Into the Woods with Titania

“And so I go to the woods. As I go in under the trees, dependably, almost at once, and by nothing I do, things fall into place. I enter an order that does not exist outside, in the human spaces….I am less important than I thought. I rejoice in that.”

Wendell Berry: Essays 1969-1990
‘A Native Hill’ from ‘The Long-Legged House’, 1969

Edvard Munch – The Fairy Forest

Titania appreciates humans who understand the special nature of woods, and the Fairy Queen sometimes even appears to these mortals.

She can assume various guises – here she channels the spirit of Edvard Munch (famous for ‘The Scream’ painting)…

How long before you see her in Munch’s Fairy Forest?

If you would like to see Titania in person, visit the Edinburgh Fairy Embassy at Paradise Green, where she, Oberon and Puck will be welcoming visitors.

Please book your time here: Where Do Fairies Come From?

Persistent and Nasty Hope

This is the manifesto for Persistent & Nasty, “a script-reading, debate and art as activism initiative for women and gender minorities in the stage and screen industries.”

“Hope for the Future”

Having learnt much and really enjoyed myself at a Persistent and Nasty event at last year’s Fringe, I was absolutely delighted to be asked to take part in their “Hope for the Future” evening! This was recorded live at the CCA in Glasgow and is available now: you can watch it here. 

The event involved two rehearsed readings of short scripts by Jerusha Green and Tamara von Werthern, followed by a Q&A with guest speaker Dawn Sievewright and the actors, including Elaine Stirrat and Misha McCullagh of Persistent and Nasty.

Run by Civil Disobedience, “Persistent and Nasty is a script-reading, debate and art as activism initiative for the female-identified voice in stage and screen...Our goal is to create a project that is safe and supportive, but that is also an act of protest. Persistent and Nasty is about changing the cultural narrative through the stories we tell.”

Discussions from the “Hope for the Future” event include what makes a strong female character, differences between generations and cultures in Scotland / UK when it comes to making progress on equality, and what we can do to create the changes we want to see. I found I actually had things to say myself, especially on awareness and what is non-conscious.

I’d love to hear your opinions! What do you feel / think of the plays and the discussion?

Maya Angelou – Love Liberates

The incredible Maya Angelou…

Maya Angelou has such wonderful and profound things to say to all of us, and you can find my Pinterest Maya Angelou board here, with lots of brilliant quotes.

I am currently listening to The Amazing Maya Angelou: A Song Flung up to Heaven, the final part of her autobiography as presented by BBC Four, which is what inspired me to find out what her own voice sounds like, leading me to the above video.

I hope this and other links likewise inspire you in your Maya Angelou journey!

What is your favourite quote – if you can choose one from so many greats – by this truly inspirational, visionary woman? Comment below…

Who is the “greatest director of all times”?

Great interview with Nigerian-British actor Chukwudi Iwuji, recently on BBC2 in the Anthony Hopkins ‘King Lear’ and currently playing Othello at Shakespeare in the Park, NYC.

There is a lot worth listening to, and here I’ve listed some favourites of mine – what would you pull out?

07:25 (10:25) “Steeped in the language”: the very sounds of the words, Shakespeare as “the greatest director of all times” – the importance of the language

11:50 (13:15) How Iwuji copes if he doesn’t feel something coming from another actor for him to respond to and he is “looking at dead air”

21:15 On Hamlet (including women playing)

23:00 On Ira Aldridge, great 19th century black actor

29:30 “Acting is happening constantly” for an actor, not just when in a job (part of the Q&A section that starts at 27:00)

So… what strikes you most?  Comment below!