Well, entry two of my blog. Which is slightly different for this week.
Simon and I were shocked and saddened last week by the sudden passing of Evelyn Handley, our High School Drama teacher. She was of course much more than that – she was an inspiration, a wonderful person and a friend.
She changed my life – and I say that without any exageration or embellishment – if it wasn't for the encouragement and belief that I could pursue this as a career, Nonsenseroom certainly wouldn't exist and I would probably be, well who knows what. I will forever be in her debt.
The news really got me thinking about a question Evelyn asked me when I was about 14 – 'So what IS Drama?' she asked in the middle of another enthralling lesson.. Being the over confident, naive yoof that I was my hand shot up – easy thought I. 'Miss, Drama can be anything' A wry smile, a look of bemusement and the (rightly) cutting answe returnedr 'really!' she said – 'so Drama can be a sack of spuds can it!?' Cue great laughter from the class. A few other similarly feeble attempts followed, then the answer – 'Drama is about people and how people affect each other. It's about seeing how one persons behaviour effects another… It's about dealing with being a human being' THAT is Drama.
Well, how right she was. Evelyn had a profound effect on me and all my subsequent work and that discussion in a class probably 16 years ago changed my life. I'm still answering that question every day. One of the proudest moments of my life so far was the day 'Miss Handley' came to see my final year show in Glasgow. I was so glad to see her and appreciated her coming so much.
This years show will be dedicated to Evelyn Handley and hopefully Romeo & Juliet will be an appropriate answer to the question. For now, all I can say is – Thank you Evelyn, just, thank you.
