As Brighton Fringe gears up for 2016, Broadway Baby offers a preview of the shows, the people and the world that is Brighton Fringe. We’ve been speaking to participants from around the Fringe and asked them to give us an insight into their shows.
It’s also another opportunity for me to have some fun, to indulge my childish sense of humour together with a theatre-load of giggling kids
Name Tim Bat
Tell us a bit about yourself
I first performed in 1978, busking on the streets of Barcelona and was so enchanted with the medium that I have worked as an entertainer ever since.
As well as continuing as a street performer, I have diversified into stage variety, cabaret and corporate hospitality, working around the UK and internationally.
After a few years living in London, I moved with my family back to Brighton. Playing with my own young children inspired ‘The Tim Bat Trick Show’ for kids which, after debuting at The Southbank Centre, has become established as a popular attraction on the children’s theatre circuit and has been a fixture on Brighton Fringe since 2008.
Can you tell us a little bit about your show, what can we expect?
It’s a fast paced, funny and exciting show in vaudeville style, cram-packed with skillful trickery and quirky comedy. Expect the unexpected; you will be amazed and amused in equal measure.
Why did you decide to perform your show at the Brighton Fringe?
I love to perform in my home city and there’s such a buzz about the place during the festival. It’s also another opportunity for me to have some fun, to indulge my childish sense of humour together with a theatre-load of giggling kids.
What makes your show different?
My show is unusual for a kids show because of the wide diversity of skills on display – silly clowning, unusual juggling routines (with food, yoyos, spinning tops, rope spinning, bowler hat and brolly), together with puppetry, balancing– that somehow merge into a cohesive whole that works on several levels at once, simultaneously captivating the attention of both older and younger children (and the parents and grand parents too!).
Who would enjoy seeing your show?
See above
What has been the best advice you have been given?
Don not pursue show business at the expense of family life
What show, apart from yours, would you recommend at the Brighton Fringe and why?
Louise Reay: Que Sera. Last year I really enjoyed Ms Reay’s show; a funny and thought provoking exercise in non-verbal communication; language you can’t understand made comprehensible by gesture, facial expression and body language, giving rise to amusing audience inter-action. It will be interesting and undoubtedly entertaining to see how these ideas have developed
What do you think audiences will enjoy the most about your show?
The unadulterated fun
The Tim Bat Trick Show is appearing at the Brighton Spiegeltent, 8, 15, 22 May 12:00
