John Wright was a wonderful few days, and gave us all a burst of energy, reminding us of the simplicity that our interactions can have, but also re-establishing some really concrete tools in partner clowning. The concept of the Boss Clown is so valuable in our work, especially when the 'routine' is done with levity. The Low Status Clown keeps doing something and the Boss Clown tells them off for it. The key here for me is that the Low Status Clown is never hurt or upset by this telling off - 'touch this? (while touching it) No, of course, I would never touch this! (while touching it)...' And the Boss clown gets more and more angry and absurd, until the roles reverse, and the Low Status Clown has to take care of her Boss. She totally undermines herself. High Status in hospital partnerships can often be misunderstood as the the one who takes care of the visit as well as setting up 'gags' for their partner. But here, we have the perfect example of how utterly stupid and fun a High Status role can be.
I have just completed the Bodies and Objects course with Polina Borisova as part of the Manipulate festival in Edinburgh. It was really for my own clown practice outside of hospital that I wanted to go, but as always, everything filters in, and I am increasingly interested in how we can use objects in our work, especially as Elderflowers.
Recently Toots and I visited some ladies and gentlemen in an assessment unit. Their Dementia is in the relatively early stages. We ended up practicing a wedding ceremony, with Bonnie using a washing up brush as a bunch of flowers as she walked down the aisle, and later as her groom and dance partner. It is easy to see, in a children's hospital, that puppetry or creating different worlds with mime or object play can be effective in increasing wellbeing, but I am so excited by the possibilities of how we can do this more effectively as Elderflowers. The challenges of confusing the ladies and gentlemen or ending up performing are surmountable if we have the same vocabulary to work from.
This Friday Zoe and I are officially sharing some of what we learned in Barcelona with the rest of the company. Trying to whittle down so much valuable information, and make a coherent workshop has been a challenge, but really fun to go through everything again. And in fact there are certain things that have become such a central part of my practice now that it was obvious that we needed to include them. And other things that I want to be, but require us all to to have the same starting point and understanding of it's value for it to work. I really hope it is a useful day, and that we manage to communicate what we hope to.
I may now be addicted to workshops. What a pleasure to be told what to do for 3 days, to be given these keys and insights and new approaches. I am arranging for the wonderful Ira Seidenstein to come to lead a workshop in Glasgow at the end of March, and several Hearts and Minds members will be there. Until then I will carry on consolidating everything that I have learned so far, both in and out of Hospital. And endless and joyful task!
I have just completed the Bodies and Objects course with Polina Borisova as part of the Manipulate festival in Edinburgh. It was really for my own clown practice outside of hospital that I wanted to go, but as always, everything filters in, and I am increasingly interested in how we can use objects in our work, especially as Elderflowers.
Recently Toots and I visited some ladies and gentlemen in an assessment unit. Their Dementia is in the relatively early stages. We ended up practicing a wedding ceremony, with Bonnie using a washing up brush as a bunch of flowers as she walked down the aisle, and later as her groom and dance partner. It is easy to see, in a children's hospital, that puppetry or creating different worlds with mime or object play can be effective in increasing wellbeing, but I am so excited by the possibilities of how we can do this more effectively as Elderflowers. The challenges of confusing the ladies and gentlemen or ending up performing are surmountable if we have the same vocabulary to work from.
This Friday Zoe and I are officially sharing some of what we learned in Barcelona with the rest of the company. Trying to whittle down so much valuable information, and make a coherent workshop has been a challenge, but really fun to go through everything again. And in fact there are certain things that have become such a central part of my practice now that it was obvious that we needed to include them. And other things that I want to be, but require us all to to have the same starting point and understanding of it's value for it to work. I really hope it is a useful day, and that we manage to communicate what we hope to.
I may now be addicted to workshops. What a pleasure to be told what to do for 3 days, to be given these keys and insights and new approaches. I am arranging for the wonderful Ira Seidenstein to come to lead a workshop in Glasgow at the end of March, and several Hearts and Minds members will be there. Until then I will carry on consolidating everything that I have learned so far, both in and out of Hospital. And endless and joyful task!