Whenever I’m starting a project or putting a new show together, hurdles inevitably appear. These can feel like concrete blocks disrupting the creative path. Over time I’ve learnt that I always do find a solution, in the disguise of a hammer or even an industrial concrete drill to blast those hurdles out of the way.
There have been times over the past couple of months where a few boulders have rolled into place whilst putting together my solo show ‘Magical Maestro’, debuting at the Colchester Fringe at the end of this month.
Today I want to talk about how I tackle those boulders.
I’m very fortunate to have a space at home where I lock myself away and can work without being interrupted. It’s a space where I explore ideas, work on new performances and bring new shows to fruition.
Half of the new show ‘Magical Maestro’ consists of material that I’ve performed before, and the other half is brand new material – which is exciting if a little scary.
I always have ideas for new material running around my head, but the truth is that many of these just don’t work, at all! Such is the fun and frolics of the creative process. I feel very fortunate to have time and space to keep trying, testing and developing nuggets of ideas until they’ve been worked out and rehearsed a hundred times – and the chaos becomes the polished performance.
To give you an insight into working on a new show, the creating process may look something like this:
Inspiration hits, and you have an idea that needs expanding on. I draw it out, make the props (often in cardboard, very Blue Peter…if you know you know), and test out. If it doesn’t work, make a cup of tea.
Remake the prop, retest the idea, make another cup of tea.
Go back another step, reset, practice, again – make more tea.
Practice, write a script script, fill the kettle again with water.
Realise it may or may not work after all, either scrap the whole thing or move onto the rehearsal stage, and celebrate or commiserate with a biscuit to be dunked into a cup of tea.
This has been my process over the past couple of months and will continue to be, whilst locked in my magic work space, until the day before the first show on 27th October. The show you see is the tip of the iceberg.
If you’d like to see the result of all my tea drinking, book tickets here
