Half-Term is not a Holiday... apparently

For the last week, I have been ‘DebtheMum.’

This isn’t because I was voted ‘house mom’ by Jordyn (my American housemate) in the first week of living in Cardiff – I’ve actually been in rehearsals all week for a PSE production offered by Going Public.

I am exhausted.

I’ve not done drama since GCSE and I’d forgotten how much hard work it is. Cath and Dai (the writers/directors) have been working us really hard and I’d quite like just to crawl into my bed and sleep for a week to recover now... But! Back to normal timetable next week (see previous blog post for an idea of how a typical week goes...)

We only had this week as possible rehearsal time, so what I thought would be a quiet week (its half term and all the kids’ clubs I do have shut down for the week) has been mental. I am ridiculously glad of the extra hour of sleep I had last night (and feel so much better for it!) and for my afternoon off...

The production I’m part of is called Borderline Alcoholic, and is a look into both the effect of alcohol on people, and also how it can affect families of those who drink. The main character, Dylan, drinks heavily with his mates and his girlfriend, and has just lost his uncle to alcoholism. His mother (played by me) is trying to get him to stop drinking, as well as coping with the death of her brother. It is written fantastically well, and is quite hilarious in places – keeping a straight face is interesting sometimes... But the impact of the message is incredible, and is needed more and more in the culture of drinking and partying that young people are getting involved in at younger and younger ages.

For me, I had a hard time getting in touch with the emotions my character experiences, and it was particularly daunting for me at the start of the week when I met the other actors involved. All of them are either studying or have studied drama/acting at degree level; and then there was me, with my B at GCSE level Drama...

God has really been faithful though, and has helped me so much in this last week – not only with giving me the strength to endure the long hours and hard work, but also with my confidence. He blessed me with such fantastic people to work with. The others in the team were fantastic at encouraging me and building me up, giving me tips and helping me to learn my character better.

I play the only constantly serious character in the production (the others are involved in comedic ‘drunk’ scenes) and I found that quite a difficult burden at the start. I’ve done ridiculous amounts of comedy before (remember Rockclimbers? Working with Phil and Chris and Adam was never going to be serious) and only a few serious pieces here and there – and nothing to this standard – so I was a little out of my depth.

But! I managed it. We performed Borderline on Friday afternoon for the staff who were at Glenwood so they could review it and let us know if there was anything to improve on. Their comments were really uplifting and brilliant to hear, and I know now that when we eventually go into schools with Borderline it will have an impact in the lives of those who need it.

And that, really, is all we want.

It isn’t about us showing off our acting skills, or doing something stupid to entertain the kids while the teachers have a break. The message we are giving them is so important; the culture of drinking and partying is only growing. God has blessed us with these talents and gifts, and if we can use them to bring a little light to a dark place, then job well done, and all the glory to Him.

Our first date for going into schools is possibly 13th December. Insert cheeky prayer request here.
I’m looking forward to it, and hoping that I remember all my lines – I have more than a few, including whacking great monologue – and everything else that goes along with it! Mildly nervous? Of course. Maybe verging on the terrified side of things...? Possibly. But I do know that God’s got it under control.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

In other news: I now have a shiny new bass guitar that matches my hair, courtesy of Mummy and Daddy B, so I don’t have to borrow one anymore! Hurrah! I can play in my room to my heart’s content and irritate my housemates...

I am also attempting to teach myself guitar using a borrowed acoustic. I know five/six chords now and I have been reliably informed that if I have a capo, that’s pretty much all I need to play worship songs... The main reason for learning was so I could help more at Youth Band on Fridays. I often take the girls out for practising their harmonies and learning the songs, and we often sing in completely the wrong key, so if I can play at least the first chord of the song... That and I love music and I love to worship, so learning was something I had wanted to do for a while.

I’m potentially having to run Youth Band almost on my own this coming Friday, which involves set up (time to test that newly acquired knowledge of how the sound desk works), and organising the songs (easier) and running the sessions (though not leading the songs...phew!). So, insert second cheeky prayer request? Just that I don’t lose my head, really, and panic, complete with running around like a headless chicken.

One more thing: has anybody ever played chubby bunnies with mint-flavoured Aero Bubbles? Not the easiest thing in the world, but a couple of girls at the CU we run decided to pick me to do that particular challenge. I managed to fit an un-ladylike 23 in my mouth (they were slowly melting) and still didn’t win, because the two girls had their scores added together and beat me by one point! And then I had to do the teaching immediately after... not easy with melting minty chocolate in your mouth and fighting nausea, I can tell you!

Thanks for your support and prayers!

Love and blessings from Cardiff,

Debs xxx

www.goingpublic.org.uk