photo by Mandy Glanvill. Jules leading 'Eternity', Blue Mountains, Australia.
Preparing for a theatre tour is not something I’ve done before. But it’s real. It’s happening. The Dreamtime Fellrunner is opening for a 4-night run at Theatre By The Lake Keswick from the 18th to 21st September, followed by Dukes Theatre Lancaster on the 26th September and a nationwide tour after Christmas. I’m learning a lot. Some things I didn’t even know that I needed to know. A state which the educational jargon would describe as ‘unconscious incompetence’. An example of this is when I was advised that,
“You’ll need a risk assessment Jules. For the touring.”
A risk assessment? It hadn’t occurred to me. The main risk I have envisaged is simply that I have to go on stage, and deliver a performance, of my own work, on my own, and make it good, worth paying for even. The main risk is that I just feel scared. I hadn’t realised there would be other risks, let alone ones which could be assessed.
So, I tried to be a grown up and set about writing another document to go in my now enormous file of Dreamtime Fellrunner admin. The thing is it didn’t quite turn out to be what was required. But maybe it has a use? Because I am good at asking about the worst that can happen, and being vigilant against threats. Which is sensible of course, a necessary mitigation against disaster, to be prepared. But what if I looked at it differently and asked myself what is it that I’m really scared of? Well here goes, see what you think, see how it makes you feel about whatever risks you are weighing up—
Official Risk Assessment…
Health and Safety must always come first
One should ask— “What can possibly go wrong?”
The put in place every mitigation.
What if we set the place on fire?
—all electrical equipment must be tested.
What if we spread something contagious?
—there must be ventilation
What if there is a storm and the building floods?
What do you think is THE MOST DANGEROUS thing that can happen?
What if somebody turns up?
Oh shit—what if loads of people turn up?
And what if some of them are in floods?
And what if we set the place on fire?
And what if we spread something?
And what the hell are we gonna do if…
The whole thing goes spectacularly, right?
Is it too much to risk?
There is a much-quoted piece of writing by Marianne Williamson which was made famous by Nelson Mandela in his inauguration speech as President of South Africa. It’s the sort of writing that looks you right in the eye, asks what you’re made of and won’t take any fake answers.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?”
And if that wasn’t powerful enough, she lets no one off the hook:
“We are all meant to shine, as children do. […] It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
My little show is just a small chink of light. I’ve no illusions—it’s just a wee thing. But it’s something. And it’s my thing. And yes, I am scared. And I hope you can come, and even more so I hope you can remember to be your own unique and beautiful light in this world, after all—who are you not to be?
https://www.theatrebythelake.com/event/the-dreamtime-fellrunner/
