by Naomi Joseph

I was told this blog could be as long or as short as I wanted it to be. That’s so dangerous. Because my temptation is to give a blow by blow account of what we’ve been up to, but that still wouldn’t do it justice.

Open Space is unique because as much as it might open you up to new ways of devising or equip you with professional tools on how to network or market yourself…I think most importantly it can help you learn about who you are as a person – but that’s only if you’re willing.

On our first day we shared our nerves about the seeming lack of structure to Open Space (last year’s Ambassador Peyvand Sadeghian brilliantly articulates the concept here). However, with calm confidence from Amy Clare Tasker, we were told to trust the process because it always works.

And she was right.

I applied to the Intensive because I wanted to:

• Play
• Learn new skills
• Find out how to approach a specific project I had in mind
• Find potential collaborators
• Make friends
• Rekindle my relationship with performing
• Reaffirm certain skills (improv)
• Learn new skills (FYI the Puppetry Masterclass was incredible!)
• Learn more about funding

But to be honest, I checked all of these intentions at the door. Because the nature of Open Space means that through the generosity of your peers, the Open Space sessions and Masterclasses, you inevitably find answers to the questions you didn’t know you wanted to ask. You meet people from different backgrounds with skills that you might never have stumbled upon by yourself.

In fact, over the past three days, through Peer Practice Exchanges and Open Space sessions, the lunch breaks, and the walks to the train station on the way home, I have learned what I actually need to do is:

• Turn up
• Be present
• Fail joyfully

I strongly recommend you play Jill Bernard’s Loser Ball, it really sets you up for the day! I also found joy in calling an Open Space session where we created the Best Worst Play In The World – because a) pretending to act badly is so much fun and b) it is incredibly valuable to know what you don’t like to see in a show.

These three elements have helped me to step out of my own way and stop pushing for tangible expectations and step in sync with Open Space.

---

IMAGE: One of Naomi’s sessions in Open Space called for collaborators to make the worst piece of theatre/script ever.