To Observe or Not To Observe

This week has, as I have written, has been one of fascinating diversity. Meeting with two eminent playwrights, working with Sound&Fury and heading closer towards assessment whilst considering a project outside of Central for the Market Estate. However, one issue, brought to my attention, as I suppose I am at the heart of the matter (along with two of my fellow directors) has intrigued me.

It is this, how much work is done when observing a workshop and what is the loss or benefit for the workshop members?

Firstly, to contextualise, it seems that there has been some hesitation at the directors in the group observing the work of our peers rather than working with them to make the work that Tom is facilitating. Concerns seem to be around heirarchies and a perceived lack of rigour to the work we are doing, which is not equal to making work in groups.

To explain the decision, I believe, strongly that it is utterly useful and necessary to observe the work of others, to step back and to experience rather than involve oneself in the development of work. This has benefits for the observer, who can make detailed notes, document feelings and the processes that others move through. It can benefit those within the workshop as they will have outside eyes, who can simply listen (for this is my aim, to listen and to support ideas).

There is, no issue of placing oneself above and away from ones peers, not in the slightest. Rather, it is an attempt to work harder, to provide more support, to get to know the work and passions of those who we only spend limited time with right now. I want to hear how people craft ideas and the concerns that arise from making work. If I were not to be observing this week I would have missed out on so much, now though I can watch and reflect on practice that is not my own but will wholly benefit future partnerships.

I do not think this is an apologetic justification, rather a restating of why I have chosen this week to step back from the making of more new work. There is no commentary here or desire to be a director for the whole group, (for what a task that would be). The criticisms I have noted, stored them away for another time when I am observing further work - beyond Central even.

However, there is something to learn from this. Sometimes, to observe is as hard as to work on making performance - for those who perhaps seek not to perform I recommend that you take moments, opportunities and instances of observation and use them to situate your own practice within the context of our peers, our classmates and collaborators.