When the all clear sounds on the personal air raid app in Ukraine, those signed up to hear the warnings in English get the unusual message “All clear. May the Force be With You”. So it is fitting that I write this blog on the 4th of May on a train heading from Warsaw to the Ukrainian border.
A week ago I was in Malta working with theatremakers and companies on a 4 day programme to support them as they plan shows for EdFringe27. A producers’ and a self-producers’ intensive course for an array of amazing creatives across all the performing arts. In August this year they will visit Edinburgh to explore and learn, to be shocked and awed, and to pitch ideas to venues and producers. All this is supported, no funded 100%, by the Malta Arts Council. The Minister of Culture was there to launch the 18 month programme along with the inspiring director of the Arts Council. It is a pleasure to work with the team there, and to get to spend a few days in this very special Country. [Next time I will aim to have some days off to see more than the cab ride from hotel to theatre conference room].
I headed hotfoot back to London in time to see Midsummer Night’s Dream press night at the Globe with my son, Michael Grady-Hall, playing Puck. Emily Lin’s production has had wonderful reviews and the audience will, I know, have a phenomenal time there as part of this playful joyful production. Proud Dad. But also Proud Dad twice over because my daughter Anna taught a brilliant session online for the Maltese around individual giving and the tricks or the trade of cultivation and fundraising.
Yesterday I was at the annual Devoted and Disgruntled unconventional convention managed by Improbable Theatre. A look at past blogs over the years will show how important I find this gathering of 200+ creatives, for my own wellbeing and inspiration. This year we were in Shoreditch Town Hall and it felt very mellow and reflective, with deep and important array of discussions. I was pleased to be able to raise the topic of ‘What are we going to do about/with/for Ukrainian theatre and the Performing Arts” A rich discussion and enquiry followed with those who were particularly interested in what I was finding out by my visits, and with people who could feed in so much wisdom on what was happening in London, Chipping Norton, Manchester, and many other centres.
I take with me an array of questions to ask those I meet this week in Kyiv as we all want to understand how collaboration and support might be possible between the UK and Ukraine.
As the sun sets across the treelined fields south of Warsaw, and I look forward to a bit of sleep disturbed by the four different interactions with the border police/army/checkpoint folk, I am grateful to my family for the love and freedom we give each other, which embraces me heading off into a theatre environment where there is deep trauma, some risk, full houses, and a total determination that the invading forces of russia will be pushed back. Ukraine will, in time, be a free Country again and the arts will be part of the healing and re-forming of a nation.
I will keep posting short updates on Facebook and then, when I have returned, I will do a fuller reflection – as I did last visit – on my experiences. This time focussed on the KiFest I am attending along with, I hope, fascinating international producers and programmers here to see exciting work for possible future presentation around the world.
Slava Ukraini
May the 4th be with you