Two weeks of touring the interactive show On Our Terms have just finished for the Vital Spaces Company, and it has been an amazing (and eye-opening) tour.
The highlights for me include:
*Getting a chance to watch the company grow and develop with new artistic talent... the combination of secondary students with first year and second year undergraduates was dynamic, and created a really special community to create work within. At times (unstoppably) giggly, at times tired and stressed, we've really laughed a lot over the last month. It's been a joyful rehearsal space every day.
*Touring around some of Devon's youth centres. Our visits to The Station in Ottery St Mary and The Phoenix Youth Centre in Wonford were inspiring. Both the honesty of the young people and the quality of youth work on offer were outstanding. It made me really appreciate how important these spaces are. Our evening at the Phoenix Youth club was finished with bowls of chips, dancing, and games of pool. It was a special evening.
*Our longest day - Wednesday the 8th of June - where we delivered five performances. Watching the company work through it, and the ways that the facilitation developed and grew throughout the day was very rewarding. The tiny little meetings between performances, where the facilitators triage and problem-solve little issues around phrasing and question-order. This is the magic of the craft for me - responsiveness to the needs of each group and site. This is praxis.
*Looking at the long-term Vital Spaces team, watching how their facilitation skills have grown and deepened to a professional standard, and talking with them about their journey over the last two years... from our first film workshops in Torquay to this touring show, and what an amazing series of projects we've worked on together. I'm humbled and inspired by how much time and energy they pour into this project. It couldn't exist without them.
*Watching secondary students really step up - both as performers within the physical theatre pieces, and as facilitators. At times it was hard to tell who was a university student and who was still at school... their maturity, focus, and commitment were a pleasure to watch.
*Our session at the Coaver Club, where I was reminded that many public sector employees are thoughtful, warm, giving, and hard-working public servants, who don't get enough credit for the good work they do.
*Silly little things that make a project sing - Piers always entering Image of Power to cuddle or hug someone. Emma Rose saying that she is happy when she can 'reach the shelf.' Rosalie being unable to do the maze without laughing. Managing to fit the table into my car. How happy you can make a group with caramel digestive biscuits. Having a youth worker shake your hand and mean it when they say 'come back again'. These are the things that really matter.
Thanks, all. It's been a pleasure.
See you in the autumn.
