Strength.

Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.

-- Stephen R. Covey


Tonight I went to see a theatre production.

Outdoors!

The snow was threatening and it was BALTIC!!!!

But it was so worth it.

This Town is a site specific performance by Dundee Rep at Dundee's Verdant Works, which takes the audience on a physical tour of the grounds whilst music, movement, words and images envelop you.

Directed by our Head of Creative Learning at the Rep, the production is the biggest community performance project in Dundee in over 20 years, with first time performers and singers from the Whitfield area of the city working alongside a professional team to create a stunning piece woven with stories, voices and memories, both from the past and from their own lives.

Joan, who was the Choreographer from Scottish Dance Theatre who worked with the This Town company, said that you can see that each person in the cast carries so many stories in their bodies; you can see it in the way they move and express their stories through the dance. Everyone is unique and individual.

There were scenes about friendship, work at the looms, songs in the courtyard, and a totally brilliant dance with a teapot! There was an incredibly powerful monologue about trade unions, and I thought to myself, I'd follow that woman into battle. And there was so much warmth, despite the cold.

And at the end, all the little kiddies who were being looked after in a specially made creche to allow parents to be part of the cast, emerged in their onesies, wellies and bobble hats - you look at that and you see, in an instant, what true community spirit is all about.

I love this place.