Day 4 Otherhood play R&D

Sketch a day - day 170/365

Its been the Otherhood R&D sharing today.

I wrote a massive post all about the amazing, generous folks who came to be our work in progress audience.

It had a ton of stuff all about how helpful people’s feedback has been. How their words were challenging, thoughtful, supportive and helpful a massive power punch of possibility and positivity.

I also wrote loads about the Otherhood cast and team. How amazing they have all been to work with. And how excited Deborah and I are about getting into the full fat rehearsal process with them in September.

I banged on loads about the way actors are incredible, magical beings who I am a bit in awe of. The skill and courage they have to wrangle in a rehearsal room. Becoming other people, other beings, just being open to being present in a way that is really very other worldly.

And I also banged on a good deal about the awesome ways in which our sound team, dramaturge, access advisor and show designer have all collaborated in the most generous, exciting and supportive ways this week. It is fantastic to work with such talented people. It makes me want to keep working to be better.

I then got excited about our production and marketing team. Any artist out there who doesn't think these roles are creative is wrong &/or working with the wrong people. Our production /marketing team is absolutely ace. They stay calm. They make shit happen. And they continually come up with solutions for impossible problems.

As you might have gathered, this first post was a huge mushy splurge of love. I am tired and emotional. Being very tired also almost certainly accounts for why I managed to write this huge huge huge encyclopedia of thanks and appreciation only to lose it when I thought I had hit save.

It's probably best that the first blog was lost. It was way too soppy. Because of course, the most important thing about today is that (despite it being a massive moment) it is only the start.

There’s a long way to go yet. But today proved to us all that we have everything to play for. A beautiful thing has emerged on the horizon. Next steps? Courage and focus and graft.

Drawing wise, it was a smash and grab kind of vibe for me today. I didn't have time to worry about what I was drawing. There was just a small opportunity before the event kicked off. And then at the end there was a moment when some team members sat in a circle and talked and I managed to capture shapes, ways of sitting, perhaps how a hand is held. But by and large I had to just sketch and decide not to worry about the face melting that was going on. Here we are.

And that (for the 2nd time this evening) is the news. Let's hope I don't fail to save this properly this time.