Aren’t these surreal times? At first I went into a frantic panic on how to keep Vamos Theatre financially afloat faced with the abrupt and immediate cancellation of our final three weeks of touring. Weeks later I realised how fortunate we were to have so little cancelled in comparison to other touring companies. Then I went into a surge of ideas of how to support schools in lockdown. Then I wanted my kids to tidy their bedrooms. Then I went into a creative overdrive (to give my life meaning) to maintain a theatrical presents (digitally). Then I enthralled on how artists all over the world were doing the same. And now...in the third week of lock down...I’m calmer, I’ve planted potatoes and red onions and am simply happy to be healthy. I’m trying not to watch the news before bed because I know it will intrude my dreams. My dreams are busy, always thinking, planning and worrying about my family, the Vamos Theatre family and of course all the people I love...there are so many to worry about at 3am.
So to let you know, Vamos Theatre is surviving (and will blooming survive this) on a reduced staff, with the main aim for the whole team to come back together as soon as...the world allows us to. I’m gently starting to think about the next production (any ideas?), about future projects and timescales and about new ways of working in this changed being. I’m writing this from my garden (but I promise the next show will not be about gardening or DIY!).
We cannot thank you enough for all the kind messages of support and the amazing and wonderful donations - both for Sharing Joy (which, of course, is postponed until Care Homes are safely out of the crisis) and for the Vamos Theatre family as a whole. We will keep persevering to get our warm, daft, sometimes poignant, but usually silly social media films out to you...your comments are encouraging...it has to be interactive, so please keep talking to us! Even if you don't do social media, you can still watch Ryan in Isolation and our other films on one of our platforms. We all need love, we all need to keep connecting, we all need to hold on to the fact that this is a passage. Passages pass. See you on the other side with a huge great big Vamos Theatre cuddle, come a and claim it, they’re free.
Stay in touch with us via the website or on facebook, twitter and instagram...we've also got plenty of free mask theatre resources for schools and students, including educational access to a full length Vamos Theatre performance (email learning[at]vamostheatre.co.uk for more info on that).
Like all of the arts and beyond, we are in great need of financial support if we are to survive. If you feel able to you can donate here.
Thank you Rachel, so glad you’re keeping sane in these strange times.Your work, and the work of your team, has been really appreciated over the last 4 weeks. The last contact I had with my Year 10s was watching the second half of ‘Dead good’, not a dry eye in the room. Vamos are so valuable, you are doing a brilliant job and so are your family.
ReplyI first saw your work in Edinburgh in the early nineties about a woman who had been invited onto a TV show to meet an estranged child which then opened up memories of a traumatic experience, so powerful. I then saw State of Bewilderment and still have the poster up in the Drama studio! Such wonderful work that has stayed with me throughout the years. Nursing lives was the first piece of your new company that I brought students to, and then Much ado about Wenlock and your company are consistently wonderful and innovative.
Thank you, and hope to see you in the East Midlands when all of this is over and life returns back to ‘normal’.
Take care and enjoy those red onions
Martin
Swanwick Hall School
Derbyshire.
Thanks so much for your message Martin. They are tough times. But our main aim is to get the Vamos team back together and making work as soon as we can. What that work will be- from learning and participation to touring to theatres or care homes, has yet to be decided. What’s frustrating is not being able to plan... yet. Stay well and please stay in touch With love, Rachael
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