... since this blog is supposed to talk about a dream!
Someone else suggested to title this blog "The making of a playwright" but through this first work, I'm actually improvising myself in many other roles!
I'm not really meant to reveal too much about the play but a bit of a background seems important at this stage, since some professional figures around Bedfordshire are becoming increasingly interested in my project.
It does involve children, that was clear enough! Children have the key to that truth that lies dormant in all of us: they are genuine, pure, loving Creatures with no prejudices and highly expanded awareness on the human nature. Children see and sense things that adults can no longer see and sense. I am a strong believer that there's no such thing as an evil child - and don't be fooled and think I don't read the papers or watch the news...
No one is born with the seed of evil in them!
We've all gone through that innocent phase of life, through which everything was good, beautiful, light, transparent, magical... Than something along the line changes, sometimes drastically! What happened? And when?
Some stories are exactly the same as others, some are unique. Some children never had a taste of innocence or magic either.
When I started writing this particular story, I never thought it could actually turn into a script: it was out of sheer frustration for not being able to actually DO SOMETHING to help. It's been a therapeutic journey, which mostly made me realise that I wasn't dealing only with children, but with their lives, their backgrounds, their stories... An entire universe! And no matter how medically trained You are, most of the time there's no much You can do!
This story will go on stage! Not only because I believe in theatre and the magic transformation it can have in people engaging in it, but also because there is a completely different perspective to a story when it's lived in a theatre rather than through a cold screen. You can hear the characters breathing; You can almost touch their emotions (and viceversa, definitely!) They're real and they're there with You. When You are in a theatre, You're not only a spectator, You end up being the witness! The rapport actors/audience and audience/actors is priceless.
I hope it's clear I don't dislike movies, but if I have to chose between going to the cinema and the theatre, I always chose the latter!
Cheerio!
Thursday 29 November 2012
On war
Oh ohohooooh... According to someone I should get rid of my previous post, the one that "disrespects those who have fought in past wars"!
Right! First, if someone has something to say, it's not forbidden to send positive criticism and comments to this blog; second, I don't care if my post was misunderstood or misinterpreted and I'm well aware of the risks that electronic communication carries - besides, even in verbal communication, often people receive something totally different from what You were trying to convey. This is mostly related to prejudice...
Thirdly, and finally, I don't care if I'm less popular by stating my points of view or by revealing that I'm not a national!
Followers of this blog might want to know that my life experience has led me to feel no need for national, religious or ethnic identification: I strongly believe in team building and communities, wherever they are. I could live in Scandinavia or Madagascar, and still be myself, very much at home in my heart!
I also believe that pinning a poppy on Your chest and than ignoring [or even worse... accepting] that many youngsters still die every day at war is utterly disrespectful. I believe that is appalling that TV adverts looking like Hollywood movies still encourage youngsters to leave their studies to engage in war - to serve the country? How come the country is then struggling to support veterans in treating them for post traumatic stress and illnesses related to staying away from their homeland for long periods of time?
My brother serves the Italian marine forces: he couldn't find a job when he left school without a qualification, and even when he finally realised he needed his diploma and went back to complete his school years, he returned to the same job due to high unemployment rates. So, wouldn't it sound more correct and appropriate to You that governments should keep unemployment rates low (if non-existent at all) giving all youngsters the possibility to put they qualifications - the result of many years of studies and sacrifices - to fruition?
I feel that the past taught each and every one of us very little! War is an insane business, an excuse not to see other people's differences and accept them! Is it easier acknowledging diversity and embrace it, or build more weapons, make a world-wide business out of this mass production and distribution and finally use them against ourselves? Well, You got Your answer there, which is why war is insane!
Now now... Don't go there asking me "And what if your country got invaded!" If we embraced each person's differences with Love, without Judgement, what would be the need to declare wars?
Food for thought...
Right! First, if someone has something to say, it's not forbidden to send positive criticism and comments to this blog; second, I don't care if my post was misunderstood or misinterpreted and I'm well aware of the risks that electronic communication carries - besides, even in verbal communication, often people receive something totally different from what You were trying to convey. This is mostly related to prejudice...
Thirdly, and finally, I don't care if I'm less popular by stating my points of view or by revealing that I'm not a national!
Followers of this blog might want to know that my life experience has led me to feel no need for national, religious or ethnic identification: I strongly believe in team building and communities, wherever they are. I could live in Scandinavia or Madagascar, and still be myself, very much at home in my heart!
