About Trigger

Trigger are — Creators. Producers. Writers. Planners. Coordinators. Communicators. Activists and innovators; shapeshifting creatives.

They dream-up, create and produce bold and brave live events. They interrupt daily life, reimagine and revive public spaces, and put audiences and togetherness at the heart of everything they do.

Trigger’s work is accessible, inclusive and boundary pushing. It’s always memorable, often large-scale and outdoors. They create epic, imaginative spaces, fly giant dragons and grow magical pop-up gardens.

The company are now in the midst of touring their heart-warming outdoor show TEABREAK to five locations across the South East. TEABREAK has been performed at Kings Lynn in Norfolk, Luton in Bedfordshire, and today has delighted audiences in Staines-Upon-Thames in Surrey, before heading to Faversham in Kent and Worthing in West Sussex at the end of this week.

This production invites audiences to have a well-deserved TEABREAK, providing each audience member with a headset and cup of chai tea as they gently glide through the journey of tea, how it has found itself into our pots at home and the significance this meaningful brew holds for so many of us. We talk to the company to find out more...

What can audiences expect from TEABREAK?

TEABREAK is a 40-minute sit-down performance by Trigger where audiences can pause, take time out, and enjoy a beautiful immersive audio piece alongside a dance performance.

When they come to see the show, audiences can expect a free cup of chai and to be transported through stories, histories, music and personal experiences connected to tea. They’ll hear different voices and learn about the history of tea and how it has come to be such a British drink. Along the way, they’ll hear funny stories, share moments of reflection, and perhaps even laugh and cry.

The show is performed outside, does this ever bring any unexpected surprises?

We do sometimes have to grapple with wind and heat, but that’s the joy of working outdoors!

We visit many different types of festivals and events, appearing in a wide range of locations including town centres, fields and village squares. Every site is different, and each performance of TEABREAK feels slightly unique because of the environment and the people who encounter it. That unpredictability is part of the magic of the show.

Can you tell us a little more about the Tuk Tuk?

The Tuk Tuk is an authentic, working Tuk Tuk that was hand-painted as part of our PoliNations programme in 2022.

The design was created by designer Carl Robertshaw, who Trigger has previously worked with on productions such as The Hatchling and Jitterbug. Originally, the Tuk Tuk was designed as a sculptural piece representing the tea plant. Following PoliNations, when Angie Bual began developing TEABREAK, the Tuk Tuk became a key element of the show.

Today, it serves as our stage, our set, and even the place where we serve chai to audiences.

What do you enjoy most about the show being part of outdoor festivals and events?

As an outdoor show, many audiences come across TEABREAK by chance and may have little or no previous experience of theatre, dance or outdoor arts. They may not regularly attend performances like this, which makes those encounters especially rewarding.

The show offers people the opportunity to engage in whatever way feels right for them. They can sit down, put on the headphones and enjoy a cup of chai, or they can simply watch from a distance and enjoy the dancing. Whatever level of engagement they choose, audiences leave having had a meaningful experience.

Have their been any stand-out moments for the performers?

Kali and Divija developed the choreography for the show in collaboration with Creative Director Angie Bual and have been performing the show every summer since 2023.