This week Jason Reid caught up with creative producer and Briefs’ performer Fez Faanana, to get the low-down on the circus/drag troupe that’s been described as the ‘Aussie Cirque du Soleil meets Ru Paul’s Drag Race’, ahead of their London shows this week…
Jason: You’ve just been up in Edinburgh for the Fringe. How was that?
Fez: 25 shows in 26 days! But so much amazingness happening all around you. It was our third year and I think we’ve managed to sort out how to make it work for us. The first year was a gobsmacking eye-opener. The second was a beating, and the third, I think we managed to get it right.
So Briefs were formed in 2008. How did it all come about?
The Briefs movement happened in a very unplanned kind of way. It was spawned from a party/club night that entailed cheap booze, cheap door charge, elegantly trashy moments and a killer dance floor. It was a speakeasy of sorts, which evolved into a beast of a show, that’s now taken over our lives. It was a platform for artists to be able to experiment with some late night naughty acts. Collectively the acts made a show; we took it on the road, and something unexpected happened. People actually bought tickets to watch what we had thrown together.
Has the line up and content changed much since those early days?
Because the nature of the show was a kind of welcome accident, the show and the company constantly improvises its way through the touring circuit. The cast has had a big change for the ‘Second Coming’ which has been a recipe for a marvellous disaster. From the outset we planned to make this new show different, celebrating a new pack of stunning and clever idiots who are ready to shake shit up.
Tell us a more about the new show…
The Second Coming is a shiny new thing which is a homage to circus, drag, dance, design, comedy and burlesque. This new show was about creating a new spectacle that kept the trademark ‘rough and tumble’ spirit of the company whilst trying to make something fresh and fancy.
Give us a little insight into each member, and their individual talents and personalities..
– Ben Lewis is no stranger to the stage. He has a performance history that makes Kylie look like an amateur. He’s the serial killer of circus. His attention to detail is ridiculous and he is beautiful genius that needs to be witnessed.
– Mark Winmill is one of the original Briefs boys – a founding member. He keeps the show skillfully decadent and beautifully statuesque. This king of burlesque refuses to let the glitter fade.
– The Evil Hate Monkey hails from Brooklyn, New York. He is a brilliantly bratty bandit who loves his bananas and he is ready to share them with the world.
– Louis Biggs is an amazingly talented carnie kid. He is nineteen, he is handsome, he loves maths and is stupidly charming. Oh, and he’s forever breaking hearts.
– Dallas Dellaforce is a shit-storm of amazingness. A talent that needs to be witnessed. He/she is not only a demon on stage, he/she is also a fierce performance artist who has some fiercely fashionable things to say.
And yourself?
Hm… I’m talking a lot less in this new show and I’m trying my hand at some things that are out of my comfort zone. Did someone say tranny magic and puppetry?
I don’t know, did they? You tease… But I did see, intriguingly, there is some dog satire thrown in…
I don’t want to give too much away but the Be(a)st in Show act has been a
memorable moment for many audience members. Some good and some traumatising. The dog act is a favourite for the cast to perform; it hints at some uncannily realistic traits that equate to some skillfully beautiful and hilarious moments.
Right then, dish it. Who’s the bossiest?
I’m the bossiest. I am a bit of a control freak that maybe needs to back off.
Ben is always right. Mark and Monkey fight for the brat title. Dallas is a hot mess.
Louis is gullibly cruisey. And somehow it all works…
Along with the circus stunts and drag acts the show is peppered with ‘Australian humour’. How do you think it differs to Brit humour?
I think Aussie and Brit humour is really similar. Both of them have a piss
take and piss head mentality that is up for having a giggle atthemselves. The irreverent sense of humour is a massive commonality.
• Briefs: The Second Coming is at the London Underbelly, Priceless Wondeground, Southbank, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX from September 19th – 28th. www.londonwonderground.co.uk
