On the Couch with Tessa Waters

Tessa Waters Arts Review On the CouchWho is Tessa Waters?
I am a multi-award winning comedian from Melbourne / The World who creates highly physical and hilarious work that have toured around the world. I am currently eating an eggs benedict and a long black in cafe in Edinburgh pre-rocking out with my kids show.

What would you do differently to what you do now?
I would try and get more sleep.

Who inspires you and why?
I’m at Edinburgh Fringe at the moment and I have been totally blown away by the talent Australia is repping. Zoe Coombs Marr, Tom Ballard, Randy (Heath McIver), Hot Brown Honey and Rowena Huston have all made hilarious and equally powerful shows that seriously pack a punch. I’m inspired by people who know their voice and use it.

What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Send more love out there, it’s a cliche but it’s true, the world needs more love right now. The swing between the right and the left is getting bigger all the time and conversations we thought were well and truly done have reared their ugly heads once more and it’s dangerous and scary. I would bring people together, connect them and remind everyone what an amazing party with we could have if we just spread a bit more love around.

Favourite holiday destination and why?
The beach, preferably Byron Bay sitting at ‘The Pass’. I am always running hell-for-leather when touring and gigging and it’s really hard to turn my brain off. But when I’m sitting on the sand I can stare out at the ocean all day and not move.

When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
In Melbourne, I’d take them brunching because I am the brunch Queen and all other brunchers should bow down! Melbourne loves a good a brunch and you get a really good feel for the city I think sitting amongst it’s sleepy eyed cafe customers, sipping on your flat white. Favourite spots are A minor place (Brunswick), Archie’s (Fitzroy) and Peppers (Kensington). And at the other end of the day I take them to Belle’s Diner on Gertrude for cocktails and eats and we end up upstairs at The Everleigh for whiskies. So yeah, I feed them!

What are you currently reading?
Elizabeth Pankurst autobiography on the suffragettes movement in the UK, and Fleetwood Macs autobiography both of which a roller coaster I can tell you!

What are you currently listening to?
Hot Chip, Chairlift and Vaudeville Smash – all smooth disco vibes.

Happiness is?
Disco, Bra off, clean sheets, breakfast out, cuddles and a view.

What does the future hold for you?
I’m basing myself in Melbourne more over the next year and launching a few new exciting projects which I’m really excited about, and will be a bit different to how I have made work in the past with still with the same spirit of spreading the joy, good times and glitter wherever I go. I have a few Australian tours in 2016 and will most likely head over to the Northern Hemisphere for next summer.

Spandex, sequins and killer dance moves collide in Tessa’s multi award-winning physical comedy, WOMANz at the Lorne Festival of Performing Arts (FOPA) on Sunday 4 September 2016. The Festival runs: 2 – 4 September. For more information, visit: www.fopa.com.au for details.

Image: Tessa Waters (supplied)