Veteran stand-up comic Arthur Smith recently told Broadway Baby that if he ran his own TV show, Tina T’urner Tea Lady would be one of the first guests. So Martin Walker was delighted to discover that she is performing at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
“I am travelling all the way from Nutbush to Edinburgh this summer to perform my debut comedy cabaret show Tina T’urner Tea Lady! It will not be performed on Mondays when I shall be washing my wig and resting my tired body.
“Having retired from rock’n’roll and realising my dream of becoming a tea lady. I feel its time to get back on stage and tell the stories of my incredible life. The show will feature hit songs, high energy dance moves, tea, goldenpie and up close and personal audience interaction.
“I shall reveal intimate and sordid memories of my glory days and I also aim to raise awareness of the corporate coffee chains who currently threaten to take over my beloved cafeteria.”
Why did you choose to perform as part of Freestival?
“I just love the venue, location and time they offered me. There are so many wonderful shows going with Freestival I knew it was the right choice for me. They have been very supportive of all my needs and they are also tea drinkers so I know we will get along very well in Edinburgh.
For you, is Stand-Up Comedy a career choice or a calling?
“I think it’s a calling. I got to a point in life when I was just so damn lonely and bored. I’d get home from the cafeteria and have nothing to do. Making people laugh makes me feel alive inside, gets me out of the house and I’ve made many new friends through it.”
Have you ever gone too far?
“I once got carried away whilst singing Private Dancer. Powerful and destructive passion took over me as I climbed onto a gentleman, removing his glasses and furiously throwing them across the stage. They smashed. I climaxed. He was not happy.”
If you were curating a stand up show for television, who would be your guests?
“Barry From Watford, Cariad Lloyd, Arthur Smith, Brian Gittins and Celine Dion.”
