Laura Lindow, Mycelial and Me

This is Laura Lindow last show with us as Associate Director.  Laura and I keep telling people when they ask, it’s not a bad thing and its not, its just a step off and a change for Laura, a change for us.  Our journeys together started with Key Change, working with women in prison, a small project that went on to win the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award and saw us step off planes in New York City, showcasing work off Broadway and then in prisons there, connecting the North East, to Edinburgh and New York.  Key Change was then commissioned by The Space and the BBC, showcasing in 35 counties on six continents. 

As Key Change flew across the world, we went back to work with another group of women in prison, those on probation and women living in a hostel providing emergency accommodation in Manchester.  Sugar was created in response and was commissioned by the BBC and showcased on BBC iPlayer throughout the first year of the pandemic.  When Cheryl Byron was released from prison, one of the original Key Change actors, Laura and I worked with Cheryl and her daughter to create the award winning show Don’t Forget The Birds, a story of how prison took one from the other and their journey to find each other again (Cheryl and her real life daughter co-created and performed their story). 

Lasagna was made with women who have had lost multiple children to the care system, we made this for film during the pandemic and then it had a sellout tour earlier this year.  And now our final project is Mycelial, a co-creation with sex worker activist from around the world. 

I’ve been watching her in rehearsal, soaking in her skill and talent as director with us, and our teams, for one last time. 

I’m looking back at the notes made during rehearsals with Mycelial, I see her talking to Mo the Black Cat, now called Brendan.  Laura gets down and stretches with the cat.  She wants more water and less colour – celebrating the beauty and colour that lights up the room, and the women who wrap around us like rays of sunshine.  It’s not easy directing a show, it’s our most ambitious project and its up there with its challenges, life and art crashing against us all, but we are strong, our own Open Clasp Mycelial – we all have our eye on the prize, to make the best theatre we can on behalf of our co-creators, who have put their trust in us. 

She talks about gems we take from the day, mine is watching her, Laura.  To try and articulate what I witness comes from my lens, but I see how she works with actors, with dignity, care and respect, supporting journeys with their characters, the ensemble to find their impulse, and intake of breath.  She’s incredibly generous, clever and funny.  Her heart and soul pours into the space. 

One day she gets the actors to lift chairs, mimicking a wave and I’m reminded of the time I’d left the prison, I came back and Laura has the women/team running around with paper airplanes, I’m thinking what is going on, and that won’t work but if you’ve seen Key Change is one of the most beautiful moments, the women getting letters from their families and birds flying over razor wire.  

I see the chairs lift when we are in tech, and I think ‘there it is’ Laura’s genius, her beauty and ability to surprise our audiences and me.  Beautiful is a word you hear Laura say, and she creates it, beauty in storytelling. Laura is a writer and respects the writer and the words placed on a page. She respects me in the rehearsal space, I’m always there, always commenting, it’s our relationship, we check in on each other, make sure we are respectful and collaborative throughout.  What is the treasure you are taking away from today, Laura asks and it’s her chairs, the waves and intake of breath. 

As we neared opening night, Laura is careful with her notes, layering and placing knew thoughts or actions.  She is always taking care of the cast, gentle and respectful, with incredible skill, productions are a delicate instrument, Laura is careful and measured.  There is a lot to create, celebrate and get right.  One day at a time, and then we open to a standing ovation, both previews.  She meets the cast each day until press night, notes and tweaks, fine tunes and polishes.  Last night was press night, Laura steps with the cast, final edits, moves and a circle of trust, Laura and the actors gather. 

Over the past decade Laura and I have sat in prisons, on trains, in hostel canteens, rehearsal rooms, community centres and theatres.  We have worked side by side when things have been tough, we have had to have strong legs.  We have laughed, cried and created the best theatre we possibly could.  Laura took the company to Edinburgh, New York and onto the world stage, with awards, stars and accolades. 

Mycelial will be filmed with Meerkat next week, Laura will work with Katja to create a theatrical piece for a cinema tour and/or broadcast next year, so it’s not over yet, but it is a moment when Laura officially steps down as our Associate Director. 

I am proud to have worked with her for the past ten years to change the world one play at a time.

Catrina