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| On the set of Sonnigsburg, episode 3. |
2014 has been a big year for me. I am tired, exhausted,
drained. But there’s also an extraordinary feeling of accomplishment that goes
with everything I’ve done this year. More so than most years, I was very focused.
I had to be, because I had so many things going on. Having multiple projects on
the go, in various stages of development, taught me how to prioritise and how
to make the most of my time.
I am often called prolific, but I’m not always disciplined.
I like to have multiple projects on the go so that if I’m stuck on one, I can
move onto another. Sometimes that just means I procrastinate with one thing by
working on another, which might lead to lots of writing but not necessarily
good outcomes.
This year there were deadlines: for submissions, for grants,
for rehearsals and for production. Deadlines keep me focused. Deadlines keep me
honest. Deadlines aren’t always met, but at least when I miss them I’m usually
most of the way there. Just give me another week. I’ll definitely have it done
in another week.
There were a couple of projects that stalled this year –
because of missed-out-on grants, because of other people’s workloads and
because of my workload. I’ll pick up a couple of those next year and see what
happens. Given how much work I did have this year, it’s silly to gripe about
work that didn’t happen. But the projects that didn’t go forward, I’m still
invested in them – I don’t want them to just go away.
But the projects that did happen, the goals that were
achieved, the development that continued – I am so thankful that I work with
such amazing people, continue to be supported in doing what I love doing.
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| Doctor on Doctor action: spoilers for Who Are You Supposed to Be |
Thank you to everyone involved in Sonnigsburg. This has been
an amazing learning experience and continues to be. Can’t wait to show it to
everyone in 2015, but so happy to be involved in such a great project. And
thanks to everyone who has given to our fundraiser, so far.
Thank you to everyone involved in Who Are You Supposed to Be
at Melbourne Fringe. It was lovely to finally see the show, after it premiered
at Edinburgh last year. It was also great to get so many people along to the
show, particularly people who wouldn’t normally attend a Fringe show.
Thank you to those who brought The Riverbank, Once More to
life as part of Play Six. It’s so wonderful to be able to step back from my
work and leave it to others to bring it to life. (If I hadn’t been so busy, I
might have seen a rehearsal, but no such luck.) A lovely little production that
I wish more people could have seen.
Thank you to all those who took part in the research reading
of A Modern Superwoman at Playwrights Horizons in New York in June. To be able
to work with such amazing actors and director on the other side of the world
and present it to a select audience was a very special experience. Thanks to
those of you who attended and gave me such great feedback after.
Thank you to my producer and director on The Dead End.
Thanks for knowing when we should step back and when to regroup and keep going.
Thanks for being encouraging. Sorry about the missed deadline.
Thank you to all the great people I met in Los Angeles and
New York this year, many of whom I’ve only known through Twitter and Facebook
before now. And thanks to my friend Lana, who traveled with me and introduced
me to a lot of her amazing friends, too.
Thanks to Augusta, who offered me her spare room on my
impromptu visit to Sydney for a theatre binge.
And thanks to the amazing Melbourne theatre community –
those who make it, those who see it and those with whom I can discuss it afterward.
I fit a lot of things into 2014, some of which are certain
to pay off in 2015. Some of which will continue to grow. This has been a crazy
full-on year that won’t soon be forgotten, but I would like some rest now. But
I still have to do my day job this week.
And I’ve still got some writing to do before the end of the
year.
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