Sunday, January 31, 2010

Road to Recovery 2010 Inexcess TV - The therapeutic value of one human helping another

I compered this event last Thursday 28th January. I was in turmoil the night before, especially after the technical rehearsal on the previous day, which left me feeling flat and empty... unsurprising considering there was no audience.

I was convinced I would be a disaster and an embarrassment as a presenter. All night I was plagued by dreams where I'd overslept or couldn't find a clean shirt. Yet, by the time I got there at 8am on a bitterly cold morning after a bleak trudge from Brunswick station to Upper Parliament Street, I was beginning to feel different. I'd done my homework, I'd read the stuff - a rough outline of the day, a working script and biogs of the speakers - I'd shaved and bathed and I was wearing a decent suit... and I'd prayed. I was ready.

http://www.inexcess.tv/?p=9166&v=1


And, lo and behold, as soon as I got on the stage and saw the people surging in, I was alright. The self-obsession left me and I realised I was a small part in a big picture. I felt part of the event, totally at home whether on the stage, at the mike, or in the crowd. What a fantastic day! The therapeutic value of one human helping another is not only without parallel but leads to the wildest, most vibrant theatre imaginable. Here's the link though there's only a few seconds up there yet. There'll be more over the next two weeks... http://www.inexcess.tv/?p=9166&v=1