Tauria Raynor is known for her singing and acting.

This time around she’s the writer, producer and director of a new dinner theatre production, Big Papa’s Surprise.

The next show kicks off tomorrow night at Pier Six in Hamilton.

Q: Can you tell me what Big Papa’s Surprise is all about?

A: It’s a hilarious, feel-good improv dinner-theatre event where the audience becomes part of the show.

This production highlights a family who celebrates the life of their patriarch, Big Papa, at his 90th surprise birthday party. Big Papa was a very attractive man in his day. He fought in the Second World War and was distinguished in Bermuda, the United States and Great Britain. Big Papa was also a ladies’ man. At the age of 40, Big Papa was rumoured to have fathered 30 children. [His wife] Hazel has recently caught wind of her loving husband’s “extra curricular activities” and she is not happy. She also knows her husband is sitting on a mint. She’s the brainchild behind the party, but has a hidden agenda. This party will be filled with drama, comedy and big surprises that even the family who is throwing the party didn’t foresee.

Q: How is this different from your every day play?

A: Well the show is set up like a dinner party, with no formal stage, ensuring that every seat is a VIP experience — right in the middle of the action. As with all improv dinner theatre, there is a lot of audience participation, which enables the show to have a different perspective every time you come and visit. The most notable part of the Big Papa’s Surprise is the play is Bermudian-written with a completely Bermudian cast and crew. The actors are handpicked experienced performers who are highly trained in stage and dinner theatre. They are experts in encouraging crowd participation.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for Big Papa’s Surprise?

A: The idea actually came to me in 2007. After performing in the very successful Tony N Tina’s Wedding I decided to write a Bermudian dinner-theatre play.

Despite the altering of the play and its success, it still did not fully embrace Bermudian culture. So after the show’s final run, I sat down with my laptop and my overactive imagination and began to write the first draft of Big Papa’s Surprise. In a matter of days, I finished it and I credit my very close friend Winnae Wales and her family for being my muse, putting up with me and being a sounding board throughout the writing process. If Winnae didn’t laugh when I read out a scene to her, I would scrap everything I wrote and start all over again.

Q: What are you hoping people who come to the play will get out of it?

A: The production is simply a feel-good event. We have very seasoned professionals who have a lot of experience in dinner theatre and know how to get the most difficult crowd members to let down their hair. We have some of the Island’s top comedians performing, also some very talented newcomers. [The cast includes] Alan Brooks, Leighsa Darrell-Augustus, David Sinclair Minors and Nishanthi Bailey. This is definitely something that everyone has to come out and experience then definitely rave about to your friends later.

Q: What has it been like for you in your new role?

A: Taking on these roles is very challenging, but fun. It is something that I always wanted to do, but never had the opportunity to. This is a new venture so I’m kind of learning as I go and peg this as yet another experience that I can add to my acting resume. That would make me more marketable should I choose to further my career overseas.

Q: What would you say to encourage other people to come out?

A: Big Papa’s Surprise is something new and different to Bermuda. What makes our production unique is that it’s completely Bermudian written, with an all Bermudian cast and crew. It embodies the local culture but is catered to both locals and tourists alike. The production includes local theatrical talent, great food and drinks and lots of dancing and drama.

The show is interactive with lots of surprises that may involve you, as an attendee to unexpectedly become one of the cast members.

And true to form as anyone who has ever attended dinner theatre will realise ... you can attend this event multiple times and see a different outcome each time.