In a nutshell, I think I’ve already achieved what our mentor on the West Yorkshire Playhouse’s new writers’ course wanted for us all: To have a relationship with the building, to get to know it and the people who work there.
I knew it before, of course, but I think I’m a bit institutionalised after spending many, many hours there over the last fortnight for Transform, the festival that aimed to ” bring together an eclectic and busy mix of artists and work of the very highest calibre. Each of them investigating in their own ways how theatre can be transformative for an audience – how the act of coming together to experience theatre can change all sorts of things and transform what we imagine a Playhouse to be.”
Anyway, I’ve got a review to write. And this time I’ve chosen a slightly different challenge. My last piece covered 14 hours of the middle Saturday of Transform, in about 1400 words, but it still didn’t cover everything I’d seen or taken part in. So this time I’ve allowed myself just three words on each artist/act/thing, including the Open Space event I attended on Sunday which kicked off Emerge.
What I Heard About The World: Tell a story
Lemn Sissay: Make it real
Six Degrees Below The Horizon: Beautiful and surreal
21 Writers: Learn the ‘rules’
Open House: Then break them
From Where I’m Stood – A Symposium: Just be honest
The Wau Wau Sisters: Make it filthy
Bourgeois & Maurice: Bad and funny
Pilot Theatre live streaming: Use new technology
The Tin Ring: Or keep simple
The Mamba: Add a film
Handbag: Use no words
Hope & Social: Get everyone involved
The Tagore Project: Commit to it
Open Space: Then where next?
I still don’t feel I’ve done justice to what was put on and achieved. Again this is just what I’ve seen and remembered. It’s a bit slushy and sentimental, but I hope you’ll forgive me for that. I had a ball! And I just really hope that this means things are really starting to change and grow in Leeds, West Yorkshire and beyond.
Last but not least the past couple of weeks have confirmed what I’ve suspected all along – ‘never work with children or animals’ is absolute rubbish. I always want to. And if there are no actual children around then I’ll find someone who’s still five in the head like me sometimes or I’ll get someone to pretend to be an animal for a bit instead. Because, of course, I’ve not forgotten Horse.
The fabulous Flick Ferdinando will be there – whinnes, neighs, whips and saddles – for you at Glastonbury this week if you’re going. She might even have A Wau Wau Sister with her, if you’re very lucky!
What Transform leaves behind, and takes with it, will shake out over the coming days, weeks and months, and I hope you agree when I say that it all feels pretty f*cking exciting at the moment. Yes, I’m definitely institutionalised!
See you soon
Clancy (@clancywalker)