Sorry, so blinking behind on these posts. Full on absorption during the course of the play wasn’t expected and is unexpectedly cool. Pre and post show tweets from audience members, daily show reports, messages, jibber jabber, awe and regular ‘what the actual fuck’ moments? I mean WTAF…?

I walked slowly round the block taking in Piccadilly Circus, St James’s Square, Haymarket before one performance. An unusually warmish evening with a slight breeze and constant flow of passing London buses. Thinking about Connor and what he would think of the extraordinary anchoring of him, his story in this way to his favourite place.

Laughing Boy at Jermyn Street Theatre… So beautifully, breathtakingly executed.

On Tuesday (April 30) afternoon, official Laughing Boy photos by Alex Brenner were unexpectedly released by Jermyn Street Theatre (though referenced in technical reports). Dazzling images to treasure alongside Charlie Ives‘ artwork of cast members sketched while tech (lights/audio/visual cues) were sorted a week or so ago.

Rich and I gave Press Night a swerve in the end. Attending the first preview night, late, late night drinking, chatter and laughter with the cast/creative team followed by a day with Rosie, Jack, Owen, Catherine, Tom and Katie walking the Walthamstow wetlands and nosh was enough. [Will and Kiyora much missed and watching from Japan.]

And then the critical reviews… I didn’t anticipate the anticipation of the publication of play reviews on Wednesday.

About 10am, Rich called upstairs “Guardian review is on the website… 3*.”

[Gulp]

A day peppered with reviews appearing and shared on social media. 3*, 4*, 5* reviews…

Peer review is an integral part of being an academic and here are theatre critics doing a kind of similar yet unfamiliar process. Sending their reviews directly out into the public domain.

‘This is what I think about this production…’

Boom.

[As an aside I love how the International Journal of Disability and Social Justice is asking for non-traditional contributions about the play. Boundary blurring and joyousness.]

There were so many reviews, links flying around messages and Whatsapp. I lost track in the end.

Comments from audience members have been unfailingly wondrous. Personal experiences, life, connections and meet ups between people – self-advocates, family members, allies, journalists, human rights experts, health, social care, education professionals, politicians – on a nightly (or afternoon and nightly) basis. Warmth, love and awe.

Annie Kershaw and the Jermyn Street Theatre team have designed and implemented a set of shifts and tweaks so that people can attend. [I wrote so many different versions of this sentence each of which had problematic words or associations. Could be a whole separate blog post…] Relaxed and captioned performances, audio and visual stories, and more. The lack of wheelchair access is grim and insurmountable, the commitment to ensuring people can come and feel comfortable and welcome is impressive. The JusticeforLB quilt at St James’s Church a minute or so up the road offers further grounding and a space to think and be.

There are more stories to tell though I’ll leave it here for now. It all starts again tomorrow.