Backstage in Biscuit Land was a big hit at last year’s Edinburgh Festival so it’s with great anticipation that we welcome Jess Thom and her biscuit-based world to Bedford. You can catch the show at the Quarry Theatre on 22nd March and we were thrilled to have the chance to email the star of the show with some burning biscuit-y based questions:
Bedford Clanger: What did you want to be when you grew up? As someone with Tourettes did you feel that your options were limited or did those around you help you feel the world was your oyster?
Jess Thom: I’ve wanted to be an artist ever since going on a school trip to the Tate Gallery when I was about seven and meeting an actual artist. I thought about a number of other professions too including: nurse, farmer and sweet shop owner.
When I was growing up my tics were milder than they are now. I did I find learning difficult though, and sometimes comments from adults around me would impact on my expectations. There are very few jobs I couldn’t do because of Tourettes but I might need to do some of them differently.
BC: What are your experiences of people’s reaction to your condition?
JT: Anything I’ve ever known can become a vocal tic and what I say doesn’t usually relate to what I’m thinking. I say biscuit about 16,000 a day, but I don’t think about them nearly as much as I talk about them. In addition to making involuntary noises I have many motor tics (involuntary movements) and these have quite a big impact on my life.
People’s reactions to tics can be quite unpredictable; most people respond with understanding, but some respond more negatively.
I would always encourage someone to ask me about my tics rather than make assumptions.
BC: You are definitely the poster-girl for Tourettes! Do you feel a responsibility to others with the condition to raise awareness and emphasise the positive aspects?
JT: Talking about Tourettes doesn’t always feel like a choice; I see it as a tool for living. Being open about my experiences is a crucial way of improving other people’s understanding, and this makes a big difference to my day-to-day life (and I hope to others too).
BC: What is the most popular misconception that you have to deal with?
JT: That Tourettes is the ‘swearing disease’. In fact, only 10% of people with Tourettes have swearing tics.
BC: We can’t wait to see the show in Bedford. Can you tell us about the reason behind the title of the show?
JT: “Biscuit” is my most frequent vocal tic and Biscuit Land is the surreal world my tics create around me. Our show Backstage in Biscuit Land shares my journey with Tourettes. Expect laughter, surreal tics and lots biscuits.
Tickets are £12 (£10 concessions) and are available from quarrytheatre.org.uk
You can find out more about Jess and follow her on social media
www.touretteshero.com @touretteshero facebook.com/touretteshero
You can read the rest of the March issue of the Bedford Clanger here.
