Backstage in Biscuit Land, Soho Theatre

Backstage in Biscuit Land was an underground smash-hit at the Edinburugh Fringe Festival last year, which led to it being programmed by Battersea Arts Centre this Spring. However, the terrible fire that ripped through half of the building in January prevented this run, and Soho Theatre have now jumped to the rescue. And we’re certainly pleased they have, as this show is not only entertaining, but packs a serious punch in its exploration of attitudes to disability, particularly Tourette’s.
The performer, Jess Thom, has Tourette's syndrome, which manifests in her saying ‘biscuit’ and ‘hedgehog’, sometimes hundreds of times a day, as well as less innocent words and phrases. So, as she talks candidly about these tics to the audience, the script often veers off into flights of fancy and word association. If you like improvised theatre then this is the 3D version, where even the performer herself doesn’t know what’s coming next! An uproarious night out, accompanied by rare insight into the experience of someone with Tourette’s, this show deserves our attention.