Mind the Gap

Sigh, I have just finished my placement at Mind the Gap and it was sooooo hard to leave. Back to uni now...

Hello all!

I know I suck and don't update- but don't hate me, blame my time-eating, sadistically busy MA course!

here is a bit of news from the last week or so:

- at the moment I am spending all days in the nearby city of bradford, where I am on a placement at an acting company for people with disabilities (http://www.mind-the-gap.org.uk/index.html). It is very fulfilling- the students are so much fun and wit. It is tiring though, as everyone is at different levels of ability, so it can be a bit tricky finding material that involves everyone, as well as pushes everyone. Today I led a workshop that was 3 hours long, where we where developed a characterization of the Greek gods Dionysus, Hera, Narcissis and Persephone, and then improvised how they would act in modern situations (i.e.. At a premiere, camping etc...) It was pretty hilarious, but I am pooped. The experience is reaffirming my joy of acting. It is a blessing to see what a gift it can be- how freeing it can be for people who have trouble expressing themselves and can get frustrated. I feel I am learning so much from them- hey are amazing actors and have absolutely no inhibitions!

- my grandma has been very poorly, and had a massive stomach bypass operation today. She is being so calm and strong and graceful during the whole horrible experience. Please play for her (it would mean so much to me if you did).

- 8 youths tried to break in to our house yesterday (WHILST we were still inside!!)- Drew just saw this hand coming round the curtain at about 10pm whilst he was on the couch- scary hey! Then my silly, brave husband chased them down the street! I was so afraid that they would stab him or something- he was so out-numbered. But he was so ferociously angry that they just bolted! After the police came round we had another incident. Our neighbor's (who always burn their garbage instead of throwing it away) made a fire in their garden and it got out of control and the fire fighters had to come to put it out.
My friend Emma was sleeping over, as we are working at 'Mind The Gap' together, and I was so embarrassed! I was trying to convince her that out street isn't normally that hairy!

- Drew and I are hoping to move to London on July 1st!

-Dallas is getting married in the summer to her German dream boy, so we may well be in the lovely Canada this summer.

- I may have to make 'Tales in Transit' company so I can get liability insurance.

-My sister is preggers again

Keep cool dear friends (from the corners of the earth) and may your 2007 be blessed xx

Eeek it starts tomorrow!

The BBC local and world service have been in touch with me asking if they could cover the project.... Although it would have been nice for all you lovely Canadians to be able to listen to it- it is too risky- I was too worried about the confidentiality of the participants. It didn't seem ethical as we did not have their consent, and the Media can be, well, pushy!
More to follow!

Symposium

Yesterday my course buddies and I had a day of celebration- sharing our areas of interests and sharing food from our cultural background. I brought a faithfully delectable bread and butter pud, and shared about how theatre can help alleviate the 'cultural bereavement' experienced by asylum seekers. The Rasta man is Winston who is a very funny and experienced theatre worker. Interesting discussions that arose throughout the day included contemplating the paradoxical role of a theatre facilitator working with an oppressed group. There is a danger that they abuse their position and become a facipulator (facilitator as a manipulator).

Mrs. Resourceful

RIP friendly boots. You served me well.

Today, the hubby and I were took a Sunday hike upon Ilkley Moor. (we try and go at least twice a month to cleanse our lungs- Leeds pollution and mould out- fresh crunchy autumn air in...) At about 2pm sad thing happened. One of the zips of my favorite red- docs bust when Drew and I were but a stone throw away from the highest peak. I felt sad on four counts.

1) We had being climbing for an hour and were a stone throw from the top, but I didn't feel save to climb the jagged rocks further without ankle support.

2) I still had to get back down in order to warm up with a cuppa.

3) The boots and I had drawn up a special relationship over the last couple of years- I will miss their confidence-boosting whispers they give me when no one else is listening.

4) I am as broke as a joke, so cannot replace them till the 17th of December (2 months of cold ankles!)

A quick burst of practical inspiration allowed me to rectify my first two HS points*- I pulled out the bobbles from my hair braids, and tad-daa!! strapped my boots on! Drew was too impressed to feel embarrassed of me!

* HS = Beth and Drew crazy married code language for 'how sad', similarly HB = 'how bizarre,' HF = 'how funny'. Sometimes we forget that the rest of the world are not following us!

Where have all the Bethblogs gone?

Ok where have I been? In a whirlwind of crazy activity and ENDLESS work. Anyone out there who has a MA and is still sane and does not have permanent nervous twitches has my full respect. I am still in the whirlwind by the was- which is why this is going to be a pocket-sized blog. Actually I feel I am in the eye of the storm where the lack of sleep; having two jobs and watching too many interest theatre performances that make fiction and reality merge, have made me gaze upon my pile of reading, dissertation, essays, symposiums, presentations and workshops I need to design and laugh a mad laugh heeeiahahahoooo he hee ho.

Also I have to write an academic critical journal of every theatre stimulus I get and I have to outline my reaction to everything I learn. This journal (which I have to present to my lecturers) is the reason that blogs do not seem as 'fun' any more. However if it seems my updates are few and far between it does not mean I am not reading YOURS!

I will try explain my course soon- when I get it under control (down tiger!) I want to tell my tales of working on creative space with asylum seekers, tell of my lovely coursemates, explain how God is pushing me and preserving my marriage amid the madness, explain why I decided it was not right for me to go to Malawi. However, for now I will leave you with a pic from Drew's birthday.

Oi! Stop your Waffling!

'Stop being a waffle!' my husband demands. After many days of indecisive ravings, sleepless nights, weeping upon any dry shoulder in sight, endless pros and cons lists and hours of consequential unproductive-ness, I decided I needed to make a concrete decision. Tomorrow I will take the plunge and confirm my place on the 'Theatre for Development' masters course at Leeds. My doubts came from a lack of trust in God (that he would provide) and a lack of trust in myself (that I would survive a year of insecurity, an intense work load, and that I had the assurance that my desires matched that of those of the father above.) My alternative choice would be to get 'proper job', which would stifle my creative yearnings and passions, but, on paper, would be the more responsible (and comfortable) option.

I am not a natural risk taker, and probably wouldn't have had the boldness to begin something that holds so much uncertainity if it wasn't for Psalm: 37, James: 1 and the support of the special people in my life: the Stamfords, the Johnstons, Sarah, Cat and Lu... whose generous spirits, words of wisdom and ego-boosting encouragement have being my collective 'Wizard of Oz', giving me courage to decide.

I guess life would get boring if every decision was made for you.