Tina T'urner Tea Lady and Friends comes to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Name: Tracey Collins
Name of Edinburgh show: Tina T’urner Tea lady and Friends
Venue: Frankenstein Pub– Bier Keller
Performance time: 2.30pm
Show length: 1 hour
Ticket price: Free! (Donate at the end)

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your performing background?
I love experimenting as a performer and im fascinated by the relationship between the artist and the audience. I started performing as a young actress in youth theatre, then I got heavily into music and made a pop album in Norway. After that I sang in rock bands and as a piano sprawler in cabaret clubs. In 2012 I created my act Tina T’urner Tea Lady, a musical comedy character which ive been performing for the past six years.

Tell me about your show, what it is all about?
Im returning to The Fringe with a character comedy show featuring Tina T’urner Tea Lady and her unhinged friends including the melodramatic Audrey Heartburn, Milk Jagger and hair brush wielding Flo. Each character is either longing for/ looking back at their glory days, or living them right now. It’s a fast-paced hour featuring simply the best tea, tears, milk and music.

How long have you been working on this show and what is it that makes it relevant to audiences in 2018?
Ive been performing a full hour of Tina for a few years, but she needed other characters to share the madness with. So I began writing new characters. Last year I performed Audrey, Mick and Flo together and ive been working on building them all into an hour ever since. I have no idea if its relevant to audiences in 2018! Its very silly and surreal, so its a chance to connect with the inner child for an hour, let yourself and your imagination go and switch off from the real world and all its stresses.

Do you have any top tips for surviving the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – both for performers and visitors to the event?
For performers I would say find a balance between your work and time out. Have time to yourself to recharge. It’s a very personal experience so don’t compare yourself to others. Keep improving your show as you go, it doesn’t need to be perfect, you can use the month to learn and grow as a writer and performer. Oh and use echinacea and honey spray for your voice.

For visitors I would say, pack a brolly, see things you wouldn’t usually watch and be spontaneous- have a plan but also be open to throwing it away if the moment takes you somewhere else. Also join in, if a show requires your energy- what you give, you’ll get back x 100.

What has been the funniest or most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?
My characters are so different to my own personality. This is freeing at times, but there have been moments where its been rather embarrassing when I come out of character and back into the real world. I broke a man’s glasses dancing on him once, he didn’t mind, but I was mortified afterwards!

Who are your biggest inspirations in the industry and why?
Caroline Aherne for her writing, Andy Kaufman for his free spirit and imagination and The League of Gentleman for their amazing characters and ideas.

Do you have any pre-show rituals?
A cuppa of course! Then I like to do things in order: Makeup, costume, wig, warm up voice. Then, just before I go onstage, I hunch my back and run around so that im out of breath as I hobble on.

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at Edinburgh Fringe?
Brian Gittins, Will Andrews, Bisha K Ali and Kemah Bob, Jayde Adams, The Establishment, so many more!

Why do you think people should come and see your show over the thousands of others on at the fringe?
Its unique, uplifting, high octane and theres a chance of a free cuppa!

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