Being vulnerable

This writing begins with a story. And then goes on to be quite practical. I am interested in how being vulnerable can help us create better frameworks in which to develop new theatre and new ideas.

It is April 2008. The man driving speaks Portuguese. My co-passenger speaks French. I speak English. There is no conversation. We are hurtling through the streets of São Paulo. The twilight flickers across the city as we set off from Jardim Paulista, whirling past the beautiful MASP, and winding through the twisting streets of Bela Vista. I imagine myself in a foreign film. I have only been in Brazil for 24 hours, it is my first time, I am unbelievably excited and a little apprehensive. My co-passenger and I have been put in a taxi by someone from the British Council. They are sending us to “a cultural experience that we will not forget”.

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Tuesday:

Flying isn't as easy as I thought. I've spent most of my day falling...

I've been learning to stand, learning to walk, to run, to climb, to dance. Although im not very good at the dancing.

'He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying' Friedrich Nietzsche

I'm no dancer, or  gymnast, or acrobat. So far I have still fallen. I've realised why I want to fly so much - because I'm scared of falling. But maybe falling is ok. Maybe falling is part the flying?

There is still hope yet.

Beth Nesbitt, Artist in Residence
Twitter: @beth_nesbitt

See Beth's previous post below for more details on her residency at BAC.

Over the coming months, we'll be having a number of artists resident in the building, all working on new ideas. We'll be sharing their progress with you as much as possible.

This week, we welcome Beth Nesbitt, who is working on her project Come Fly:

I am very privileged to be here and am very excited!

Liz Moreton, one of BAC's Producers, has asked to write a few words to keep you updated during my time here this week - so here's some things I've been thinking about...

There is something inside of me - a longing to fly...

At some point i may ask you to join me in an attempt - we will become scientists, structural engineers, pilots. We will build a flying machine out of paper string and glue, we will travel to great heights, we will almost crash land - we may succeed.

I have a ladder, a mattress and some cardboard boxes. By the end of the week I expect to be covered in bruises...

I want to taste the clouds. I want fly but I dont quite know why. Hopefully this week will give a moment to try and discover...

Beth Nesbitt, Artist in Residence
Twitter: @beth_nesbitt