It was exactly four weeks ago today that the first of a whole series of performances catapulted away from the schedule should have taken place. So what is TIM Theater doing in that first month without a stage?
Along with the rest of the culture and events sector and training organizations, we look to the future with growing question marks.
We stand as a group and individually both silent as not quiet.
Totally in keeping with the ambiguity so preached in improvisation principles....
We do a team check-in and end up with more on the screen than we ever manage to take a group photo in real life.
We give space to everything, and that's a lot.
Leen and I talk on a walk in the woods with the unaccustomed one-and-a-half about how TIM XL will be a powerful formula when teams start wanting and being able to reflect on what was and what is to come after the coronastorm. That was prophetic because a few days later, such an initial question came from a hospital.
We compare the very different professional statuses on our team and tip each other off about - the still unclear - support measures. We send out a general communication to our clients regarding cancellations and possible postponements and immediately get some heartwarming responses. We are already casting some stones in connection with an internal solidarity system.
We are experimenting as two living room improvisers living together with the translation of a theatrical form into video work. This for a potential partner for online support materials in healthcare.
We listen to stories of those colleagues who hold other jobs. They are caregivers, funeral directors*, therapists. The president of the House of Inspinazie is also union president in a major hospital....
Those stories grab at the throat.
The improv teachers among us experiment with young (XS) and old (Living Impro) with online exercises . The reunion is very nice. Some things are working well and otherwise especially lollygagging for extended live catch-up lessons.
We ventured into a short live online improv set and were thrilled with the results. This does taste like more!
In doing so, we explore how to interact with the audience and enjoy their generous input.
We are also working diligently on some bids for large tenders and pulling ourselves up to exciting long-term prospects.
We realize that we fully experience some of the themes in TIM performances ourselves squared away: dealing with difference, self-care, parenting-just-doing, ...
And ... we all feel the play tickle and the lack of improvisational theater magic. The togetherness. The sometimes intense conversations on the way to the job. Catching up and whining in the dressing room. The tension and concentration toward the start of the performance. The connection with the audience.
And then Creation.
And we have no idea when this will happen again.
A few deep breaths and hop to month 2.
Much strength and good courage to everyone and everywhere from all of us!
*
Yesterday she went.
A mom.
In stocking feet,
without a mask,
without gloves,
he fetched her.
Unsolicited.
And behind he remains.
A son.
There was no time
To die peacefully.
There was no time
To say goodbye.
A father went,
feeling the love
via a radiant screen,
too small for all the words and
Too hard for gentle caressing.
A daughter went.
Also a sister.
A brother.
She stays behind.
Just like that one man.
Screens for protection
do what they can.
Thousands of wrapped hands,
complicated bodies
stitches needles
turn sick bodies
watching monitors
share pieces of their own hearts.
A world so tired.
The gluttony of Death
is bigger than ever.
There is no time to digest.
Take time now to love
behind closed windows and doors.
Put words in an envelope,
Send them through the universe.
There will be time to heal gently.
Soon.
Together.
Elke Janssen