By Marysia Trembecka
“Have I run off and joined the circus?” That thought keeps flashing through my head as I pack my feather boas, parasol of prophecy, and sequins into my touring suitcase. I’m Marysia Trembecka, a London-based cabaret artiste, and I’m currently in Canada performing The Singing Psychic Game Show as part of a two-month Fringe circuit. From sold-out Toronto shows to prepping for a larger venue in Winnipeg before heading west to Saskatoon and Edmonton (then on to Gothenburg, Sweden), this whirlwind tour is proof that dreams, glitter, and spreadsheets do coexist.
What many don’t know is that this sparkly cabaret life is actually my second career. My first was as a government bond trader in London’s financial district — quite literally, the opposite of what I do now. I spent five years on a City trading floor, one of just five women among 800 men dealing in the markets. It was an intense, alpha-driven world where egos loomed large, I ended up becoming a bit of an ice maiden. You have to be really strong in that environment, you have to rise and confidently meet that energy, or you’re seen as weak. Such self belief and calmness under pressure I have learnt is very useful as a theatre-maker.
I even wore glasses occasionally, despite perfect vision — not for reading data, but as costume. I’ve always understood that our outfits are performance tools, whether you’re a clown or a corporate player. We all are playing a part with our clothes to tell a story, that what we wear day to day is a costume, I always have had fun with that.
But by 26, I knew I needed a change. I asked myself: “Is this my life forever?” I wanted creativity, connection, and something more fulfilling. So I retrained as an actor and musician, and stepped into the world of performance. That journey led me from black suits and trading screens to cabaret nights, red carpets, washing machine ads, and one-woman shows.
Yes, washing machine ads — and indeed fridge freezer ads, a long modelling contract for Indesit helped me fund the development of The Singing Psychic, one of the characters who now tours with me across continents. She’s a larger-than-life creation who “reads” the songs in your heart and occasionally the energy of buildings too (watch out, Canadian architecture — your moment is coming).
The original Singing Psychic show was a coming-of-age story, exploring themes of intuition, self-belief, and embracing who you truly are, even if your family doesn’t quite get it. After success at Edinburgh Fringe 2016 (including a Funny Women Best Show nomination), I realised audiences wanted even more interaction with the ‘Bonkers (but in a good way)’ ***** psychic (my favourite review). So I created The Singing Psychic Game Show — a glitzy, 70s-inspired experience filled with music, prizes, and joyful chaos. The game-show version has taken me around the UK, across Europe, a Tedx Talk to a sell out Adelaide Fringe run, and most recently to the 2024 Montreal Fringe, where I was thrilled to be nominated for both Outstanding Comedy (English) and the Prix de Créativité.
There are, surprisingly, many parallels between being a trader and being a performer. Both involve confidence, improvisation, and being utterly present in the moment. Selling a bond and selling a joke on stage require the same instant read of your audience — or market. And just like the City, touring theatre demands serious business skills. From tax logistics and visa headaches to hauling props across airports and mastering budgets, the admin behind the artistry is relentless.
That’s why, later this year, I’m launching a series called Get Your Art in Gear with talks and resources for artists to better handle the business side of their creative lives. I’ll be giving a free talk on it at Winnipeg Fringe on July 20, and again at Gothenburg Fringe in September, with more venues to come
As for the glamour? It’s not all yachts in Cannes (though I do attend the Film Festival annually and fall on and off the occasional boat). It’s also dragging your own game show through airport security, realising your two-metre Wheel of Fortune doesn’t fit in carry-on, and juggling hotel Wi-Fi to send out press releases between shows.
I’ve been lucky to perform in some incredible places — the Royal Festival Hall in London (where I’ve sung in over 18 languages), the Brit Awards, and arts festivals across the globe. I also have another show, Queen Of The F-king World* — a fierce, feminist and proudly LGBTQI work funded by Arts Council England that dives into sexual politics and societal expectations.
But The Singing Psychic remains a character close to my heart — in many ways, a ‘bio queen’ version of myself, full of warmth, wisdom, absurdity and glitter. And with this Canadian tour, I’m capturing parts of it on film. Yes, there’s a docu-comedy project in pre-production as I travel westward, exploring Canadian venues, landscapes and the connections forged through song and shared laughter.
What keeps me going? The joy of creating something from nothing, the thrill of making an audience laugh, sing and feel seen. I may no longer be reading the bond markets, but I’m still reading energy — just now it’s the music pulsing through people’s hearts.
So if you see a woman with a sparkly parasol of prophecy talking to buildings in Toronto or a tree in Edmonton, come say hi. You might just find out what song your heart is singing (and yes there is a button and a sticker available).
The Singing Psychic Game Show continues at Soulpepper’s Weyni Mengesha (formerly Tank House) Theatre until July 13, 2025. Tickets are available on fringetoronto.com.
Connect with Marysia on YouTube, The Singing Psychic Podcast, singingpsychic.tv, Instagram and Facebook.
© Marysia Trembecka, Sesaya Arts Magazine 2025
