(Photo Credit: O Theatre Workshop)
I watched David Glass’s physical theatre performance many years ago when I studied Drama and Movement Therapy in London. His stunning body movement and his charm was very impressive. David’s “Lost Child” projects in Asia were very interesting too. I registered to join his theatre workshop in London but unfortunately it was finally cancelled. Until lately, when I knew that O Theatre Workshop has invited David to Hong Kong to lead a Devised Theatre workshop, I immediately enrolled for it and so much looked forward to being a theatre student again.
Although physically I was tired and troubled by some art promotion works, my soul has been nurtured in the past few days. I felt like going home. David asked us to explore movement at the ground level and do breathing. He reminded us that we human beings are part of the nature. This is quite similar to what I studied in London, being a drama therapist, I have to be grounded with the clients, provide safe environment for them, accept every moment and be with them at where they are (presence).
“Don’t try too hard!”
“Don’t be too serious! Creativity is not there.”
“Find your élan!”
“Get the holon.”
Breathing, clapping, focusing and throwing balls – all are ordinary activities, but with extraordinary messages behind. When I was a therapy student, I loved reading theatrical thoughts of Peter Brook and Jerzy Grotowski, I was fantasied by their minimalist approaches about theatre. David’s teaching was quite similar to that approach.
During the workshop, I kept wondering what we would perform at the final show since we practiced only simple exercises all the time. David advised that we were easily distracted by many unnecessariness in our lives, we should unveil our creativity from small and simple bits.
Collaborating with more than 40 talented people who were professional theatre workers, social workers, therapists, teachers and youngsters, a 45-minute theatre work was devised after three-hour discussion and practices. How amazing it was! Being one of the crew, I felt so touched and proud. It was absolutely awesome to witness the theatre power in their midst.
I am surprised by myself. I have never found myself an actor, even though I have participated in many improvisational drama performances and I did organize some theatrical projects. I deemed myself not qualified to be an actor.
At the final show, I worked with others to curate the house opening scene with movement choreography. I walked with the whole crew onto the stage. Then I acted as a mother who was looking for her lost son. I danced for a while and sat down on a chair at my own pace. Naturally I rolled down my body, pretended to be the frustrated mother and was waiting for my élan. At that moment, tiredness, sadness and fear came to me out of the blue. An imagined 14-year old boy sneaked in to my mind. Tears ran down my face and my nose. All feelings were so real. I got closer to the audiences and asked, “have you seen my son?” I talked to the audiences how my son looked like and I could actually feel the desperateness and deep pain inside.
After that, I slowly went back to the chair, and empathised how a person could turn numb after experiencing prolonged distress. By grasping the holon, the feeling was then swiftly sublimed to be sarcastic expression by participating in the absurd advertisement “Suicide is Easy” in the subsequent scene.
The emotional changes were so authentic but came fast. I could not understand how it worked inside me . I just followed the flow of the élan. My partner talked to me after watching the show, “You are an actor. I have never seen this side of you”.
I suddenly realized that I have been condemning “myself” always, “You are not good enough, whoever you are and whatever you do. You are neither a good actor, nor a qualified drama therapist”. In the past few days, David kept saying, “do not judge. Everything and everyone can be fun and interesting. Be yourself. Every single moment is a miracle. It is a magic.” It is so true. It was really a miracle. The workshop lifted me up. David once said, “An actor can temporary believe what you are acting is a reality”. If so, yes, I am an actor.
I believe everything has its own time. I have just re-launched my own company Dream of Tomorrow. One of the objectives is to encourage others to pursue their dreams and find their own magic moments. Isn’t it very beautiful when I first experienced it? I participated in a youth care project discussing about suicide a year ago. We are going to do more works on film life education, drama and art programmes. It seems everything is now weaved into a beautiful picture.
Thanks Olivia for organising this theatre workshop. It was great to be inspired by David’s teaching too. No exact wording can fully express my gratitude. I feel like being empowered to devise my dreams ahead.
