About us
We tell juicy stories based on real events to challenge, excite and educate.
We are an autobiographical, confessional, queer theatre company comprised of three emerging artists. We make work based on our own lived experiences and perform this through a variety of story-telling, music and movement.
“We strive to find the universal within the personal”
Amy and Rio met at the University of Essex (UoE) studying Drama in 2016. They went to complete a MA in Theatre Studies and this was the birth of Succulent Theatre. Kat joined as a producer in early 2021 and completed the trio.
Performing at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022, we were lucky enough to be picked up by Nathan Stickley, Head of Programming at Harlow Playhouse. In 2022, we established a co- producing partnership with the theatre.
Katja de la Fuente
Director of Operations
Producer - ‘NASTY’
Writer & Performer -
‘Funeral Teeth’
Amy Stephenson-Yankuba
Head of Content
Writer & Performer - ‘NASTY’
Writer & Performer -
‘Funeral Teeth’
Rio Montana Topley
Director of Marketing
Writer & Performer - ‘NASTY’
Writer & Performer -
‘Funeral Teeth’
Nasty
NASTY: 'big' girls being gross, mean and sexy
‘NASTY’ is an autobiographical, confessional piece that guides the audience through the experiences of two ‘big’ women (Amy and Rio) and showcases the battles they’ve had with body image, eating habits, bodily functions and their compulsive need for self-pleasure! Some stories are funny, some stories are strange, some might make you shed a tear. What connects them all, is that everyone single person can relate to at least one of them. Not holding back from the truth of what it is to be a human, we want to teach everyone that is completely okay to be unapologetically you, as long as you are always kind.
Our debut show premiered at Camden’s People Theatre in 2021 and since then we have performed in London, Norwich, Edinburgh and Colchester. We are embarking on a national tour in Spring 2024.
#STAYNASTY
“The best thing I have seen in a long time” - THE STUDENT
“Raw, honest, and one of a kind” - STAGE TO PAGE
“Something greater than I ever could have imagined” - FOLDED MAGAZINE
WATCH THE ‘NASTY’ TRAILER
SUPPORT US ON TOUR !!!
CLICK HERE TO DONATE
If you can’t donate, help us spread the word and share the link on social media. Thank you!
NASTY: At School
now booking!
Email: katja@succulenttheatre.com
Suitable for year 10+
In association with Harlow Playhouse
Safeguarding level 1
DBS
3 years teaching experience
MA in Theatre Practice
Coming off the back of an extremely successful Edinburgh Fringe run in 2022 and a small-scale tour in the South of England, we have now developed a version of the show suitable for Year 9+. Our show focuses on the experience of growing up in a world that has so much to say about how women should look, act and feel. NASTY disrupts the toxic narrative driven through social media and institutionalised sexism.
Alongside the performance, we invite participation in a workshop to experience the practical techniques of ‘autobiographical theatre’. It will complement the GCSE and A Level Drama syllabus on all specifications, particularly when tackling the devising modules, allowing students to become familiar with the techniques used in creating original work. As well as this, exploring these techniques through the context of body positivity and 'femininity', we aim to provide young people with a voice to confidently and powerfully advocate for themselves and their mental health.
We provide teachers with a resource pack to help them continue our work beyond the session. We are also always contactable via email or instagram, should anyone have any questions!
“It’s really important that our guys see some proper powerful, funny, creative women upfront and owning everything, just brilliant”
Sam Ashford, Creative Director, Livewire Theatre.
“The show was engaging, fun and touching”
...
“There was a lovely buzz in the room and the pupils enjoyed the day fully”
...
“The ladies from Succulent Theatre were professional, friendly and approachable with all pupils”
Karen Warnikin, Head of Department, Passmores Accademy
fEEDBACK FROM students
What did the students LEARN?
“feelings when shared, have less power over you”
“I wasn’t alone in my experience”
“I learnt to feel happier about myself and accept myself for who I am”
“To love myself, no matter what”
“To always say if you feel down”
“That it’s better to express your feelings, than keeping it to yourself”
“You don’t have to be defined as the dictionary defines you”
“I’ve been teaching for 18 years and you guys are one of the best Companies I’ve ever had come in”
Naomi White, Drama Teacher, Bournemouth School for Girls
“It was incredible, I am so glad I experienced this”
“I really enjoyed how engaging it was and how kind, safe and supportive the 3 ladies were”
“When can you guys come back? ” -
pretty much everyone we’ve worked with.
funeral teeth
‘putting the fun in funeral’
Do you remember when you lost your first tooth? Your first love? What about when your little brother lost a marble up his nose and you had to go to the doctor to get it removed?
Loss is the most universal experience. Whether it’s coming to terms with the passing of a loved one or realising that you have no idea where your wallet is after spending a blurry night boozing at the pub - we’ve all experienced it. What’s more, we’re going to keep coming face to face with it. No matter how significant loss is, it tends to be transformative - whether you realise it or not.
Following the success of our debut show ‘NASTY: ‘Big’ girls being gross, mean and sexy’, we are back with another autobiographical, confessional piece of theatre that’s gut-busting and gut-wrenching in equal measure.
In our signature style, we dexterously guide you through our losses from cradle to grave, exploring what loss truly means to us and to you. With a specialism in dismantling the human experience to find what binds us all, ‘loss’ is the next scab that we are scraping our dirty little fingernails against - and you’re cordially invited to watch.
funeral teeth
12 - 16 NOV 2024
DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE, LONDON
TICKETS COMING SOON
Help and Support
Owing to the sensitive nature of our work, we are committed to ensuring the safety and support of our audiences and ourselves. Our DMs are always open, on Instagram and X (Twitter) but there are some useful contacts below that we signpost at our shows.
MIND / www.mind.org.uk / 0300 123 3493
BEAT / www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk / 0808 801 0677
SEED /seedeatingdisorders.org.uk / 0808 801 0677
Samaritans / 116 123 / www.samaritans.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement / cruse.org.uk / 0808 808 1677
YoungMinds / www.youngminds.org.uk / 020 7089 5050
Mental Health UK / mentalhealth-uk.org / 020 7840 3101
Contact Us
If you want to find out more about our upcoming ‘NASTY’ 2024 Tour, have us visit your school, community or theatre, or for just about anything else - please contact us via the form below or email hellosucculenttc@gmail.com