Jonathan Kaufman 22 May 2019
MONIQUE MOULTON
(top centre with SAFE cast)
So here I am once more handing over directorial duties to someone else – this time, the fantastic Monique Moulton, who is directing and facilitating the SAFE theatre project with our brilliant cast of young actors – and once more I’m experiencing that very strange experience, for a director, of ‘letting go.’
This last happened for me on Anansi the Spider, when directing duties were taken up by the multi-talented Hjalmar Nordén, rapidly becoming a permanent fixture at Sydenham Centre with 11 shows with Spontaneous Productions now under his belt.
HJALMAR NORDÉN
I’m sure Hjal will agree that it took me a little while to get used to having someone else make the decisions in the rehearsal room, though I quickly realised that I had no need to worry, and the show was in very good hands.
It’s something all director/producers must go through – the necessity of stepping away sometimes and leaving others to take control – but it was a very new experience for me, and took some getting used to. Now, of course, I’m getting to quite enjoy taking on producing / co-ordinating duties and leaving Monique to work with the actors – she’s going to do a brilliant job I know! But to anyone out there readying themselves to hand over creative duties, make sure you’re prepared for feeling a little spare, at least to start with!
