My most recent event with Fairy Dust Arts

March 2011

I think I’ve been feeling quite overwhelmed recently, but also at the same time enjoying life. I have a sence that I am “being squeezed for the juice” which actually is a very productive season to be in!

The problem is when I get to thinking, “Am I taking on too much and missing the benefits of the fruit?” AKA am I starting what I don’t intend to finish, since all of these opportunities have been coming my way? I need to watch myself, and schedule one thing in at a time. My tendency in the past has usually been to go with the flow, which leads to a more changeable existence!

At least things don’t get dull!

And here it is… Merry Christmas! What have I been up to these 3 last months?

Christmas has sneaked up on me again like a theif in the night, I’m still in preparation mainly due to being knocked out by flu for much of last week! I cannot believe I had the flu (I never get ill). I can only conclude it is my long working hours that have finally caught up with me, resulting in what I needed to do: absolutly nothing! The last week has been a reluctant sort-of surrender into the bliss of not meeting the expectations of friends and family to just, well,  be there. I’ve been in my bed!

I have not blogged in a while here is what I have been up to Creativly:

• I’m been exploring improvisational drama, mime and physical theatre as part of a Drama training course I am doing.
• Appeared in my First Physcial Theatre genre performance. -”If You Look Away From Me…” at the Old Fire Station in Oxford.
• Delivered my First ever exclusive to Jazz singing set for a Fairy Dust Arts Caberet.
• At the School where I work I have delivered song-writting workshops, dance and drama workshops with other LSA’s. (I work at a fantastic School.)
• Painted some teapots as a Christmas Present!

Wow, two firsts three months! Hooray!

I’m quite happy with how things are going, apart from my long hours which do take their toll. The long hours are to suppliment the payment for the Drama course, but the Drama course is a time demand too, thus the both together is tiring! This is needed for now though, I shall push through gaining those skills untill next year when I can tie up lose ends, and complete my Arts Award at last!

Right now, however, it is Christmas! Meaning the three R’s rest, respite and reindeer

I love Christmas; wishing you a Merry one!!

Tags: drama course, improvisational drama

How will the closing down of Youth Centres effect the next generations’ creativity?

Due to the government spending cuts Youth Centres have been closing across the country. This is because local councils are no longer getting the funds to pay for these centres.

This action concerns me since Youth Centres are a key place where young people feel able to express themselves. Closing them could result in a lapse in artistic expression within the generation(s) affected. I believe this is integral to their emotional well-being.

Young people need to have an outlet to express themselves and discover who they are away from the regimes and expectations placed on them. Youth Centres provide this safe and free environment for expression (often outletted by creativity), where young people are made to feel like they matter and have a voice. Sadly, it is often the case that at home and school that they are not given this chance for self-expression.

We are already seeing what an impact ‘feeling voiceless’ is having on our youth: campaigns and marches (some with violence), looting of shops and an increase in vandalism. How much safer it would be for all, if this was all expressed by pen and paper or by a theatrical performance! I think we are truly going to see in this generation how important the creative arts are; (and how they are worthy of funding – Mr Cameron)!

This generation is in strong danger of being without any strong creative outlet at all. Schools, although they teach Art, Drama and sometimes Dance, do not promote creative thinking. We are taught instead to value facts and tried-and-tested methods over unconventionality, but how else can a person be creative without first being told  in is OK to think for themselves? Art always involves stepping out of the box and examining what you see inside, and Youth Centres provide this ‘out of the box’ space. A place where youth can think for themselves. I highly suspect that there will be a decrease in art created by those under 20, due to these centres closing.

I would like to now make a point about creative expression as linked to mental well-being, using the following senario…

Dionne is 15 and has difficulties at home. She is a young carer for her  brother who has autism and finds it hard to relate to her new step father. Dionne tells me that she loves to dance! She tells me that it is her form of escapism from home and school life, and she goes to practice at the Youth Centre, where she feels welcome.

Dionne’s Youth Centre is closing down. When it re-opens it will become a referral centre for young people who are deemed anti-social. When this happens, who is to say if Dionne will be able to find another safe space to live out her passion? If her creative outlet is gone, her mental wellbeing could be effected since self-expression in her own home is secondary to her caring role.

in conclusion, the closing down of Youth Centres is likely to mean the following:

• Reduced art production by young people
• Further Anti-social behaviors from young people as already seen in the news
• Further campaigns from young people due to their sence of not having a voice
• A stunt in the development of creative/visionary thinking in future generations

So, remind me again why the government is cutting their funding?

Please leave your opinions,

Jo

Cambodian Creativity

I have just returned form Cambodia, where my eyes have further been opened. Opened to the amazing things people are doing over there to rebuild the society; children’s homes for orphans, work opportunities for ex-sex industry workers, hugely improved roads, Arts therapy, teaching programmes for youth living in slums.

I saw all of these things, and my heart is defenatly changed! It’s brimming with ideas, and asking “What part do I play in helping others?”

