After a busy time of it, a few days holiday in Lincolnshire with family was just what I needed. It was grand just popping into the cheese society deli, driving over the Wolds to dig around at the local antiques market, lazing in the garden in some glorious sunshine and sipping cocktails with some precious long lost friends uphill.

And then I trotted further south to a fascinating conference about making opera for young people. It was hosted by ACA at the Egg in Bath and proved a wonderful day, meeting theatre and opera practitioners from all over the UK and hearing more about recent projects at Glyndebourne and the like. There was a huge mix of people there – composers, directors, education specialists, though only two of us from Scotland, myself and a journalist for Opera Now from Aberdeen.

Sarah Argent was showing a piece she had made for Welsh National Opera so it was lovely to see her and hear more from so many people about the challenges and excitements encountered when making work in this sector. There was a juicy debate about how to market opera aimed at young people – one director suggested it was safest perhaps not to tell anyone it was opera until the audience had left the theatre..!

After all, what is it that constitutes opera? I’ve been wondering if we need to understand music to understand opera? Isn’t it just a good story with a particular sung sound in a theatrical setting, or does that change when we’re making work for young people or early years? Maybe here the definition of ‘theatrical’ is itself totally up for grabs. I guess that’s what Tete a Tete and similar companies are wrestling with so successfully. And why as a trained musician and someone who used to sing with the London Philharmonic choir, I think there are some exciting possibilities when we look again at what makes ‘theatre’ and ‘music’ work best for early years audiences.

It was a great spirited and informative day, and most timely as I consolidate what I’ve learnt by developing BabyO at Scottish Opera and now look forward to making my new early years piece The Presents.

[Here's new family member Lily; apparently she's already booked her ticket for The Presents.]

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending a Voice Studio International workshop led by Nadine George. It’s my third annual VSI weekend course and yet again it turned my head. This year, a privileged 8 of us breathed, stretched and sang together, sharing and learning (again) to listen to each other and ourselves in a different way. It’s impossible to describe the work without it sounding a bit odd, sufficed to say it is both simple and complex all at the same time and afterwards you return to the world feeling empowered, centred, open and more like yourself. You have the same sense of self that perhaps you once had as a child, before things got all complicated and working got in the way of making good work!

A few days in Loch Awe this week have capitalised on the sense of relaxation…

I’ve had such an amazing month and next week I’ll be delegate hosting over in Edinburgh at the Imaginate festival – can’t wait. And then onwards with some development workshops and the creative consultancy work…

But for now, a presto,

Kitty x

Alongside the touring shows I’ve directed, I thought you might like to know what else I’ve been up to of late… Since last I posted here in the autumn of 2008, I’ve…

been to Denmark with Imaginate, to the hugely inspirational Danish+ Theatre Festival, showcasing the best of their best work for babies, early years, children and young people. Favourite show: Songs from Above by Theater My/ Refleksion.

been delegate hosting at the annual Imaginate Festival, seeing fabulous work for all age groups and meeting some brilliant practitioners and advocates of children’s theatre

launched a new studio theatre space on Holyrood Road in Edinburgh called Mock Turtle. It’s run by us at Reeling & Writhing and will be a hub of activity again during the Fringe festival in 2010

I’ve started to specialise in making work for young people influenced strongly by the support, mentoring, friendship, workshops and the two Inspiration awards I’ve received from Imaginate

received a Federation of Scottish Theatre bursary and had a wonderful time working as assistant director to Dougie Irvine at Visible Fictions on his international co-production of Peter Pan. This of course is where I met my wonderful friend Massimo Arbarello who worked on the show as a puppetry consultant.

In July, I watched Tim as one of the first to perform on Anthony Gormley’s plinth in Trafalgar Square

and then also…

became a member of the Whisky Society, became a member of the Cheese Society, travelled to the Scottish isles of Jura, Islay, Harris, Lewis and Mull to further explore my Motherland,

bought a house, imparato a parlare un piccolo Italiano and have been delighted to read some sumptuous poetry and literature at the weddings of some dear friends and family.

And I’ve taken a few photographs too. I guess that’s all for now. More anon… x

I’m back!

I’ve been on an epic journey, trotting north and south, meeting wonderful people and making art. Hannah & Harvey was a blast, and since the autumn of 2008, projects have just spun one to the next, and again on, to eventually land me here, with a few minutes to spare in April 2010…

It’s been such varied work for diverse audiences, each show with it’s own juicy themes and ideas;  friendship and loss (If I was a Mouse I would hide in your hood) the army and the nature of comedy (Funny), an opera about a chicken (Auntie Janet Saves the Planet), an opera for babies (BabyO) and some very physical shadow-puppet storytelling (Peter Pan).

And then there was the accumulating storytelling show in libraries, offices and classrooms (Snowball), co-ordinating the inaugural Shakespeare festival at West Lothian, composing installation sound-pieces for an celebratory exhibition of Scottish literature, and various creative learning and teaching situations…

It’s been a great time. I must admit to being a little out of puff at the present, but I’ve got a few weeks to reflect, take stock and brew the juicy new ideas before launching into rehearsals for the next new show The Presents!

I’ll bring you up to date with things bit by bit, and if you want to know more about any of the projects past or present, just drop me a line.

For now, a presto,

Kitty x

If you’ve seen the flier for the show, you’ll know there’s a boxing scene at the show’s conclusion. So tomorrow, courtesy of Elly, one of our board members, I’m off to the barracks in Edinburgh, with the actresses who play Hannah & Harvey, for some boxing training. Apparently the boys there are just as excited as we are!!

Meanwhile, ‘BabyO’ the operatic show I’m writing with Rachel Drury, for 0-3s and their families, is still in development and providing much excitement in Japan! But more of that anon…

And finally, ‘Just LIke Us’ the abolition of slavery exhibition launches a week on Friday at Eastwood Park; the work, made with all manner of artists and young people from all over East Renfrewshire is stunning and so varied. The photographic work made with Tim is incredible and well worth a visit!

Here’s a link to a wee trailer for Hannah & Harvey. It launches at Platform on 10th and 11th of Oct and then tours until mid-November. Full tour dates are on the R&W website. Hope to see you there!

K. x

katherine[at]reelingwrithing[dot]com