Joining the Flock

Over the past two weeks I have had the wonderful experience of being involved with Weave Movement Theatre's latest production - Flock. My colleague and friend, Simone, asked if I'd like a go at being Assistant Stage Manager and Front of House Coordinator during their season in the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Eager to expand my horizons I happily said "YES!" Assistant Stage Manager and FOH Coordinator (along with Volunteer Coordinator) was going to look good on a resume which made another reason for saying yes.

Little did I know how much this gig was going to mean to me.

Isn't that the way life goes sometimes? You agree to something because you want to help out;  to contribute to something bigger than yourself and to learn a new skill so that one day you might pick up more work in that particular field and you end up being a part of something that touches you in such a profound way that you know your life will never be the same. 

I didn't know what to expect. I'd never done stage management before so I didn't know exactly what was expected of me but I soon learned that stage management is everything I love doing - fetching, carrying, helping, setting up, prompting cast members, making sure things are in the right place at the right time and generally being a go-for and go-getter.

The biggest bonus though was being introduced to the loveliest bunch of people you could ever hope to meet. They are enthusiastic, they are creative, they think outside the box. They communicate beauty in ways I have never seen before. I am captured and mesmerised by each performance.

I love being further educated about disability just by being there.

I love having my misconceptions confronted, my ideas challenged. 

My favorite scene of the production is one of the last. It's a movement piece - the most beautiful and moving piece I have witnessed in a long time. So expressive and gentle, yet powerful. The two women move me to tears each time I see it. It confronts every notion I had about dance and motion, beauty and expression. 

The more I am involved with Weave the more I want to be involved, the more I want to explore my creative side. If I continue to be involved behind the scenes then I will be happy, but I would be thrilled to be able to explore my creative side and join the ensemble of performers. I have always loved to dance and move but have long despaired that my physicality is not one that people want to see on stage other than in roles that are more suited for comedy  as a token imp or elf or fantasy creature. Weave opens up an opportunity to explore movement that involves beauty, sensuality and actually celebrating that one has a body.

This weekend Flock is showing at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute.

Details about the show and how to purchase tickets can be found HERE. 

I hope to see you there!