I also believe that pinning a poppy on Your chest and than ignoring [or even worse... accepting] that many youngsters still die every day at war is utterly disrespectful. I believe that is appalling that TV adverts looking like Hollywood movies still encourage youngsters to leave their studies to engage in war - to serve the country? How come the country is then struggling to support veterans in treating them for post traumatic stress and illnesses related to staying away from their homeland for long periods of time?
My brother serves the Italian marine forces: he couldn't find a job when he left school without a qualification, and even when he finally realised he needed his diploma and went back to complete his school years, he returned to the same job due to high unemployment rates. So, wouldn't it sound more correct and appropriate to You that governments should keep unemployment rates low (if non-existent at all) giving all youngsters the possibility to put they qualifications - the result of many years of studies and sacrifices - to fruition?
I feel that the past taught each and every one of us very little! War is an insane business, an excuse not to see other people's differences and accept them! Is it easier acknowledging diversity and embrace it, or build more weapons, make a world-wide business out of this mass production and distribution and finally use them against ourselves? Well, You got Your answer there, which is why war is insane!
Now now... Don't go there asking me "And what if your country got invaded!" If we embraced each person's differences with Love, without Judgement, what would be the need to declare wars?
Food for thought...
Wednesday 28 November 2012
Everybody's Billy Elliot!
Right, enough about me!
I should mention though that Billy Elliot's is everybody's story, and linking this to the content of my previous post, we should probably start looking inside ourselves, delve deep into our innermost Selves and look at those dreams we have been ignoring for quite a while... Now's the right time... Please, please do it...
... I don't want to die without at least trying!
Body temperature raising...
I should mention though that Billy Elliot's is everybody's story, and linking this to the content of my previous post, we should probably start looking inside ourselves, delve deep into our innermost Selves and look at those dreams we have been ignoring for quite a while... Now's the right time... Please, please do it...
... I don't want to die without at least trying!
Body temperature raising...
Name change
I am a little unwell at the moment but feel urged again to write down about a blessing I received this week: I accidentally had to cover first aid on a History school trip to London. I'm not going to carry on about not being told that the students had to visit the HMS Belfast and Churchill's war rooms and that I didn't really feel like getting on a war ship or going down a bunker and how it affects me to think that both venues served to prepare men to kill other men... I'd rather go to Auschwitz if I have to pay respect!
Anyway, the group of students and their teacher I was accompanying took advantage of being in London to book seats at the West End to see Billy Elliot, probably one of the most inspiring musicals I've ever seen in my life. Maybe the majority of those who love Musical Theatre know the story, but seeing it... oh, that's a different story! Book Your tickets this Christmas, if You haven't seen it!
Now, I want to share a picture with all of You, an almost 40 year-old picture of a much younger me engaged in what I've always known I can do better...
Those of You who are following this blog from Italy will know who the presenter is; for those who don't know, only know that his name was Mago Zurlì (Zurlì the Wizard), though I truly cannot remember his real name (I'm getting there with name changes... !) The only thing You need to know is that, as soon as he introduced me to the audience by my name and where I came from to sing on this prestigious event, I looked at him from head to toe and asked him: "Do you pee yourself often?" to which he astonishingly and very embarrassed replied: "No, of course not..." so I asked him: "Then why are you wearing a nappy?"
I cannot tell You what happened in the audience but I guess that started it all! :D
Mago Zurlì and many other artists involved in the performing arts tend to change their names often finding a more appropriate artistic name to what they're doing in a theatre context. For example, he worked with children for a number of years, therefore his character would have appealed to a much younger audience and would have helped children to feel the magic intrinsic in the event, and obviously helped children less confident than myself to feel at ease on stage.
When a new name is used/chosen, it's a process very similar to a re-birth, a re-christening of that person, a process that marks a new beginning in that person's life. In my case, it has happened quite accidentally (again!) in line with many events happened in my life since I started writing again. It's very much like closing a chapter and opening a new one, out with the old and in with the new! Rock bands, actors, singers, women that marry for the first time, women that divorce - if they marry again, usually they keep their maiden names within reach - and many more!
The name You know me by isn't my real name... it's simply the translation of my name AND surname into English!
And, believe me when I say, it's making things much easier as far as communication with people here in England is concerned! I might give away my accent, though...
More often than not, people do not engage in conversation with me more than once because they cannot pronounce my first name, they look distressed and insecure, let alone quite frustrated. Moreover, I don't particularly like abbreviations - I've been called all sorts!
Now, new beginnings... How many times should You change Your name in a lifetime? I can answer with another question, can I? How many times do we have the guts to bring about change in our life? A new re-birth? A new beginning? A part from marriages, divorces and so on... of course!
