This week has been a time for reflection of good news and well not so… Of rethinking our strategy, taking stock and flipping what could be perceived as disappointing news to looking at ways we can continue with our mahi. This means doing what we do well…. By being creative.

I am therefore genuinely excited about the prospect of using digital technology in a positive way to maintain the important connections we all have made through our work especially at a time when we are socially distancing and terms like ‘isolation’ are the norm.

This week saw Colette, Diane and myself make some difficult but exciting decisions about the youth musical. Working inclusively is amazing. It is truly the most creative, rewarding, connected work I have ever done and I know all the team at GC feel exactly the same. And working inclusively means we work with rangatahi and tamariki who are unique in the way they think, feel and connect. Many of our young people connect through human contact; a squeeze of the hand, a dance, a hug, and this is an aspect of my work that I totally adore. I think it is often missing in our world and it is so needed to help develop our neurological pathways.

But in these times when we talk about social distancing well that is hard. And I don’t ever want to say ‘you can’t hold my hand’ to someone who needs to in order to connect with me, especially as the why will not be understood. And I just want to say that not understanding what is going on and being present in the world is truly awesome. Right now I think I am not alone in saying that I want to be like that. I want to be in a place where I am present and see joy not the what ifs and the worries of what is going on around me. And breaking an attachment made through someone wanting to hold my hand, that just doesn’t work for me.

So we decided to continue with rehearsals but to do so online in real time so that our rangatahi and tamariki could maintain the friendships, love of theatre, training and well good vibes that we have started to create through this process. We wanted to continue the journey and do it with us all invested, parents and carers included using technology. We are so lucky to have Michael as part of our team and in the coming weeks I think we will be leaning on him to help us navigate the technology and create pathways to engage with our community. I am genuinely excited about this process. Nervous of course because it’s all new and we have no idea whether it will work. But I know that we are problem solvers, we are creatives, we are resilient and we have a deep and real passion for what we do. So it’s going to be fun and problematic and crazy but it will be beautiful and inclusive and will help us all to remain connected. I for one am excited! Time to smell the roses!