It’s a year this week that I started my job at Stage-Fright Theatre company. I packed up, left home and moved to a place I’d never heard of before with the dream of using drama to bring together communities, see young people grow in confidence and self worth and to be inspired and challenged.

A year on and I’m a very different person to the Hayley that arrived in Wokingham September 2009. I’m a year older, a year ‘wiser’ and able to refer to myself as a professional theatre practitioner without cringing and not really believing it (I still can’t say it without a grin though!). I’ve learnt a lot about the amount of patience I actually do have and how to be creative even when I’ve never felt more exhausted in my life! I have cried tears of joy and pride but also of loneliness and frustration. I’m more independent than I’ve ever been but at the same more dependent on God than I ever believed I could be.

There are many things that I’ve learnt this year, but the most important is that in any project that I’ve been apart of it’s the process not the end product that has been of the most value to those involved. Sure, the product is important in some aspects: producing a piece of theatre of which you are proud is fantastic! But nothing compares to the build up, forming relationships with the cast, seeing those bonds grow. Nurturing a seed of talent though encouragement and watching it develop into something quite beautiful.

I left university with the belief that drama can change and equip people. That it can give people confidence and skills that they need in their everyday life and work. I also was inspired to work within communities and see drama unite and build relationships with people who would not usually come into contact. These beliefs were based on what i’d read in books and journals, but now I can say hand on heart that I’ve seen it happen first hand.

Drama can change the world, one game of ZIp Zap Boing at a time…!

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A few months ago I reading a book and in the book there was comment that challenged and provoked me. It implied that teenagers can’t help but be moulded and shaped by the media, they are who they are essentially because of culture around them. They can’t escape from this.

Now I’m not saying that there is no truth in this statement because to a certain extent I think there is. But it got me thinking how our youth theatre would respond to being told that they are so impressionable and unable to form their own opinions without being influenced by the media.

We decided that our next show would be about this. So we presented the idea of producing a piece of theatre around the idea of teenagers to our youth theatre. What are the stereotypes? What are the pressures? What are the ways of copying? Have you had your first kiss?! From these ideas the cast devised a performance which was a joy to be a part of and a joy to watch.

We were blown away with the cast’s honesty and integrity. There was an overwhelming feeling as we left the show that as we grow up our hopes, fears and dreams don’t really change. The fear of never finding love, being rejected, being alone, death, not having enough money are ones that many of us experience way past our teenage years. There was comfort in listening to dreams that the group had and the things that they have passions for.

These young people have been pigeon holed and stereotyped. But there’s a lot more to them then hoodies and swearing, there’s a depth and an energy. A passion for their friendships, family and world that is inspiring.

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how the Church engages in the arts, in particular drama. Drama in my humble opinion is an amazing and valuable resource but to often it is used in a way which is out dated and ineffective. Someone I know described it as the church being addicted to Mediocrity. It saddens me to agree but a lot of the time I’m inclined to agree with him.

How often is drama reduced to a 2 minute sketch, performed by teenagers who don’t like drama but have been asked because it’s nice to involve young people in the service. They’ve been given the script a few days before but haven’t read over it until the morning, therefore making it un-rehearsed and still being read off the page. My question is: Would you ask someone who doesn’t play the guitar to be part of the worship band and not only that but not even get them to practice before hand?

I’m not saying there isn’t a place for 2 minute sketches within a church service, if you search hard enough it is possible to find a few out there that aren’t cheesy!!! But when they are stuck in the service for a bit of variety and not used to make a point in some way it annoys me. Drama has the ability to talk to people in a way that a sermon just can’t, it has amazing potential.

And why restrict it to a church service? Why not use it in out reach, as a way of engaging people outside the church with God? All Saints church in Chester has set up amazing drama clubs that run out of the Church for kids, teenagers and even adults. Through it they have seen people become christians, and not only that but built amazing community and powerful relationships.

Drama is a powerful tool, why have we reduced it to something so mediocre?

I’ve never voted in a general election and I know very very little about politics. With only a few days left till i decide who to vote for and well…. I’m still undecided! A couple of weeks ago I made the decision that I was going to read all the manifestos, this seemed like a great plan so I visited websites and downloaded those bundle of excitements. The excitement latest until i realised just how long they were… The conservatives win with a massive 140 odd pages… that plan has therefore failed and the files remain unopened!

Next I decided the way to do it was to watch all the debates. I managed two. I think I’m with a lot of the country when I say of the leaders; I like/trust/warm to/would like to go for a drink with Nick Clegg. Feel sorry for and secretly like Gordon Brown and Cameron well… is Cameron.

I LOVE the idea of the big society I really really do, but I just can’t bring myself to put my cross next to the Conservatives. This may be due to history and the parties past relationship with the arts and cutting funding or it may be do with my lack of trust and dislike of their posters that ‘bully’ Brown. I’ve tried to get over this and have looked into their policies, but my heart just doesn’t lie with the blue team.

