The World Premiere of PAID FANTASIST Comes to Camden People's Theatre

By: Nov. 15, 2018
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Taking inspiration from former 'Doctor' Tom Baker feature, 'A Life in the Day,' Paid Fantasist combines drag, music and comedy to explore how neoliberalism has shaped us and the places we inhabit.

Written and performed by Rebecca Biscuit (Sh!t Theatre) and Nick Field

Camden People's Theatre, London
Tuesday 27 November - Saturday 1 December 2018

In 1978, at the height of his Doctor Who fame, Tom Baker recounted a day in his life for The Sunday Times. The feature was a full-pelt twelve hours of extreme living across grotty, bohemian Soho, filled with supernatural encounters, drugs and booze, near-death experiences, automatic lovers and a disappointing barbershop trio.

For this dual anniversary, forty years on from the birth of neoliberalism, Biscuit & Field go back to explore the myths of Soho. They ask what happens when Baker's boho gangster paradise is scrubbed clean into a blandified themepark version of itself... or is that a myth too? Biscuit & Field mess with time to explore the political system as a fresh hope in 1978, and a crumbling monolith to capitalism now. And, they aim to be the most seminal, obscure 1978 drag performance art band you've ever seen.

London based writers and performers Rebecca Biscuit and Nick Field said: "2018 marks the 40th anniversary of Tom Baker's 'A Life in the Day.' It also marks 40 years of neo-liberalism in the UK as the predominant political system. Baker's article, a snapshot of Soho at its bohemian heyday, offers the opportunity to explore how 40 years of neoliberalism have shaped us, the places we live and how we live in them. As neo-liberalism collapses around us, we look at a moment in time at its inception to ask questions about regeneration and legacy."

Paid Fantasist is the debut show by new theatre company Biscuit & Field, a collaboration between Rebecca Biscuit and Nick Field. Biscuit & Field met at clown school, they were crying into each others eyeballs minutes later. Clown school is intense! Bought together by a mission to explore pressing issues through innovative and unexpected performance, and a shared love of Tom Baker's 1978 article, Biscuit & Field combine comedy, surrealism and time travel in their new show.



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