You may have noticed that I've been a little quiet on here of late, and as always, there is good reason for that. It's been a challenging year, full of uncertainty. Just about a year ago, I sustained, what has proved to be, a serious shoulder injury in rehearsals for a show. The time imediately after was filled with turmoil, changing plans and getting someone else to cover the show. As time passed it became apparent that my injury was more serious than we first thought. As someone who has been an aerial performer for over 20 years, suddenly not being able to hang by my arms is heartbreaking. It has so many impacts and implications for my life, not least the sudden lack of income, the disapprearance of the endorphins I am accustomed to getting from training.
It has left me, to be quite honest, bereft. This last year has been about trying to understand how to work in the world of circus and theatre without being able to perform my main discipline. It has also been a time of trying to understand what else I might want to do with my time here on earth. A year later, I'm not sure I'm much closer to answering these questions, but I have been able to survive.
As you know, I wrote and directed a bilingual circus theatre show, HMS Stormus, comissioned by the Welsh Outdoor Arts Consortium, and we toured succesffully to festivals the length and breadth of Wales. Directing a show was a new experience, and I learnt a great deal. I have to thank the patience and generosity of my performers- Iago Morgan Jones, Daisy Williams and Ellis Grover, understudy Freya Sophia as well as the support I had from Articulture, Gwen Thompson, Kate Jones, Keith Jones and Adrian.
I spent my time on stilt walking and rigging jobs, including rigging and counterweighting for all the shows in the Windy Van Hooten tent at Shambala festival. It was an immense pleasure to support all the wonderful acts there. Autumn saw a return to my old stomping ground of Sheffield, where I made my debut as a cabaret compere for the Greentop Circus scratch night. It was loads of fun to try out new material there, my halloween themed pumpkin game went down a storm too. I then joined the rigging team for their full rigging inspections. It was great to see systems put in place back when I was head rigger, working really well and how settled in the new team are. I also enjoyed dropping in for a week and not having the ongoing responsibility in the busy centre.
Currently I'm touring as a stage manager for a show about Sophia Duleep Singh- a rebel indian princess, womens rights campaigner and suffragette. The show, created by Scary Little Girls theatre company and commissioned by the Royal palaces is touring schools in the midlands in November. I am also rigging for a particpatory project for the opening ceremony of Bradford City of Culture, which has been a heart warming and fulfilling role, giving members of the public, including those with additional needs, the opportunity to fly in harnesses for the first time.
Which brings me to "What next?" I have a few creative projects up my sleeve for 2025, including making my debut as a circus director for Cimera Syrcas' new show Gorjys. I am also intending to return to Berlin to continue my study in Devised Theatre and Performance at Arthaus Berlin. Beyond that, plans are uncertain, I am still waiting for more information about my shoulder injury and to see if surgery is a viable option. I am back doing a small amount of strength training, but it is unclear when or if I'll be back properly in the air. For now, I'll continue to explore options and see what comes my way.