The orange, plastic chair looked sturdy enough. It was in the middle of a line of other orange, plastic chairs. However, when I sat on it I heard a faint cracking sound, and then suddenly the chair collapsed beneath me, unceremoniously depositing me on the floor. How embarrassing, because I was on a stage with 40 people, being watched by an audience of 150 plus.
It had all started with an e-mail. Would I like to appear in a theatre production about Summer? Not too sure about that. But might make some contacts. Maybe make a film.
An initial meeting was arranged at the Dantzic building in Manchester. Here I met all the important players from the theatre company - the artistic directors, the writer, choreographer & others. A lot of questions were asked. Was I on Facebook, what music did I like, what were my views on death.
So I signed up and the rehearsals began. The piece I was told was about living right now, being in the moment. I saw it as exploring a time in my life when I was just so happy to be alive. However, it did seem to involve a lot of walking up and down, from one point to another point and back again, going down one line and across another, all the time surrounded by other performers who were running, jumping, lying down, raising their hands to some imaginary sun. It all appeared to be quite weird.
More people then joined: drama students, a builder, a recovery worker, a college lecturer. I asked them what they were making of it all, they hadn’t a clue.
Another rehearsal consisting of dancing, and answering more questions. The artistic director wondered if I’d ever thought of stand-up. No! “But you’re very funny!”
On the way out he started to say “You’re very good at …” Was he going to compliment me on my dancing? “… asking questions”
Yet another rehearsal and more dancing, I was beginning to think this was not for me. I decided to sit it out, one of the directors approached me, I expressed my uncomfortable feeling, she said if you don’t want to do something you don’t have to do it, but please stay you have such presence!
Then the shows started. Before each performance everybody dancing to Mr Blue Sky. Then out to meet our audience.
Throughout the different acts members of the cast were asked questions. ‘Do you come from a large family?’, ‘Is there someone you met only once, but who had a lasting impression on you?’, ‘When was the last time you cried?‘ Be brief, we were told, don’t go into too much detail, don’t try to be funny.
Each performance ended with what was called the Big Interview. One person was left on stage to be asked a series of questions. On the final night I was asked to do the Big Interview. This was indeed an honour. One of the questions I was asked “Was retirement what I expected it to be?” No, it was much, much better!
After the show people were coming up and hugging me, thanking me for sharing some of my life with them. It was such an emotional experience.
I never did find out what happened to the orange, plastic chair. However, it did receive a mention in the local theatre critic’s column, I didn’t!
