Gaynor Young #InstantInspiration

Thank you Gaynor Young! Thank you for the joy of your blog "'Ear 'Ear"and the incredible gift of sharing your journey with the digital world. I stumbled across it as I searched through many entertainment, theatre or arts blogs and I am so profoundly happy that I did. It was the perfect thing at the perfect moment.

As artists, we so often fall victim to our own self-doubt, criticism and cynicism. We allow our 'artistic' selves to run away with endless questions, musings and often hopeless convictions about the industry or our careers.
And then you get to read a post (The Loved One!) by someone who many years after a tragic and horrific accident in a theatre and two cochlear implants later, for the first time was able to listen, really listen to a performance by the wonderful South African vocal artist PJ Powers, ... and tears begin to well up.
You read the post called Pardon! on forgiveness for those who held responsibility for this tragedy and cannot stop the gentle tears from spilling over.

Gaynor, your story is such a well known tale among theatre folk and your name synonymous with theatre safety and tragedy. BUT what people don't bother thinking about is what came after, how many challenges you must have faced and conquered since then, how you have turned that event into a pivotal moment of change and motivation in your life and how you manage to inspire so many by what you continue to accomplish day by day.

I can not wait to delve deeper into the depths of your blog and somehow get a hold of your book 'My Plunge to Fame'.

Thank you for reminding me that life is a gift, that every day is a gift and that every obstacle we face is a gift... to be more, to do more and to live more.

For #InstantInspiration go and read or follow Gaynor's blog 'Ear 'Ear and follow her on twitter at @earearblog.

Much inspired love,

Bread and Wine - An Easter Musical #Projects

It is the holy week of Easter and I had the privilege to have a hand in creating a musical production for Woord en Lewe church community, which opens this Thursday 17 April. Bread and Wine, an Easter Musical tells the story in a new and very tangible way to celebrate this important date on the calender. This experience makes you freshly aware of the impact Jesus' death and resurrection may have had on those who loved Him and those who hardly knew Him.

This project began months ago when the first rehearsals took place from early February and the cast of about 17 have been committed to give their time and talents for many weeks to finally produce a spirit-filled story with passion and purpose. It is remarkable to see the progress and growth over so many weeks and beyond that, the extraordinary bonds of friendship and family formed, the spiritual journeys and the deep attachment to each other and the project.

It was special to be asked by my friend and former colleague, Ettienne Booysen to choreograph and assist with direction on the production. I feel so honoured to have been given the opportunity to share and to receive so much. Ettienne is also the creator of the concept, the enchanting script and lyrics, many of the creative designs, project management and direction. It's been really great to work with him again and I so admire all that he puts into a project of this magnitude. I also got to work with two fabulous ladies again, Michelle Cronje  and Maryke de Kooker who are individually involved in the technical calling of the production, team coordinating, musical arrangement and direction. They are both such power-houses to have on any creative team.

It has been brilliant to get to know each cast member and to watch the piece unfold and slowly build every week, block for block to completion. I have huge admiration for the husband and wife team, Tommy and Elaine Ackerman, who took on this big project, believed in it, put in all the extra hours and energy to have it become a reality and even prepare for and play pivotal characters in the story. I wish them and the entire team of dedicated individuals working on Bread and Wine - An Easter Musical every success and blessing with the project. I trust that it will have God-led impact and influence on all who come to see it this week. Cannot wait for it to open on Thursday, and there are more performances on Good Friday and Saturday. If this is something you would love to see, just visit the Woord en Lewe website for info.

Happy Easter all, Much Love ~