I hope someone comments on this...
Blessings x
PS. Thank goodness for internet: You can communicate with others without spreading viral flu around!
Thursday 22 November 2012
Updates!
Oh, this is sooooo exciting, folks! I have secured the theatre for the world première of my play and, today, I went to view the space at the local Friends Meeting House with Chris.
It all felt a bit surreal at one point, which reminded me of a conversation I had with a lady sitting on my left last Thursday, at the MK Open University theatre, while waiting for a fantastic version of Macbeth to start. Talking about taking the leap [working toward staging our own work], she commented with "Wow, I'd never be able to do that!", to which I replied "I actually don't know what came to me!" At that moment, though, and for the first time in my life, I felt as if I was exactly where I was always meant to be!
Today I felt exactly the same while being shown around the Friends Meeting House, a magical feeling indeed!
While Chris Amos puts a few words together about himself, I just want to share with You a bit of history about the place where we'll be running audition workshops next spring and where the play will take its form: the Friends Meeting House in Leighton Buzzard.
"The Quaker movement was formed in the 17th Century. Followers called themselves "Friends in Truth" and at the end of the 18th Century the term "Religious Society of Friends" was formally adopted.
The Friends Meeting House in Leighton Buzzard was built in 1787 by John Grant, who ran a grocery shop in the town. It was extended in 1812. The plain interior expressed the simplicity demanded of Friends at the time. The high windows and lack of distracting ornament were to help Friends detach from the world during worship.
Until 1924 it was practice to record as ministers those men and women who were considered to be deeply spiritual and able to speak persuasively. Recorded minsters sat on raised benches at one end of the room whilst the elders of the meeting occupied benches in front of the ministers, their role being to ensure that meetings were properly held. There is no hierarchy in meeting today and worshippers sit where they please in a circle of chairs in the centre of the room. It has become customary for a table to be placed at the centre of the circle, sometimes with flowers and often with books and literature for guidance.
At the opposite end to the minister's gallery is a 19th Century room divide dating from a time when separate business meetings for men and women were held.The divided consists of wooden shutters that can be opened for large meetings, and for weddings and funerals.
The meeting house was renovated in 1953. At this time, the gravestones were moved from the graves to the sides of the burial ground and a lawn was laid over the burial area. In keeping with Quaker practice, the gravestones are of the same size and materials, and have the same form of words. They were placed in the same manner in the burial ground to avoid distinction between rich and poor."
We'll receive soon a map of the back grounds to see exactly where burials were moved so that, when we'll use the outdoors facilities, we'll make sure no one is disturbed!
Another exciting feeling I had while viewing the premises is that we have a lovely central place where to build a new group of friends coming from different backgrounds, living in the same community and with something great in common:acting!
It all felt a bit surreal at one point, which reminded me of a conversation I had with a lady sitting on my left last Thursday, at the MK Open University theatre, while waiting for a fantastic version of Macbeth to start. Talking about taking the leap [working toward staging our own work], she commented with "Wow, I'd never be able to do that!", to which I replied "I actually don't know what came to me!" At that moment, though, and for the first time in my life, I felt as if I was exactly where I was always meant to be!
Today I felt exactly the same while being shown around the Friends Meeting House, a magical feeling indeed!
While Chris Amos puts a few words together about himself, I just want to share with You a bit of history about the place where we'll be running audition workshops next spring and where the play will take its form: the Friends Meeting House in Leighton Buzzard.
"The Quaker movement was formed in the 17th Century. Followers called themselves "Friends in Truth" and at the end of the 18th Century the term "Religious Society of Friends" was formally adopted.
The Friends Meeting House in Leighton Buzzard was built in 1787 by John Grant, who ran a grocery shop in the town. It was extended in 1812. The plain interior expressed the simplicity demanded of Friends at the time. The high windows and lack of distracting ornament were to help Friends detach from the world during worship.
Until 1924 it was practice to record as ministers those men and women who were considered to be deeply spiritual and able to speak persuasively. Recorded minsters sat on raised benches at one end of the room whilst the elders of the meeting occupied benches in front of the ministers, their role being to ensure that meetings were properly held. There is no hierarchy in meeting today and worshippers sit where they please in a circle of chairs in the centre of the room. It has become customary for a table to be placed at the centre of the circle, sometimes with flowers and often with books and literature for guidance.
At the opposite end to the minister's gallery is a 19th Century room divide dating from a time when separate business meetings for men and women were held.The divided consists of wooden shutters that can be opened for large meetings, and for weddings and funerals.
