Adelaide News

Why hello!
After nearly 10 months in Adelaide I am settling in nicely and have worked on some exciting projects since the move last December.  Earlier this year I consulted on a new and exciting horror film, Awoken, and coached Kate Hamill's VERY fun and fanciful version of Sense and Sensibility for the State Theatre Company of South Australia (complete with Roller-skating gossips and ukulele rock covers).
The local acting and theatre community have been beautifully open and kind in their welcome to me, and I have worked with some fabulous people in my little home studio in the foothills of Blackwood.
Over the past week I have had the honour of running two courses for NIDA Open - one for adults and one for 10 to 13 years olds.  I was reminded very much of a little Jen when a young girl broke out in tears on her first day (of five) at the thought of participating in an exercise. After literally hiding behind a curtain, she spoke to me about her extreme shyness, and her desire to try new things but the wave of fear she would feel when she tried. Time and time again her extreme emotional responses had stopped her from getting up and taking part.  By the first afternoon the girl was up and improvising with her classmates, and by the end of the week she happily performed for parents in a devised play, and shared with her classmate and audience some thoughts on what she had achieved that week.  
​At the risk of sounding trite, this work really can change lives. I was reminded this week of what a privilege it is to pass the work on to the next generation. Seeing children who describe themselves as 'too' something (shy, loud, weird, nerdy, talkative, emotional...) meet and connect with other members of the 'too' crew is a beautiful thing and it gets me every time.
Love to all my fellow 'too-ers' out there. xx