay Northcott: I teach JEDDI (Justice, Equity, Decolonization, Indigenization and Inclusion). I'm a trainer for customer facing businesses that interact with new clients on a daily basis. I work on developing a personalized and individual program for each company to create safer spaces for queer, trans and non-binary customers. It is also a training model that breaks down the fear of messing up, I create spaces for people to ask questions without judgement and with compassion.

How do you reconcile the exuberant personality needed for Family Feud or Big Brother to the intensity needed to, as all your bios state, advocate for BIPOC queer artists? Where does humour fit into your arsenal?

Jay Northcott: You can be political and funny. Like this play, we have to be able to both, honour where we have come from and also point and laugh at it.

Has your drag alter ego Rosé Parks auditioned for Canada’s Drag Race?

Jay Northcott: Rosè has be on the back burner, but she is coming back June 1 for Thirst Nation: Quench event at the Textile Museum [textilemuseum.ca/event/thirst-nation-quench]. I would love to do a show like Drag Race but I think I would have to start stretching again

Sex with Kim Kardashian skyrocketed Pete Davidson’s career. Dating Kylie Jenner threatens to kill Timothee Chalamet’s career. How do you think directing seven methods of killing kylie jenner will affect your career?

Jay Northcott: My last show with Obsidian and Crows Theatre was canceled due to the pandemic. This show is kind of my "Hello Toronto, I’m here. This is the art I create." This show feels like the most me I have ever been able to create. My hope is everyone will hire me after this, we have put so much work into this show and I honestly have never been so proud of something in my life. It has given me so much confidence, its my time to take over theatre in Canada. Y'all are going to gag.