The meeting house was renovated in 1953. At this time, the gravestones were moved from the graves to the sides of the burial ground and a lawn was laid over the burial area. In keeping with Quaker practice, the gravestones are of the same size and materials, and have the same form of words. They were placed in the same manner in the burial ground to avoid distinction between rich and poor."
We'll receive soon a map of the back grounds to see exactly where burials were moved so that, when we'll use the outdoors facilities, we'll make sure no one is disturbed!
Another exciting feeling I had while viewing the premises is that we have a lovely central place where to build a new group of friends coming from different backgrounds, living in the same community and with something great in common:acting!
Friday 9 November 2012
Changing name...
I'm not sure if any of my blog's readers had a look at this article appeared today on the BBC News web site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20228060
Take a look, hoping You'll find it interesting and, why not, amusingM and remember that it also involves me directly - more on this topic to come shortly!
Bye for now :)
Take a look, hoping You'll find it interesting and, why not, amusingM and remember that it also involves me directly - more on this topic to come shortly!
Bye for now :)
Thursday 8 November 2012
Links on text
I've just realised that there are a couple of words on my previous post that are highlighted so that You can click to open them: they've got nothing to do with me in that they're actually adverts that Google is probably marketing!
I have no idea how this happened but I'll invite You not to open them until I figure out how to stop this.
Technology, hey? ... :(
Don't be shy!
Since more and more people seem to be showing an interest in this blog, I would like to take advantage [of the fact that this is my twentieth post] to invite anyone to (PLEASE!) write comments as we go along in this journey!
As I already mentioned, this blog seeks to work as a tool for reflective practice, to see how this artistic project develops, what went wrong and what worked, so that I can improve myself and my practice in the Performing Arts, from now... forever and ever... Amen!
Oh dear, it does sound a bit ambitious, but there's nothing wrong about it: it cannot be too wrong if anything I do toward staging the play now brings such excitement and happiness that inevitably surpass fear and doubt, which is quite a novelty to me! I'm aware that other people have been before where I am now and know how daunting it is to embark in such processes, yet the gain is said to go beyond expectations, and I'm not talking about financial gain at all!
Anyway, every small step taken toward the realisation of this project is time consuming but rewarding in a way I never experienced before, and I keep having this strong feeling that it'll be worth the effort.
Currently I'm developing a Child Protection Policy, since there are 34 young characters in the play; this is a huge learning curve, challenging but very appropriate, as You can imagine, so it's also about exploring issues on how to handle the entire process. For the records, the policy is compulsory when hiring a theatre, not just because we'll be working with young people.
I really feel I'm learning more skills than I thought I would, therefore expanding my knowledge and skills as I go ahead! :)
If You have been through a similar process, I'd really love to hear from You...
As I already mentioned, this blog seeks to work as a tool for reflective practice, to see how this artistic project develops, what went wrong and what worked, so that I can improve myself and my practice in the Performing Arts, from now... forever and ever... Amen!
Oh dear, it does sound a bit ambitious, but there's nothing wrong about it: it cannot be too wrong if anything I do toward staging the play now brings such excitement and happiness that inevitably surpass fear and doubt, which is quite a novelty to me! I'm aware that other people have been before where I am now and know how daunting it is to embark in such processes, yet the gain is said to go beyond expectations, and I'm not talking about financial gain at all!
Anyway, every small step taken toward the realisation of this project is time consuming but rewarding in a way I never experienced before, and I keep having this strong feeling that it'll be worth the effort.
Currently I'm developing a Child Protection Policy, since there are 34 young characters in the play; this is a huge learning curve, challenging but very appropriate, as You can imagine, so it's also about exploring issues on how to handle the entire process. For the records, the policy is compulsory when hiring a theatre, not just because we'll be working with young people.
I really feel I'm learning more skills than I thought I would, therefore expanding my knowledge and skills as I go ahead! :)
If You have been through a similar process, I'd really love to hear from You...
Sunday 4 November 2012
Postcard to view
Here are the postcard's front and back that the majority of local traders have now received, still with very little result, though, but I'm a very patient lady...
Stella worked really hard on this and to her goes all my gratitude!
I will have to advertise now for a choreographer: I really would like the play to be open by a dance as in the original script, because it works very well with the plot! It's just that youngsters involved in the Performing Arts are ever so busy...
Wish me luck!
Stella worked really hard on this and to her goes all my gratitude!
I will have to advertise now for a choreographer: I really would like the play to be open by a dance as in the original script, because it works very well with the plot! It's just that youngsters involved in the Performing Arts are ever so busy...
Wish me luck!
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