‘Oh…So…I am here’
For the very first time…
I have been a Director of Six Lips Theatre for three years
now, and those who are au fait with their working style or were swept into the
whirlwind, force of nature ‘six shows in six months’ programme, will know that
as a company we are used to an intensive, high energy, all hands on deck
process. In fact I remember once delivering the first sharing for one show
whilst the next one was workshoping next door and I went home afterwards to
finish the third script. But one thing has always remained constant and
uncompromised; the detailed, conscientious, nurturing ethos where all
creative’s are equal, allowing valued contributions on the subject matter in
hand. No more so, than on this project; House
of Tragic She.After the first open sharing of our ‘stage 1’ of the performance, it was time to reflect on our journey. Switching the way I was used to working with Six Lips, but remaining true to the company’s integrity and values, was always going to be a challenging one. 6 months of reading, making, re-reading and re-making, talking, listening, interviewing, being interviewed, reading, making…
‘Repeat. Remember. Repeat. Re-remember.’
There have been dead ends on our journey, reoccurring roundabouts, sudden u-turns, moments of driving with our eyes closed and just hoping… but we got there…we definitely got there!
If it was a journey without this hilly terrain and minor detours then it would have been a wasted one; the reason it was like this is because everyone cares so much, not only about the work itself, but the subject matter; the incredibly important conversation on mental health.
So let’s start talking.
We all have mental health. Got it? Good.It is not an opt in or opt out offer.
We all lie somewhere on the spectrum of mental health, from feeling positive, productive, part of a community, to the more negative end that adversely affects your ability to function on a day to day basis.
And it fluctuates. The loss of a loved one, stress at work, a sudden trauma and we change…we move on the spectrum. We may settle back to our previous position in a day, a week, a month, but if it is more than temporary and it is affecting our ability to function on a day to day basis, then this is when we are looking at mental ill health.
This is why it is so important to talk, to accept and be OK with putting ourselves in the middle of it all. If we cannot talk about mental health or even admit we have it, then how will we ever overcome the stigma of mental ill health?
I know this sounds easier than it is. I am aware of this and have been throughout our R+D process. It is so subjective, so personal and unique. Yes we have diagnosises, terms, definitions, but those are not true for everyone – it is a complex and foggy territory.
We have never set out to educate, to enlighten or to remaster
mental health, quite the opposite. If one person leaves the auditorium and
turns to their friend and says ‘do you know the part where… I’ve felt like that
before’ then I am indeed a very happy director. This is why I am so proud of
House of Tragic She (and the full team), because it’s happening.
Our first few audiences have commented on many different
things all taking from it what they will (or indeed what they want) and that is so very rewarding with
a piece of theatre.
‘The part was like the inside of my head’
‘I’ve done that….copied someone else because I thought I
should…or thought I’d get away with being normal'
The fact is people are being part of the conversation. What
more could I ask for.
For some people the words will resonate, others the movement
will speak volumes, the films may capture something important, whilst the music
may hit the nail on the head for you.
So going back to the title of this blog – I am not an
expert, but I am cool with mental health and even if House of Tragic She gets
you to think away from the performance or allows you to talk to the person next
to you about mental health, then for me it’s been a worthwhile journey and for
you it’s been a worthwhile outing to the theatre.
