1. Please tell me about your piece and the inspiration behind it – what has provoked it, what questions are you asking?
All of us at Tea Fuelled are extremely lucky, as our job gives us the chance to a do a huge amount of silly things on a daily basis. Sometimes you can catch us pretending to be orang-utans, other times we’ll be making giant prams for singing bears.
We all have to spend time doing boring adult stuff - commuting, cleaning, choosing tiles etc – but not all of us get the chance to just have fun, to act like a child, without any grown-up hassle. This lost opportunity is exactly what we offer. We want you to come play with us!
2. Please give me three words that sum up your piece
Ridiculous Pythonesque Fun.
3. Who is involved in your piece and what are their roles?
We have a fantastic cast of seven fools who rotate a bunch of absurd characters in an all new ‘ye olde’ fairytale. You’ll meet the bold hero, his fair princess, the foul witch, her confused intern and... an evil penguin.
In a not-so-silly-geek fashion we worked out that we have a total of 48 different combinations in the cast. There may even be a role for one lucky audience member, so you’re certain to see a new show every single time you watch it.
4. What is the background to your company? How did you all meet? – or - what is your background as a performer?
Tea Fuelled started when a bunch of us started chatting at university. Since then we’ve grown and developed to include a whole load of new friends, who all collaborate to create film and theatre with an emphasis on mixed styles.
8. What theatre companies or performance artists inspire you? What have you seen recently that you have raved about to your friends?
We like people who have a radical idea and follow it through, without compromise, no matter what. We dislike the idea of ‘exec boards’ filtering art into containable genres. Where would we be if people like Lynch and Murakami had given up, because someone thought they were a bit weird? We’d have a new Sex and The City film every six months and we’d be bored out of our minds.
9. There will be an element of bargaining going on between performers and audience members in Bush Bazaar – what is the best bargain you have ever got? Are you a fierce haggler?
Nah. Life’s too short.
A few years ago, we did have an absolutely awesome Yorkshire pudding at Glastonbury, though. It cost a fiver, or something, but it was worth at least ten times that!
10. What would you pay for your work?
One awesome Yorkshire pudding (or equivalent).
11. What kind of interaction are you expecting to have with your audience?
We’re going to treat them like people we’ve never met. With one difference. We’re going to act like we’re back in Nursery. We’re going to play with anyone like they’re our best friend.
Then, we’ll make them laugh solidly for 15 minutes.
19. Who would be your dream audience member and why?
Seeing as we cast members of the audience it’d be pretty sweet if Sir Ian or Dame Judi turned up. Perhaps we could teach them a thing or two. Like grammar?
20. What are you most looking forward to with Bush Bazaar?
Mucking in with everyone else and sending our evil penguin to wander around the rest of the building...
