Backstage in Biscuit Land: Visual Story

The stage is set very simply. You will see a variety of props around the stage area.

The show begins with a short welcome from Chopin. Chopin welcomes Jess (Touretteshero) to the stage and some music will play.

Jess will introduce herself and briefly explain her condition, Tourette’s Syndrome.

During this introduction, Chopin will hold up signs that repeat words that Jess says.

Jess will explain her ‘ticcing fits’ and what will happen if she has one during the show. Chopin has an Emergency Script which she holds up.

Chopin acts out some of Jess’s vocal tics.

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Jess and Chopin will explain some of the props you can see around the stage. Chopin may perform actions with some of these props.

Jess talks about misconceptions about Tourettes. Jess will ask you to play a game with the person next to you. The game is a staring competition. Chopin then lays some props on the floor, to look like a duck pond. Jess then explains what tics feel like. Chopin clears away the pond. Chopin puts on a dolphin hand-puppet and talks to Jess. Jess tells the dolphin what tics feel like. The puppet acts out Jess’s explanations. Chopin puts away the puppet.

Jess explains what it was like growing up as a child with Tourettes. Her tics started as a squeaking noise, and Chopin may make one of these noises suddenly. Chopin then brings on a small table with a snack on it. Jess eats the snack. Meanwhile, Chopin quotes some comments from Jess’s school teachers.

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Chopin removes the table. Jess explains how her condition developed as she became a young woman. Chopin brings a chair onstage. Jess and Chopin then play a game called “Fingers on Buzzards.” The Buzzard is a stuffed toy. The Buzzard makes a loud squeaking noise when squeezed. Chopin acts as the quizmaster and Jess answers.

Chopin removes the Buzzard and the chair. Jess explains the different types of vocal tics and gives examples. Chopin will pick up a prop and Jess will have a series of vocal tics about that prop. Jess and Chopin then sing a song about a sheepdog.

Jess then asks the audience to do an “echolalic wave”. When you hear the person next to you say “biscuit”, you then say “biscuit”, and after that the next person in the audience says “biscuit”. Some people might wave or stand up when saying “biscuit” like a Mexican wave.

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Jess explains “copropraxia”, which is making obscene or unacceptable movements. She asks you to join in, and swear at different things in the room with your middle fingers. Chopin describes a daily routine. Jess joins in by adding examples of some of her tics during her daily routine. Chopin brings a cardboard cut-out tree to the front of the stage and puts a blanket over Jess. Jess then tells a story of a windy night in autumn. Chopin waves a board to make the tree move in the wind.

Jess then moves to the centre of the stage. The lights dim slightly, and she is lit with a spotlight. She talks about one of her trips to the theatre. The lights come back up. Jess and Chopin then play another game of “Fingers on Buzzards”. This time Jess is quizmaster and Chopin answers. The game ends. Chopin brings on a table. Jess then explains her fits. She will ask someone in the audience to read from her care plan. That person sits in Jess’s wheelchair, and Jess sits in the audience. Chopin controls a puppet called “Mini-Touretteshero”, who acts out having a fit.

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The audience applaud. Jess returns to her wheelchair and the audience member returns to their seat. Chopin puts the puppet away. Jess talks about her support workers. She uses toothbrushes to describe each person. She also holds up a toilet u-bend. When Jess talks about a person called Bunny, an emergency buzzer will sound briefly.

Biscuits are passed out to the audience and Jess and Chopin play a game of I-Spy inviting the audience to join in. Jess moves to the centre of the stage. The lights dim slightly and she is lit by a spotlight. She tells another story about a visit to the theatre. The lights come back up. Jess then talks about her wheelchair. She reads love letters about her wheelchairs. Chopin lies on the floor and reads a love letter from a wheelchair to Jess.

Chopin sits down at the front of the stage and describes how she met Jess.

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They then perform Chopin’s Emergency Show Plan. Chopin reads a script and Jess holds up props on sticks. At one point the lights flash. Chopin reads faster and faster. The audience applaud.

Chopin asks for 2 volunteers from the audience. The volunteers hold up a banner with song lyrics on it. Everyone sings. A person comes out wearing a cat mask and hands out animal puppets to the audience. The show ends. The lights go up and some background music plays.