Patron: Jessica Thom

‘I spend my life challenging people to think differently, and build a more inclusive society, and would love to see the Streatham Hill Theatre brought back to life as an inclusive venue for all to enjoy.’

South London based writer, artist and part time superhero, Jess co-founded Touretteshero in 2010 as a creative response to her experience of living with Tourette’s Syndrome. She graduated from The Royal College of Art in 2005 and worked as an artist educator and workshop facilitator for The Tate, The South London Gallery and The Chisenhale. She’s undertaken an EPSRC funded residency; received a Wellcome Engagement Fellowship; became an Arts Council England Change Maker and has an honorary degree from the University of Wolverhampton. 

Jess has written in the mainstream and disability press including The Guardian, The Observer and Disability Now and is best known for her book Welcome to Biscuit Land – A Year In the Life of Touretteshero, with a foreword by Stephen Fry.  She’s performed at Glastonbury, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, DaDaFest, the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican and the Southbank Centre.  Her award-winning stage show Backstage in Biscuit Land was screened on BBC4 before touring the UK, the US, Bosnia, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. Touretteshero has hosted Adventures in Biscuit Land at Tate Modern.

Jess has spoken widely in the media about her life with Tourette’s, including on Woman’s Hour, This Morning, and The Saturday Night Show in Ireland.  She’s committed to increasing opportunities that allow the experiences of people living with Tourette’s Syndrome to be heard, and to ‘changing the world one tic at a time’.