• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Ed Fringe

Interview: Rachel Tookey – Writer of Judge Judy’s Buzz World

August 3, 2016 by Lake Gregory Leave a Comment

This week Judge Judy’s Buzz World performs at the Camden Fringe, following a run in May at Cambridge’s ADC Theatre. The play was the recipient of the 2016 Footlights’ Harry Porter Prize for a one-hour comic play.

Meet Judge Judy, crime fighting superhero superstar. She’s kept Middle America safe since Quickie McChickie © became the top supplier of frozen chicken breasts. The fate of America rests on her. It’s time for her greatest judgment yet.

JudgeJudy

Photo Credit – Johannes Hjorth

Theatre Bubble: What makes the Camden Fringe different?
Rachel Tookey: The Camden Fringe is just a great eclectic festival, with a wonderful mix of off-beat and kooky shows. It’s a chance to showcase work in London, and is way more accessible and supportive than a lot of other festivals (cough Edfringe).

TB: What inspired you to write this play?
RT: Everything from Batman to Bonnie and Clyde, it’s a real ode to American forms of storytelling that glorify violence and the underdog. There’s this really uneasy relationship between violence as entertainment, and violence as taboo – I wanted to play with that relationship and stretch it till it snapped like a wishbone. I also love unpicking narratives and talking about how we make characters and stories, so the play is a real journey through the rabbit hole of one woman’s different personas.

TB: The show has been performed before – what did you learn from this experience, and how has the show changed for a London audience? 
RT: Mostly I learned that I could go bigger and bolder with the way I was telling the story. This time the director and I have been a lot more inventive in our narrative style and ambitious in the ways we’ve done it – we’ve now got animations, ballet, and mangoes happening on stage (at the same time). Now we just need to see if we can pull it off…

TB: Any advice for practitioners looking to make the leap from student to professional theatre?
RT: Surround yourself with people who want to make good theatre – I’d definitely recommend the Camden Fringe as the first step to showcase your work. And don’t be afraid to start acting like a professional, even when you’re still using your student card to get discounted theatre tickets.

Judge Judy’s Buzz World runs from the 4th – 7th August at the Etcetera Theatre. Buy tickets here

Lake Gregory

Author: Gregory Lake

Filed Under: Features, Interviews Tagged With: Camden Fringe, Camden Fringe 2016, Judge Judy's Buzz World

Join the discussion Cancel reply

Hands face & Empty Space / Cecilia Gragnani on being a migrant artist in a pandemic

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Hands Face & Empty Space / Sarah Chew on life drawing and Zoom

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Hands Face & Empty Space / Emily Beecher on being a reluctant producer and unproducer

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Hands Face & Empty Space / Alison Ford on maternity, redundancy and doing what’s right

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Hands Face & Empty Space / Peter Moreton talks about growing the grass roots

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Sarah Chew on life drawing and Zoom
  • Alison Ford on maternity, redundancy and doing what's right
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Emily Beecher on being a reluctant producer and unproducer
  • Peter Moreton talks about growing the grass roots
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Does Small to Mid Scale Theatre Touring Actually Work?
  • Concert opportunity for musical theatre performers
  • Lily Bevan talks about Zoo
  • Kneehigh's Ubu
  • Lake Gregory

    Lake Gregory
    Contributor

  • August 3rd, 2016
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook29TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2021 · Blue Pie Media

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!