I just got off the phone from young Heather, whom I always enjoy talking to, and right now I’m highly excited.
One assessment for my music class this semester affords me the opportunity to collaborate ‘cross-disciplinarily’ – in other words, to collaborate with students in other creative fields. I tend not to collaborate well with other musicians because I like such a specialised form of music, so the opportunity to collaborate with a theatre student is energising. I contacted Heather who, of course, I have worked with before on Maths: the Musical, Boston Spade: Private Eye and Becky‘s film, Breakfast on Dinner Island (or was it Dinner on Breakfast Island? Becky?), and very fantastically has agreed to work with me on a theatre piece that we anticipate will be for one female performer and one pianist.
This is all very preliminary stuff at the moment – I still have to talk to the head of the subject at the university, have it approved and discuss some limitations, requirements and criteria, but as I always say ‘Limitation breeds creativity’, be it physical, mental, fiscal, time, self-imposed, whatever – the desire to overcome something inspires people to perform at the best they can. I’m really hoping that this project is approved, because I have my heart set on it now, I’d really rather not have to drop it and move onto something else. I’m also so grateful to Heather for coming on board even though she is insanely busy – but hopefully it will be creatively rewarding for both of us.
I’m so energised to be working on something creative again. We wrote Maths in a couple of months, and it took me a little less than a year to develop Boston Spade and see it right through from first draft to final recording and those are remembered as the most exciting times of my life. Even though I don’t consider myself a writer, finishing a new draft of the script, reading it back and discovering how much tighter, efficient and funny it had become were great moments. Just working on some creative output that interests me is such a fulfilling way to spend my hours.
I know I’m probably saying something everyone knows, but I think it’s something we, or rather I, too often forget. I think even if I don’t get approval, I’d like to explore this idea with Heather externally – although once the limitation of time is removed, I can get a little slack.
No matter what happens, I’ll try to post updates regarding it here. And I certainly want to get Heather in for a podcast.