Day 17
30 Day/30 minute (minimum) writing practice
Troubling Joy
When I first heard the words, ‘Troubling Joy’ as the name of dear friends’ Laura and Ian’s traveling theatre (by bicycle) puppet production, I thought yep this is going to be good.
Following Laura’s journey over the years from emergency room nurse to radical, social justice puppeteer and puppet creator, set designer, artist and writer and now meeting for the first time Ian, Laura’s partner, i am dazzled and in awe of these two creative extrordinaires!!
Finding ways to make trouble in order to find joy! Of course reminds me of civil rights activist John Lewis’ ‘Get in good trouble, necessary trouble.’
Oh troubling joy. How mislead we’ve been thinking the pursuit of happiness will bring us joy. Little did we know getting into trouble, into good and necessary trouble is where joy resides! This is the main message of this brilliant puppet theatre production.
How beautiful it was to experience both adults and children drawn deep into the wondrous magic performed and messgged last night in the community of Arasaig, NS!
A rat, bear, frog, and turtle will show you what joy looks like by getting into good trouble. You will experience the humble ring leader join them in leaving the circus to find more conscious, justice oriented work (I believe they were off to the wetlands to work as climate justice workers!)
I am reminded of Joanna Macey’s work and how she speaks profoundly about finding courses of action that aligns with our passions and thus find ways to be of service to this fragile dying world; finding a sense of purpose in becoming social/political/environmental change makers is a pathway towards joy, troubling joy!
Thank you dear Laura and Ian! You can check The North Barn Theatre Collective here! https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=north%20barn%20theatre%20collective
With dates to their NS tour!