Like many theatremakers out there, there comes a point in your career where you think, ‘AH MY BANK ACCOUNT IS EMPTY, AHHH I HAVEN’T WRITTEN IN DAYS, AHHHH THIS ISN’T MY HOUSE’.
You know just your ordinary theatremaker thoughts. I have been speaking to a lot of other theatremakers lately who have recently been asking me about the videos I make on Youtube. And I have been getting some really great responses. I think this is because I have finally gained an understanding about this whole social media shin dig. But it only started rolling some momentum recently due to one sentence I always keep telling myself ‘create the art, the money will follow’.
I recently went to Mexico because I am obsessed with Gorditas. They are so bloody delicious. I’m joking, (kind of) my boyfriend lives in Mexico, so I decided to go over to him for a bit. And had the realisation ‘oh my jesus I am going to have so much time to get some writing and work done, I MUST BRING ALL OF MY NOTEBOOKS’. Which I did, but like a lot of playwrights out there, the unavoidable and inevitable happened…the minute my brain had some time to write, I didn’t write anything, for a long time. But instead of freaking out and doing my usual routine of thought, which usually goes as follows.
You have free time, you are going to get so much work done.
Why aren’t you writing? Stop staring out the window!
Dear God woman, why aren’t you writing, we will never get this amount of time to write again.
That is a pretty bird, isn’t it?
NO, STOP BEING DISTRACTED, GET BACK TO WRITING!
Instead, I allowed myself to get a bit distracted. Whenever I am doing work as a playwright or dramaturg, I usually go into this panicked form of thought. For the obvious reasons, I am usually stuck for time and I am trying to finish about three jobs at the same time. So for the first two weeks, I did not write anything, but reminded myself that it was a process and not to start going into melt down mode. And the unexpected happened, I started writing, and was enjoying myself.
I bought a kimono and decided I needed to take several pictures of myself in the kimono with some funky filters.
The time I allowed myself to just relax, it really refined my artistic decisiveness. My thoughts were more focused and a lot more artistically rich with material. And I was keeping up to date with plans and deadlines I have been creating for myself. Success!
Now saying that, my bank account does not look great. In fact, I was only looking at my account on my phone with one eye closed. It is fine because if I create the Art I love, the money will follow.
We went to a music festival. Which had amazing music and some unreal beers.
If any other playwrights or dramaturgs are in similar position, just remember the theatre industry is a mad industry to work within. Make sure you step back from the madness, and don’t let the madness destroy your work. Or do involve some of the madness and write a badass play.
This was a random blog entry by the Madwoman in the Theatre.
This is a beach in Sayulita. It was stunning and absolutely breathtaking. And the sea was warm! You don’t get that back in Ireland.
The Madwoman in the Theatre. 