An Edinburgh Journey of Discovery
August 14, 2010
Well, what can I say? We’ve done five performances now at Edinburgh. Friends and family have been there – in the audience, selling the show on the streets, keeping spirits high and willing the whole project on. It’s been great. The performances have settled down and Maggie has been pleased with them and it’s felt good. Jeremy (our stage manager) has been such a star. We’ve had a few laughs, some great conversations on the streets of Edinburgh, a few late nights, seen some other shows and a couple of drinks.
Audiences have been completely unpredictable – and despite some good reviews: 3 Stars in the Scotsman & 4 Stars in Public Reviews “inspiring, thought-provoking performance”….
This journey…you see, I was getting really upset in the week when audiences were small, but last night they got as small as you could get – one woman – but she had been to Bosina as a humanitarian worker, she’d booked the ticketes 4 weeks ago from London – what could we do? Say “can you come back tomorrow?” After the show we chatted about Irena Sendler and Rachel Corrie and what it takes to help others whilst putting your life at risk.
So here’s the question, what is this about? Well, it’s about the show, and it’s about enjoying the experience, and it’s about not having a picture in your head of what it SHOULD look like…..
I know this blog won’t be read, the Twitters, will be lost in the millions, that the flyers might land in the hands of some potential audiences – and I just have to find them – or not – but I’m one woman, ultimately, and that in the end has to be enough – doesn’t it?
August 16, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Hmmm. Finally found a review and yes it was very good, well done.
Wish i could come up and see the show, would love to see the fringe and this would be a great excuse!
You sound a bit down and very introspective.
Is it about the show, the ’cause’ or your need to perform?
Of course you are enough! Be yourself, live each day, each moment, BE.
September 22, 2010 at 8:54 pm
John
Thanks for commenting on the blog – sorry I don’t know why I’ve only just found it! Doah! Yes, Edinburgh was a mix of emotions – and I had to be very disciplined with myself sometimes to treat the whole experience as a game as the competition you’re up against is so enormous, the show wasn’t on a level playing field and it’s easy to feel like you’re not making much of an impact – but the reviews were great – and the audiences were genuinely touched and moved by the show and I loved doing it – just nursing a bruised bank balance! But you don’t go to Edinburgh to make money – you go to loose it – it’s just a case of how much!
But yes, your advice is of course what to hang onto – live each day – as this is all we have
all the best
Ava