BURNT OUT IN BISCUIT LAND

Presented by Touretteshero, The Old Courts and the Collaborative Touring Network, in association with Jumped Up Theatre

Age 14+
Dates: Wednesday 14th June (BSL Interpreted) & Thursday 15th June 2023
Location: Key Theatre, Embankment Rd, Peterborough PE1 1EF

ABOUT BURNT OUT IN BISCUIT LAND

A show by disabled people about our right to exist.

While the world outside is in chaos, three neurodiverse inhabitants of an apocalyptic bunker grapple with questions of isolation, resistance, and joy. A live experience blending live performance, film and conversation.

The follow up to their smash-hit productions ‘Backstage in Biscuit Land’ and ‘Not I’ by Samuel Beckett Touretteshero’s latest show blends live performance and film, featuring writer, artist, and activist Jess Thom.

ABOUT TOURETTESHERO

Founded in 2010, Touretteshero is a disabled-led arts organisation. Using Tourettes syndrome as a catalyst, our mission is to create an inclusive and socially just world for disabled and non-disabled people through our cultural practice.

 
““Funny, utterly joyous, artful and political too.” ”
— Lyn Gardner, The Guardian, Review of Touretteshero's Brewing in the Basement
 
““Cathartic, inclusive and political” ”
— Natasha Tripney, The Stage, Review of Touretteshero's Not I by Samuel Beckett

image Credit: Ro Murphy

CREDITS

With performances by Jess Thom, Jess Mabel Jones and Charmaine Wombwell.

Co-directed by Ria Parry and Matthew Pountney.

Co-written by Jess Thom, Matthew Pountney, Ria Parry, Jess Mabel Jones and Charmaine Wombwell.

Designed by Ben Pacey. 

Technical stage management by Erik Perera. 

Produced by Rosie Scudder.

Supported by public funding through Arts Council England.

 

ACCESS

All performances were livestreamed, so the audience could either experience the show at the venue, or online at home.

All performances were relaxed, captioned in English, had audio description built in, and had COVID-related access provisions in place.

Further access resources will be available soon including a Visual Story, Content Notices and Relaxed Performance Overview. Information on specific COVID-related access provisions and a sonic story were available in advance of the show. If you would like more information about the show and the venue download more information below:

image Credit: Daniel Gable photography

The event also included the premiere of HERE:NOW, a new piece of work by local artist Jenna Unwin

Jenna is a self-identifying neurodiverse dance and theatre artist based in the rural East of England. She is a trained Contemporary dancer with dyspraxia; a neurotype which affects memory, coordination, cognitive processing and movements.

For this micro-commission, Jenna explored identity, isolation, feminism, failure and triumph, through self-reflection and connecting with others. She interviewed local people about their life experiences that have tested them, changed them and helped form them.

Jenna creatively told these stories through movement, text, choreography and film together in a truly dyspraxic fashion. A collection of voices told through one body. An extreme metamorphosis.




 

Part of the Collaborative Touring Network

In 2023, the Collaborative Touring Network partnered with acclaimed disabled-led arts company Touretteshero – to develop and tour a new live and digital performance ‘Burnt Out in Biscuit Land’.

Jess Thom, co-artistic of Touretteshero said: “This has been an exceptionally hard time for disabled artists who have had to find new ways to safely create and share their work in a world impacted by COVID-19. I feel excited and optimistic to be working with the Collaborative Touring Network on this new project, and about the opportunity it offers to develop new ways of making and touring work that centres disability arts in a kind and sustainable way.” 

‘Burnt Out in Biscuit Land’ is the follow-up to Touretteshero’s smash hit ‘Backstage in Biscuit Land’. Almost a decade on, Jess and the creative team grapple with their changing impairments, identities, and politics. At a time when the world is deep in chaos, the neurodiverse inhabitants of Biscuit Land are making more sense than ever before. 

The Collaborative Touring Network was on a long-term, collective mission to make each of our towns and cities a better place to be through arts and culture. The network included The Old Courts (Wigan), Doorstep Arts (Torbay), Jumped Up  (Peterborough) Looping the Loop (Thanet), ARCADE (Scarborough & Bridlington) and GL4 (Gloucester).