Which is the rather charming question that I was asked by one of the cast over our newly-established WhatsApp chat group the other day. Asking a question when one doesn’t know something is a courageous act, and exactly the sort of bravery I want them all to exhibit; in any Drama group, one can lay oneself open to making a fool of oneself, and disregarding that possibility, or even welcoming it, is the mark of a valuable member of the team.
This is the day of our departure (and also the day of the final performance of Snakes and ladders) so I have projects overlapping as they never have before. Having had no time even to think about this Lucknow project has been something of a mixed blessing. No time to worry – good; no time to plan – not so much. Let alone make final physical preparations – we have yet to pack.
And yet I am ready. The journey itself is set to be rather daunting: an overnight flight to Dehi, then quite a wait in the airport before our flight to Lucknow. At which point we can entirely relax. We are being met at the airport, taken to our apartment, arriving there, all being well with travel arrangements, early Saturday evening. So far as I know, there is nothing yet planned for Sunday, and then I hit the ground running on Monday with three two-hour sessions – an introductory one with the cast, and then two INSET sessions (or the same one repeated) with 30-odd staff in each. Busy then.
But I have planned what I want to do in each. Not to sure about Tuesday yet, but I have been doing this for long enough for it not to bother me too much.
Safe travels, have a good time.