So I find myself deciding between Yellow, Red or Independent…! It’s interesting that Tactical voting has come up into the news because the decision i find myself having to make is between my head and my heart! In the area I live the MP is a conservative, it has been the same man since 1987 (the year i was born) and if we face facts the chances of him loosing this year are slim. It makes me angry that i live in such a heavily conservative area that my vote has little sway…. grrrrr! The party with the biggest chance of beating the tories is Lib Dem, Labour… well it don’t look good even though the candidate is by the looks of things a really great guy! BUT there is an independent guy who I really really like the sound off. His focus on community is genuine and I have found myself at the hands of his generosity. I really would like to vote for him…

So the question is whether I vote tactically and go with lib dem or with my heart and independent… or completely pity Brown and go with Labour or I could take Cameron at his word and believe that the big society could happen and he will make it! I though the best way to decide would be to ask the kids I teach how I should use my vote; if i go with them The Monster Raving looney party will have one more supporter come 6th May!

So after many hours of discussion and thought I guess I won’t know until I go to the polling station close my eyes and make that cross!!!!

Over the last few months I have had the privilege to be involved in an arts project taking place at a local Homeless drop-in centre with the aim to use the arts to get those who attend to tell their stories. Reflecting on this time and looking forward I’ve realised a lot about the way I work and am also excited about the way God is using this project and all that he has done within it so far.

I’m not the most organised person in the world, but I take great comfort in having a nicely printed out structure to any session that I may be involved in. But after the first week there was the realisation that no matter how great my session may look printed out it didn’t mean that anyone was going to get involved.

So we forgot about drama for a few weeks, and instead concentrated on building relationships. I have learnt that the arts work so much better when in collaboration especially when it comes to drama which can be a scary activity to become involved in! Those with musical abilities on our team have used their skills and this has broken down enormous boundaries and everyone now looks forward to a sing-a-long. This has enabled our relationships to flourish and as a result we have started to introduce simple drama exercises that have started to un-earth some budding thespians in our midsts!

Thinking back to the first week and what’s happened since I am reminded of what James Thompson says about taking drama into communities where this isn’t the norm. He makes the point that we are nothing more than visitors in this community and to see ourselves as anything other is a massive mistake (Thompson, 2003). The relationships, building trust and gaining understanding of the community is vital to this work, it’s their voice that we want to hear; not ours. As we continue this project and explore the ways in which drama, music and photography can give people a voice and as God continues to work through all of this I’m so excited to see what will happen…!

After a very sleepless night…on 2nd April ‘Good Friday – a Community play’ took place in the centre of Wokingham! I’ve never felt so privileged or been so proud to be part of anything. Over the last 5 months hours and hours and hours of work, sweat and tears… actual tears… went into putting together this performance and in God’s faithfulness it was a success! Apart from the torrential rain and a few hiccups from the mic’s we couldn’t have asked for anything better. About 100 people aged from 8 to 70 turned up to act, sing or dance and together tell the story if Jesus’ life, death and resurrection in the centre of Wokingham.
It was amazingly exciting to be able to use drama to bring such a cross section of a community together to perform. To see friendships forming, and understanding of Jesus’ life growing… lots of excited noises were made!!! I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to do this as a job. God is so good.
This verse struck me and inspired me through-out the final days of our rehearsals:

“…with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:12 (the Bible)

God coming to earth in humanity: living, loving, building relationships, showing compassion and going to the cross so that we might live. Stretching out his arms showing love like no one else ever has….

Ever since I’ve had this blog the person who has really kept it going is the wonderful Gareth Verow who blogged when I failed to do so for months on end! But it’s time to change and so after a deep meaningful discussion (a few words in a pub!) hayley vs gareth has come to an end… it was fun whilst it was going bro!

The Song of the Hours

This Song is one from ‘Mother Courage and her children’. Performed by Duke Special, it’s a beautiful beautiful Song!

Ever since reading Ann Jellicoe’s book ‘Community Play’s and how to put them on’, I have been inspired and intrigued by the whole concept. This year I’m so excited to be able to be involved in a play that is trying to do exactly what Jellicoe was writing about in her book!

At Midday on 2^nd April in the market square of Wokingham ‘Good Friday – a community play’ will be taking place. With just under 2 months to go we are putting together ideas and cast and getting excited about the whole thing will term out. Our vision for the piece is to get as many people from the local community involved, whether by acting, making props, singing, chaperoning or making/ serving refreshments. This isn’t a performance by the church for the church as we remember what Jesus did on the cross and the events leading up to it. But this is a performance for the whole community by the community.

Baz Kershaw writes  “community plays are a community-forming process. Thus theatre is created through community.”

This is exactly what we hope to achieve. Drawing out the skills and passions of the people of Wokingham and coming together to create this memorable passion play! We have brownies, schools, dance groups and choirs involved and hope there will be more! There is still a lot more work to be done and most importantly a Jesus and Judas to find! But it’s all rather exciting!!!

hello lovlies!

Loads of really exciting things are happening with Stage-fright/ drama/ Church/ life in general at the moment. Most excitedly I’ve decided that I’m going to become a regular blogger… so keep your eyes peeled….!!