Tatau - Interview with Theo Barklem-Biggs

I loved Being Human, Misfits and In The Flesh. Hopefully this will fly the flag for mystical, supernatural drama too.

Tell us about Budgie…

He’s a loveable, charismatic, loyal, normal kid from Croydon. Kyle and he are best friends, they grew up together. He keeps Kyle from being too adventurous because he’s actually quite cautious even though he gets himself in to all sorts of trouble. He’s funny but carries a lot of pathos, a good mix of depth and humour at the same time. He’s ‘fizzy’, that’s one way the creator, Richard, described the character to me, an energetic character.

Is Budgie a ladies' man?

He thinks he is! He’s got a delusional confidence about him, which can be charming to the ladies, but I think Kyle normally nicks them first! Kyle is smoother than Budgie but that doesn’t beat his confidence up too much.

Why does he go to the Cook Islands?

There’s a bit of mystery there so I can’t say too much about it, but on the outside Budgie says he’s doing it for Kyle’s sake, as he’s had some tragedy in his life. But Budgie has his own secrets and he might not be telling Kyle the full truth. There’s a lot of mystery in this series and things unravel as it goes on. They are both running away from something. 

What is his relationship with Kyle like? 

They are like brothers, and know each other inside out. They always get straight to the point with each other and don’t beat around the bush. They are both ‘lads’ and so don’t get too sensitive towards each other, but they do love each other dearly. They are loyal to each other but also, as with any people who are close, they drive each other mad as well. Both of them are in a position in their life where things start to get strange and that loyalty is tested...

What does he think when Kyle says he’s found a body and then it’s not there?

There are a number of things going on in Budgie’s head. He doesn’t know whether to believe him, because he knows what has happened in Kyle’s life that could make him behave like this. He has a fear of the police and doesn’t want to get into any trouble whilst he’s away - he’s streetwise about that. Kyle drank a hallucinogenic drink the night before so he’s not keen to believe him, but will always give him a friend’s ear.

Can you tell us anything about the mystical elements in the show?

Not too much really, it’s shrouded in mystery! There ARE mystical elements, and your idea of reality will be played with... so maybe there aren’t actually any mystical elements, and there just appear to be!

Of course Budgie has his own adventures going on as well…

He’s got himself into trouble at home and he is running away from something. He’s someone who prefers to concentrate on other people’s issues than think about what’s going on with himself. And he soon gets himself into trouble in the Cook Islands too. His love of women gets him in trouble a bit as well. Basically trouble follows him around!

Are you a fan of this sort of drama?

Yes, I loved Being Human, Misfits and In The Flesh. Hopefully this will fly the flag for mystical, supernatural drama too.

Did you do any research in to Maori culture before you started filming?

I tried to, but it was quite difficult to do in advance as so much of it is oral and passed down through families. I found out a lot more when I got there. Everyone was so welcoming and you realise how diverse it is, even between the islands. It’s a really rich history and completely new ground for me, so it was interesting to hear all the different stories. I was invited to an umu in Rarotonga, which the New Zealand Maoris call a hāngi. They cook meat in the ground and it’s a real ritual with artistic qualities, a lot of singing and dancing and sharing. Pretty much all of the Maori cast could play the guitar and sing; it’s really stamped into them, as is the sense of community. It was a really lovely and amazing experience.

Did it tempt you to get a Maori tattoo?

IYes, Joe and I did talk about that but we couldn’t act on it during filming! We were thinking about getting a small one under our arm. I looked in to the history of it all and it’s really interesting. They are original tattoo artists over there - they do them without tattoo guns and tap it in your skin. It’s a tradition that means more than the tattoo, it’s spiritual. But a very slow and painful process! 

What was it like filming on the Cook Islands?

You know the postcards of paradise? It was like being in one of those, living in one of those postcards. It was just gorgeous; everywhere you looked was a beach or beautiful scenery. It’s quite small and there’s not a big population so we quickly became friends with a lot of people there.

Are there any funny stories from filming?

There was a day when Joe and I were filming a scene where we both had to be naked. In the scene, Budgie had to run and open the door of the room that Kyle was in. The director was in the room with Joe behind him, but he wasn’t looking at Joe, he was looking at the monitor. Every time I opened the door Joe was doing a strange naked position, which was a surprise each time. It was a very funny experience; it was like a heightened trust exercise!

What was it like working with Joe?

He’s so professional and he thinks everything through. I remember walking into his room once and the whole wall was covered in these huge sheets of paper, which told the story of Tatau in a visual form. That just shows you how much he gave to this project; he put everything into it. We come from different acting backgrounds but we shared the same enthusiasm for the project and the work. We both love what we do and there was no time I couldn’t go to him, after hours, to run through a scene. It was quite boring for other people as we were always talking about work! We were on the same page and we weren’t afraid to offer suggestions for each other’s performances. It was about the best thing for the project. He’s also a lovely generous guy. He’s definitely a friend for life, no doubt. 

What can viewers expect from Tatau and why should they tune in?

Fun. Excitement. Mystery. Thrills. Romance. Comedy. If you like any of the above, then watch it!