Fringe Q&A: Briefs' Fez Faanana

How have the last few years been for you and the Briefs crew?

We feel very lucky to have been safely isolated on the big island of Oz. We managed to keep Briefs Factory up and running; sometimes it felt like running in roller skates up a slippery slide but running all the same. The last few years have given us the space to do some house keeping, soul searching, self loathing/loving, over grooming and pumping out performance on the production line. We’ve had a big growth spurt increasing our creative ensemble from seven to 15 individuals. 

How do you feel about returning to the Fringe after this gap? Do you feel like the atmosphere will be different at all?

We have all our body parts crossed, we have our fingers in all the pies and eyes on the prize. It’s been a long time coming but we are ready for it. It feels like we have picked up where we left off. We arrived in June to start this tour with Glastonbury Festival. While we might have been out of practice we hit the ground running picking up where we left off and charging forward. The atmosphere will be different. Familiar, but different. Everyone has been through ‘it’ in their own way but the is a sense of care, camaraderie and consideration. 
 
Tell me a little more about Bite Club and what audiences can expect? 

Audiences that have seen Briefs before will notice the shift in gears. Bite Club is still a glitter bombing of Circus-Drag-Burlesque-Dance Theatre. This time round we bring a new element to the stage teaming up with pop rock synth sainted songstress Sahara Beck and her convoy of musicians. Set to a playlist of Sahara Becks award-winning ear worming melodies; Bite Club is a series of living music videos of physical theatre.

Looking at this new show, how would you say it links to your previous work both personally and thematically?

We’ve made four new productions over the duration of the pandemic. It was therapy and productivity. Our newest and biggest adult party time shake down variety show Dirty Laundry which we hope to share with the UK next year, Cover Up a cheeky all ages sing-a-long circus drag cabaret show set to live cover band Betty Smokes, all ages with a teen to twenties show Brat Factory and the work that brings us across the pond back to the UK, BITE CLUB. We are also really excited about remounting Sweatshop for it’s third Edinburgh outing.

How would you describe Briefs to someone totally unfamiliar?

Briefs is circus drag burlesque theatre dance comedy live music and creative emersion.

What are your main hopes for August and what do you hope people will take away from seeing you?

Theatre has the ability to be many things aside from entertaining. It can be escapism, soul food, inspiration, exhausting, moving, glittery, comforting, mind blowing, hopeful, slick, evocative, innovative and funny. I hope we can be any and all of these combinations.

What’s next for Briefs and how are you feeling about the future in general?

We have a bunch of new shows, new artists and there is no shortage of ideas. We hope that we can keep pumping these out to the planet. Next stop after Edinburgh is a three-month tour of Sweden.