Winefulness x Adelaide Fringe - Interview

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The unofficial queen of Adelaide Fringe (and particularly of Gluttony) has been a well-known face around the Fringe universe and with good reason!

Tash York is one of those brilliant and talented performers who is either running her own show or is part of a multitude of shows - so no matter where you look, there's a very high probability of being blessed by her energetic and enthusiastic, larger-than-life personality that effortlessly seeps through her singing and acting and is bound to light up anyone (and everyone)'s day.

Bringing back her magical zest for life through a brand-new wine-fueled show, the award-winning internationally touring cabaret superstar gracing us with one glorious hour of [i]Winefulness[/i], where, in a nutshell, audiences will learn to acknowledge and appreciate each other's feelings, in addition to enjoying the beauty of wine guilt-free.

In anticipation of her upcoming show, I was fortunate to conduct an e-interview with York - have a read of our exchange below:

Tema: Hello again, Tash! How have you been since we last spoke?
Tash: Hey girl, I'm good! Always better for catching up with you!

Tema: What have you been up to in the past year?
Tash: 2019 was meant to be my year of less. So what did I do? Started a podcast , started teaching workshops and also have been planning a wedding! However, I feel like I did stay true to my motto of working smarter not harder and have been more picky with what I am performing and when. This has given me more focus and less stress. A lot of this has been due to my new-found love of yoga … oh and my cats Batman and Aretha - they've been bloody legends!

Tema: So, let's get chatting about your new show Winefulness. How did you decide on the concept of your show?
Tash: Well look, it was originally going to be a recount of my very first show "These Things Take Wine". However, when I started looking at the themes of the show and how it was written and what I was saying back then, well it just didn't resonate with me anymore (omg what?! I've grown up a bit(???) …. shh don't tell anyone!). But I still wanted to do something with wine, because let's face it - wine and Tash York are the ultimate surrogate twins! You don't seem to see one without the other! I was in Queensland and staying with a friend I had known since we did a musical together in 2009 and instead of going out to karaoke, dancing all night, and getting mega wasted, we actually sat on her balcony, did a sunset yoga sesion and had some wine (that wasn't goon) with a cheese board. We were reflecting on that, and our idea of fun now, and how it has evolved over the years. It got me thinking about all the work I had done on myself over the past year, about slowing down and taking time out for myself. We were thinking of all the wine puns we could, furiously trying to name the show - and my friend Kate came up with Winefulness! Such a legend, and thus the two areas I was interested in were joined perfectly - with pun title in toe!

Tema: Okay, VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION: can your audience expect to have access to wine while being treated to your entertaining self?
Tash: THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION INDEED! Yes, I'm nestled right in the Gluttony Hub, which has so many options for great wine. I think they even let you drink out of real wine glasses there - which for a festival is basically unheard of! I've also been lucky enough to score a wine sponsor for the year, Wine Not - The Brand (yes, a pun!), who will be supplying me with some booze to drink on stage - but have also given me a cheeky discount code to share at my shows which gives you 10% off wine!



Tema: What are you hoping for your show to resonate with your audience?
Tash: I want people to sit back and unwine (UGH). In all honesty though, this show is about self-care (no not just the sleeping bag section from Adulting type of self-care), but really having a look at how we have fun, relax and take care of ourselves. Of course, it'll still be full of typical Tash York wild stories, mash-ups, a few original songs, rapping and wine (I mean, DUH). I wanted to write about how life is better as you get older, because you get better at being you!

Tema: What would you say to those who haven't found a wine that they like?
Tash: Try drugs? I'm KIDDING! Start on a moscato darling - it's basically water wine. Go to an event where you have to dress up and just hold a champagne glass - the feeling of power that having a wine gives you is something to be experienced regardless of taste. Plus, the alcohol to cost factor is always best when drinking red - 4 glasses of red is anywhere between 7-9 standard drinks - for just 700ml. Absolute bloody BARGAIN!

Tema: Are you still part of your other hit shows (Adulting, Petty Bi*ches, After Hours Cabaret) and if so, would you like to briefly talk about them?
Tash: Yes! I'll be with the After Hours crew every weekend, hosting in the Wonderland Speigeltent (which I am getting married in later this year in Port Douglas!!) And I'll also be donning the leopard print and strutting it with the fab Boo Dwyer in Petty B*tches as well! I'm also going to be a regular guest on Auntie Boo's Diner too… remember how I said that bit about less?!.



Tema: As a seasoned performer who has taken her shows around Australia, how do you manage to juggle your multiple commitments (seemingly) effortlessly?
Tash: Just crying mostly. Haha! As I said before, I have worked tirelessly last year to try and only do the work that really benefits me either financially or creatively. Saying yes to a million things just because you want to be everywhere and see everyone is super fun! But it's also extremely stressful and takes it toll on your mental health as well. Amongst all the wine-fueled chaos, I'm actually a pretty nerdy organised person who bloody loves a spreadsheet and whiteboard to-do lists! I think the other thing is that I am always trying to talk to other producers and creatives about their process and learning how to do things smarter (not harder).



Tema: As a returning Adelaide Fringe performer, what are you anticipating from this year's visit?
Tash: Other than Chronic Fatigue, I am really excited about this year because I have a two-week season - which means the show is going to be so tight by the end of the run! I can't wait to take it everywhere!

Tema: When you're not out gigging, what does a day in the life of Tash typically look like?
Tash: I have actually started working for an Independent Production House/Publicity business called Crowded, who run a number of pop-up venues for major festivals in Melbourne. They work closely with my cabaret home The Butterfly Club and I work there 3 days a week, helping performers market and publicise their shows. I also have a few clients throughout the year with my own Big Hair PR business and I'm constantly working on producing my own shows, singing in a band, and writing new material for upcoming gigs. My life is 80% admin, and I think that's the case for most independent producers.

Tema: What is the rest of the year looking like for you?
Tash: I'm getting married bitches! (I'm sorry, did I not mention this earlier? It's so much, I promise I won't be a bridezilla… mwhahah). Which is actually super duper exciting - finally marrying my love the one and only Kevin… aka Kevwah! But on my way back from Adelaide, I'll be going straight to Mount Gambier Fringe, after which I'll be working on a bunch of shows (PR work) for Melbourne Comedy Festival that will take me right through to the end of April. Wedding is in May. Later this year, I'm heading to the US for my best friend's wedding as well which will be my first time there and we are going to New York so ...… I may never come back!

Tema: Is there anything else that you'd like us to know about yourself and Winefulness?
Tash: Life is about having a happy mind, whilst enjoying a glass of wine. Namaste. Buy tickets to my show and get a wine discount, hear me rap about cats AND play goon of fortune… RIGHT! BOOK NOW! Use the promo code WINETIME for a discount!

Winefulness will be performing at Gluttony from March 3 - 15, 2020, as part of Adelaide Fringe. Book your tix here and don't forget to use WINETIME as the promo code for a cheeky discount.

Links to other articles on Tash York
Tash York - Interview (2019)
BADASS Review - 2019
Petty B*tches Review - 2019
After Hours Cabaret Club Review - 2019 // Review - 2018
After School Hours Review - 2018



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#cabaret
#comedy
#greater_adelaide
#interviews
#shows
#march
%wnadelaide