Did it again for a matinee. We still didn’t have the space in time – this is a hire so we can’t warm up. There’s a mezzanine I often use when getting my shit together for corporate stuff. We ended up there and Adam had his lanyard on cus he does education. But there’s a cancer in that building. I don’t know how to shift it. It might be because they rely so much on sl… on volunteers.
We were (not ostentatiously) warming up as a group a little bit before the space became available, in a circle. We were aware we were in public and weren’t doing anything noisy or requiring focus that takes us from where we are. It’s a barely used mezzanine. There are many toilets.
Some well dressed old guy came by because there’s a loo there, and we all made space for him, and we were lovely to him, and we made him welcome immediately. We stepped forward so he could walk behind. But he still knew there was a circle of actors and he really wanted it to be all about him.
Despite us being very open and easy for him he behaved like we were an obstruction in a way that felt completely artificial and forced, playing to his narrative. “Am I expected to do a cartwheel or something to cross this space?” “No no absolutely not you’re not interrupting anything please don’t feel you need to change your behaviour in any way.”
Who knows, maybe he was creatively involved in the main house show, I hope not cos he seemed like a secretly nasty piece of work and I don’t want that of that space. Whatever, he evidently went and moaned to someone and before we knew it two concerned young women in lanyards came up and told Adam (coz he had his lanyard on) that we were being “too noisy.” For who? We weren’t. They just needed to be seen to respond to whoever that old guy was. It was fine, we didn’t have to stop. But this sort of thing is RIFE in that building and it is to do with departments and possession of space and money. And it is so unnecessary and sad in a building made from passion to celebrate one of the greatest humanitarian world playwrights.
Adam put it very well when he said “It feels like it is an old old space, but actually it’s only young”
So yeah you’ve got three primary departments. Education. Swan. Main Space.
If they could play nicely then it could be one of the most potent art spaces in the country.
But again and again I see the different departments egoing about space rather than collaborating. It is extremely frustrating.
It was better a few decades ago, it might be better again one day. There are still good hearts in the building. Sam was the heart of it and those who carry his torch really would help us all if they didn’t carry it lightly. It’s a building built out of passion for the arts. There’s no room for your shitty ego. It is a lot, to carry the legacy of these people. And I know all too well the sort of nonsense The Swan has to put on to satisfy their clients. There’s an AI script we’ve just been sent which is horrifying.
Corporate, Education, Creative. They could all play nicely. I’m almost tempted to formally propose myself as a liaison. I haven’t worked or auditioned mainspace though. And until the building communication is fixed I’d never identify myself as someone who works for and with The Swan. Because… we are just an obstructive noise on the mezzanine as far as IMPORTANT is concerned.
I know Sam understood Shakespeare’s voice. I think I know what he would have wanted for that building. I think of my old friend Diana Devlin who I would frequently have a drink with after events. She was a historian and also got it. Where are these heads now for this building? I would love to talk to Michelle on this subject.
This weekend I’ve been involved in an outside rental show for this building I work in often. They took a vast amount of money I reckon to let the old school use the space. As it happens some of us are Education Practitioners and some are involved with The Swan. But honestly, hierarchy be damned. Dost think that because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale?
We were treated well but at that price of course we were. The staff also were good and thoughtful, working hard to time things well for us, absolutely brilliant all three of the ones we had. But with the mix of us all it got me thinking about how much better that building could be at coming together. Which got me thinking about how I might be able to help.