Whilst over there I built an opinion based on the Creative things that I saw. In Cambodia you see whole streets devoted to the same products, electronics, baby clothes… you name it.  There is a street devoted to paintings, and walking down that street I saw the same paintings repeated again and again and it is a long row! These paintings are created by different artists but they look the same. Mimics. Replicas. Each painted by hand by a devoted and skilled painter, but seemly each a painter who was not open to trying something new…

I went to see a performance. Live drumming with tribal dance. All I can say for this performance is that it was lacking something that you might see in the West… emotion. The dance pieces were based on mimicking animals (seemingly monkeys and meerkats) they were rituals of grooming, hunting and survival showing excellent physicality and stamina. When coupled with what I saw on the painting row, I just started to wonder how far has the oppression of the Khmer Rouge affected mind-sets towards creative expression? You may say that what I saw is tradition, but personally, I am thinking that the “mimicking” I saw in the art is a natural response to the fear of a nation which has been oppressed for years. If so, this ‘cap on creativity’ in the mind of individuals needs to be lifted of Cambodia!

I am applauding any Arts therapists in Cambodia. Creativity holds the key to releasing trapped emotion in a nation severely wounded.

Wounded, but not beyond repair.

Mountview…. We Will Rock You!

Well, if you are following my life, I can report that I was not one of the fortunate to get into Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

I can also report that I had an amazing day, was in complete peace about the rejection, and got to see We Will Rock You with the most supportive young man a girl can ask for. Hooray!

Yes I wanted badly to get in, but I also recognise that they know what they want. They let only 4 people into round two, each appearing distinctly different to the other. This suggested to me (and the new friends I had made), that they had already filled most of the places that year, and were (in one way) casting for a production that would be happening within the year. We saw each other audition, and I can tell you that many talented people left disheartened. These people were no ‘worse’ than the other four, but the panel clearly know who they are looking for.

…and as for We Will Rock You? Fantasic! It’s at the Dominion Theatre, and I recommend it.

Paines Plough Wrighters’ Weekend (Tongue twister, ‘innit!)

I have spent this weekend at a ‘Wrighters’ Weekend,’ from Theatre Company Paines Plough.  Leading the two-days of workshops was Assistant Director Jack Lowe.

Here is a bit about them from their website:

“Paines Plough is an award-winning, nationally and internationally renowned touring theatre company, specialising exclusively in commissioning and producing new plays and helping playwrights develop their craft. As the UK’s national theatre of new plays with the playwright always at the heart of everything we do, Paines Plough widely tours world premiere productions and offers bespoke development support to playwrights.”

http://www.painesplough.com/about-us/introduction

I decided it would be good to develop my writting skills as a performing artist, to give me confidence for the time where I wish to write my own work. (My experience so far has been a couple of scenes, journals and Performance Poetry.)

Day one; Jack taught us some key concepts to consider when writting a script, Do’s and Don’ts, and also set us some short writting tasks. 

Day two; We wrote for our main writting task: a play based on a local news article. We then worked with some actors who delivered our work back to us. This was great, as writers and actors so often don’t get to meet… it is special to see your work performed, and it emphasised the importance of stage directions.

It was a very fruitfull weekend, and I enjoyed the company of other writers… they were lovely and mostly more experienced than I! I gained a lot from my time, particularly confidence. I also really enjoyed the company of the lady sat next to me, who had had the most interesting, albeit tragic, life. It made me realise the powerfull link between suffering and creativity. That pain will create the catalyst for the most beautiful works of art.

 

Working on the Last Spring

This week, I have been working on the production of the LAST SPRING, with the teachers and children of ‘Phil and Jim’ Primary School!

It’s been a varied week, my highlights have been giving one on one acting tuition to a couple of actresses and helping with the direction of scenes. (I was only helping though! Mr. Bliss already did a great job directing!) I have really realised that I really care about performance-quality, and I really enjoy helping people with their performance delivery.

The Costumes for The last Spring are STUNNING! We had two wonderful Ladies – Amanda and Beatrice – in care of costume and set, and I had the pleasure of helping them implement their vision! We got the children to make their own headdresses to signify the animal they are playing. I shall have to attach a photo of some, they are truly brilliant.

I also helped the dancers with their rehearsals, suggesting ideas and trying to motivate them. I really learnt a lot from seeing Mr. Nicholls direct and enthuse them; he was a very gifted director and motivator from what I saw. One thing I remember him saying was…

“I am ….. and I am in the World!” 

To encourage shrinking violet behavior.

I am going to be backstage for the performance, cueing people on stage and keeping order. I am going to rise to this challenge!

ORDER NOW…. SHHHHHH!

Museum De Santiago, Chile

(Sorry for the late posting folks!)

Today in Chile we visited a Human Rights Museum. I was very impacted by the Chilean political history which went from communism to a military government after the murder (or debated suicide) of the country’s leader in 1973.  Under military rule, detention centres were set up where people were tortured. The justice system that followed was very poor, and documents have been sealed for ten years!

I thought the Museum was brilliant, and really did serve its museum purposes. I.E I learnt about Chilean history in a fun, interactive way! It also was an emotional experience, which I think was the intention at some exhibitions. The tour guide was great too, and the exhibitions were well organised and varied in their methods of presenting information… video, audio, visuals, text, EXPERIENCE.

Chile – International Seminar – day seys

(Sorry for the late posting of this one folks…. !)

We’ve had lots of presentations over the last two days from Political and Social organistions of Chile… I shall share some nuggets of usefull advice with you:

“Do something for somebody each day. Spread your positive opinions to others even if you are judged.”

“Theatre is a Mirror, I.E, seeing things as they are. The theatre has a lot of power.”

(… I couldn’t agree with that quote more!)