Meet the new girl

Hi! I’m Lisa, and you’ve probably seen me floating about on the Haywire buzz before. You might recognise me from The Answer To Your Question Pocketfull, or buckets by Adam Barnard, which ran at the Buxton Fringe summer of this year. So when Lucy and Olivia contacted me about becoming a director of the company, I was absolutely thrilled! The work that Haywire have done so far has been fascinating, as it has focused on real people with real life issues. You ask anyone what they define theatre as, or what theatre means to them, and you’ll get lots of different answers. I used to think of theatre as an escape, I suppose I still do in some way. But most importantly, I think it’s about telling stories. And even the most ludicrous fiction has its roots in real life. Mostly this is because we look to stories to find reflections of ourselves. If we can relate to the story that is being told, we find comfort in that. Often it can help us overcome and understand traumatic experiences in life. But it also shows us joy, laughter, sensitivity etc. Theatre can be an escape, because it can take us away from ourselves, but it also tells us about ourselves. That’s what I’m interested in and it is also what Haywire is all about.

I thought I’d write this blog post to introduce myself formally, and to talk a little bit about what it’s like to join a theatre company, and become a professional theatre-maker. I’ll start by saying that I’ve always considered myself a performer. I can act and I can sing and I love doing both of those (funnily enough though, I can’t dance - I have two left feet!) I love writing songs too, and I get a buzz off of being onstage, no matter what I’m doing. But I think I’ve evolved as an artist over the years, and I’m more than that now. To work in theatre, you have to be more than that. You have to be able to take the ropes on almost any role. Making theatre is so dependent on teamwork, and you have to be a team player. I think that’s what makes it so fun, though. Personally, it’s always been a dream to make theatre a career. Originally, I thought that meant being an actor. However, I’m finding joy in all aspects of theatre, in the process of working with a team of creatives and watching small ideas become big realities. I’d like to be a part of that process, though in what manner right now I’m not sure, I’d just like to get stuck in!

When I was approached about joining Haywire officially, I was asked what I’d like to do within the company, and if there were any roles I’d like to be trained in. Well that’s quite a big question when the whole world is at your fingertips! It’s a question I’m not entirely sure I have an answer for right now because I want to try it all! However, with projects coming up in the next 12 months, I had to seriously think about it, and I realised I wanted a little more responsibility in the production of projects. I’d always joined shows when everything was set into motion, coming in with my lines learnt ready for rehearsal, but the amount of work put in before that even starts is astronomical! A show isn’t a show unless there are the right people in the right places doing the right jobs. You need actors and a director, and a space for those people to rehearse, and also plenty of time for them to rehearse in. You need designers, technicians, a budget, funding, and so much more that goes into making a show. And communication within these groups of people is vital. I’ve been a part of several productions where communication wasn’t solid, and it hasn’t been a pleasant experience for anyone. It’s important that every creative feels comfortable in their role as an individual and as a vital part of a team. You also need to learn how to be creative in a role that isn’t assumed to be creative. You have to learn to think outside the box and find ways to make the impossible possible. It’s sort of like throwing myself in the deep end and teaching myself how to swim the hard way, but I’m excited for the challenge!

So what’s it like to join a theatre company, especially when there currently isn’t a show running? Well, on the business side, I can tell you it’s a lot of meetings, planning, and applications. That might sound boring but actually, it’s rather exhilarating. You’re setting the wheels in motion for projects large and small, and one small idea can spark the flame for something huge and exciting. Our first official meeting as a team had us mapping out the next 12 months of projects, including a fringe tour next summer. I hadn’t realised why companies plan so far in advance until this point, and a lot of it is because of funding applications. It’s not cheap to make a show, but fortunately there are avenues of sponsors who are willing to put their money into a variety of artistic opportunities. The only issue is getting those applications in nice and early so that you can run the show, pay everyone a decent wage, and potentially earn a profit. But planning out the year also means you always know what’s coming next, and it’s amazing to always have a project to work on.

The work Haywire is currently doing is very exciting, and as we mapped out the next 12 months, the energy has ramped up. There is one particular project I think is incredibly important, and it has just started production recently with Well-Fed’s Community Festival. With a working title of There Ain’t Mushroom ‘Tween Here And The Moon, this project aims to tackle issues of food poverty and insecurity onstage, in a performance that is honest, accurate and relevant to the communities that are affected by it. With the COVID-19 pandemic worsening issues of food poverty, there isn’t a more important moment in time to raise awareness and find solutions to these issues.

In addition to issues of food poverty, Haywire is working hard to develop a workspace and company that is diverse and fair, with members from a wide range of backgrounds. This is perhaps the most exciting part of being a director of Haywire. You get to meet lots of new creatives, all with a passion for theatre, and all with different stories to tell. In all honesty, the breadth of people I have worked with creatively extends only to those I went to university with. And while that means I have a plethora of creative contacts available, it limits those contacts to those who chose to go down the academic route, excluding creatives that decided against it either for personal choice or necessity. While I’m so unsure about my role as an artist and a creative, meeting people and hearing their stories whilst opening up a platform for people to use their voices, is very exciting. I’m looking forward to making work with different people, regardless of what role I might be playing within the company. 

In short, Haywire is about real people telling real stories, and that is so very important. I’m honoured to be a part of this journey, and I’m looking forward to creating work that makes a real difference. 

Lisa