How did I get here?

Jan 11, 2014

As a child I was a dreamer. I dreamt of being a Blue Peter presenter, a stilt-walker, an acrobat. I also chatted and chatted, often to the frustration and anger of my teachers. I wanted to be on stage.

I also remember wondering “What is it that makes me, me? Who am I?”  I haven’t stopped asking this question, “why I am here?” I have a feeling that I have something to share in the world…

At 18 I took a gap year, grape picking in France, working as an au pair in London, as a play leader for traveller children and teaching English in Northern Italy. At the end of the year I headed to Bretton Hall College (Leeds University) to study drama, dance and English.

I enjoyed College, getting involved in all aspects of life there, but I was disappointed that my administrative skills were more in demand than my acting ability.

After college I headed for London, determined to conquer the world. Expecting to start at the bottom, I was ready to knock on any door. The doors that opened were those of The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. After a brief interview I was offered a job, as an usherette.

I was the keenest usher the theatre had ever seen and a few months later I was appointed the first female manager for Stoll Moss, the company that owned a string of West End theatres and I moved to The London Palladium as Assistant Theatre Manager.

Only 2 years later I was General Manager of Shaftesbury Theatre. For the next ten years, I worked hard, always doing my best, I went where my heart took me.

In 2001, as a freelancer, I produced, with my husband, a major musical. I also gave birth to a daughter just before our show closed at the Queens Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue.

As I held our tiny daughter, I whispered to her “Always follow your dreams”. I knew then that I too had to follow mine. My secret dream was still to be an actor.

I retrained at mime and physical theatre school in Paris. I enjoyed the challenge but still felt that I wasn’t really good enough… I was disappointed again.

When my mum visited, as I explained what I was learning, she remarked on her ability to copy and imitate others. Immediately it was clear – my mother was the actor. Later that week, as my student friends listened to my stories I realised that my skill is as a performer and presenter rather than the actor I had imagined. A seemingly small shift, it was a crucial one. I re-framed my dreams and they made sense.

Back in England, I received an circular e-mail “Storyteller wanted to work with a Primary School in Coventry”. I applied and was offered the job.

I worked in partnership with that school, on and off for 3 years, working with children and teachers from all year groups. From that job other storytelling projects came flooding in and this is how my storytelling began….

Since then there have been many stories, many places, with lots of adventures. I have become a storytelling trainer, workshop leader, performer. I have produced and performed in two family storytelling shows at Edinburgh Fringe including this August ‘I Believe in Unicorns’ by Michael Morpurgo which received 5**** Star reviews. The show continues to tour, another is in the pipeline.

I have found what it is that I have to share in the world. All my myriad experiences have come together into one story……I am following my dreams.

If there is one thing I would share with you now it would be to urge you, with all my heart, to follow your dreams.

What’s your dream? Have you been following it? I would love to hear, if you fancy sharing your story with me