Through this I have learnt that community plays are hard work. Especially when they involve trying to bring together lots of different groups who aren’t used to working together. Getting commitment from people is a challenge in itself and then implementing the plan with people who all have their own idea’s is an even bigger challenge. Don’t get me wrong the creativity and idea’s that they have are inspiring and I wouldn’t want to stifle them for a second, but they require good facilitating skills!

I feel like I have no illusions anymore when it comes to community drama. It’s not an easy option; it’s not a safe option or a romantic option. It’s the option that keeps you awake, it’s the option that sucks every ounce of creativity and energy from your bones. It’s the option that until the cast are on stage taking their final bow you’re never sure what’s going to happen.

But, it’s a fantastic option! Meeting new people and giving them permission and space to be creative. Seeing young and old, experience and novice standing side by side taking in the applause: Grinning from ear to ear! I love that!

In my next couple of blogs I’m going to be thinking more about Wokingham’s Good Friday Community Play… stay tuned!

The idea and concept: To engage women with aspects of Mary’s character and moments of her life that we often neglect to think about. For women who may of never written or performed to come together and consider Mary, in a series of monologues that tell of her untold moments and in doing so tell their own stories

An inspiring group of women have been and continue to be at the heart of this on going project. Around 30 women from the ages of 7 – 75 have given Mary a voice and revealed or discovered hidden talents. The latest performance ran for an hour, included 17 women and about 22 monologues. All varied and thought provoking and in the words of one audience member ‘unbiased’. The aim wasn’t to present what we as a cast thought Mary was like but to give varying and contradictory views on her character.

The project is one that I pray will continue in many different contexts and guises. As writing workshops, performances, weekend workshops etc. In churches, prisons or care homes. Mary was a woman; she was a little girl, a teenager, a daughter, a wife and a mother. She experienced moments of intense heartache but also inexpressible joy… just like any other woman and to think about her life with such a diverse group of women is an incredible experience.

As I reflect further I begin to realise that one of the keys for me to continue to find work is my ability to adapt.
At the moment I feel like I spend my life running from project to meeting and from meeting to project. Talking, teaching, facilitating, leading, observing and commenting. I go from a workshop with a big group of 9-year old school children, who are attentive and willing, to a small group of 13-year olds who honestly don’t want to be doing drama, but want to be out of the house. I spend one morning with women who have never done drama, some of whom have mental and physical disabilities to an evening with a youth theatre who are energetic and engaged. I morph from enthusiastic drama teacher with high energy and high expectations of those with whom I’m working. To drinking tea, playing scrabble and making collages that we may them write about.

Every session has a plan, an idea, and an objective. But sometimes to follow that plan would be as productive as using a chocolate teapot, often I know that as I’m planning. It’s paramount that I can think on my feet and adapt the session. That I can improvise and be lead by those I’m working with, recognising and meeting their needs on that particular day. This will be much more valuable than me being able to tick off everything that I had planned to do. One of my groups will often start with 45 minutes discussing their week before we even begin to even think about drama, and it’s taken me a while to realise that’s ok. Actually that’s more that ok, that’s needed.

Every group has their own dynamics change from week to week depending on mood, whose in attendance and what the weather is like; They adapt and so must I.

…James Thompson, ‘Drama Workshops for Anger Management and Offending Behavior’.

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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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.

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?

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!!!!

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…!

“…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….