REAFFIRMING OUR WANING HUMANITY

The Lyric Theatre Process

Following are three spoken word poems from three ‘normal’ local women.
This is where ‘normal’ means two very different things at the same time.
First, to be one of the many conventional people of our region, nation or species.
They are not a statistic; they are flesh and blood, sentient human being.
Perhaps in their day-by-day lives, or in the manner in which they live,
or in their opinions they seem to be ‘normal’.

1. children’s drawing.

2. scene form a theatre piece by David Glass Which one of the above is normal?

But also to be ‘normal’ is that they recognise and access their inner lives,
inner lives which in some ways may be common to us all,
and even whilst being ‘normal’ they can call upon images and words
carved out of silence which are filled with truth and beauty.
It falls into the category of ‘you can’t make it up’;
it’s too original, too private, too beautifully poetic to refute.
I believe that this ability should be ‘normal’ but probably is not.

These fine and moving poems alert me to another clear cultural/political condition:
that over the last 40 years
media corporations have become the purveyors of most of our culture,
which is largely lifeless,
filled with a kind of propaganda that leans towards ultra-individualism,
consumerist dreams,
the sexualization of everything,
and illusions of fame and wealth being the answers to all things.
These ideas create our ‘normal’ morally and spiritually* empty world.
This is why our children are so lost,
existing in a hollow world that offers them nothing of meaning to aspire to,
and offers them little that can fill their souls with self-worth
as they learn to help others and our dying earth.

Following is an introduction to the three pieces by Rosie Russel, the producer of the project, Hersong**.

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Community Co-creating - The Lyric Theatre Process

Co-creating work that speak people’s individual truth
is joyous, heart-warming and humbling.
The process must be collaborative, safe and kind;
a listening and learning leadership without ego.

Working alongside Sally Saint, my passionate young co-producer,
we invited women from across the community
(through different groups and networks
to reflect the range of different lived experiences,
ages and backgrounds of Bridport women)
to join in writing their stories with the spoken word intro of ‘I come from …’. 
We created a gentle, inclusive space
where exploration and experimentation are key
and everyone’s voice has value and is heard.
Individually women chose the 7 lines they wanted to share.

Collectively we agreed how these would be performed as an ensemble,
within the HERSONG II programme,
in Bridport’s Lyric Theatre, on 3 September 2023.
Surrounded by 130 people in the audience,
fifteen women (aged 17-77),
most of whom had not done this before,
performed together, each voice claiming their space and their story
and bearing witness to their truth.

You could have heard a pin drop.

This is what the Lyric proudly champions and represents,
and it makes my heart sing to co-create something that affects change
and enables people to be seen and heard. 
What a privilege.

Rosie Russell, Producer 

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Mary (70s, now a local Dorset woman)                                                                           I come from a male dominant home
I come from coal fires, fresh baking smells and large family gatherings
I come from grime, coal dust, a tin bath and outside toilet
I come from cold snowy winters
I come from a loving family in the North East

Gloria (mixed heritage mother in her 40s)                                                                      I come from sharing a juicy orange with my grandpa on the roof of his home
I come from my father’s deepest desire and my mother’s hard work
I come from dancing in the rain, shrieking with laughter
I come from the breaking of glass bangles in a noisy, dusty, hot, vibrant market place
I come from a street where no front door was locked
I come from the smell of spices

Sas (single mum, artist, 30s)                                                                                       I come woven from broken valleys, fleeing mothers and distant fathers,
from homeopaths, painters, diggers and dockers
I come patched from survival city, from cold empty cupboards
and pessimistic wrong turns
I come stitched through with illegal migration and mystical cynics,
flight or fight and excluded as ‘other’
I come knitted by abandoned ship wrecks and unjust wars on domestic shores
I come threaded by a family flawed, birthdays ignored,
second hand shirts, shields and swords
I come painted with heavy metal and early narcotics,
lost luggage and emotional baggage
I come reconstructed by fantasy maps and an arts degree

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from RG (apologies…on some emails three poems are badly formatted on release???I believe these expressions of heartbreak, love, loss, poverty and rich experiences,
expressed so simply, clearly and timely, speak for all of us in many ways.
Their honesty and successful search for the right turn of phrase
has created a set of universal statements that can do nothing less|
then reaffirm our communal humanity.
This is what we need at this moment
and they have done it so well.
It’s work like this that continually allow me hope on our kind,
in the face of all the madness, hatred and inhumanity.
They deserve our fondest thanks and regards.

Thank you Rosie, Sally, Mary, Gloria and Sas.

NOTES----------------------------------

* I use the word ‘spiritual ’in a non-religious way to describe that profound and private centre of humane needs and values in all of us.

**HERSONG - celebration of Bridport women's spoken and sung voices reflecting their lived experiences and stories.