We arrive at Laburnum Street, Hoxten Docks which is a canal side events space for Russell Brands Anarchic Fayre, book launch. As soon as I enter the spaciousness a sense of ethos hits me, a distinguished amplitude of a place. The concrete floor begs for dancers to cut the rug, well here we are ready for the London crowd, us ex junkies and professionals juxtaposing together. We are chaperoned to the green room where I throw down my burdensome bags and in this characterful room is a round table abundant with tidbits, something to suit everyones taste, from water to coke.
Next I traverse the breadth inside and out, the place is a hive of activity and anticipation for the coming evening, I go outside and there is a vista on the wall, the perfect prospect for photos, my passion is piqued as my camera clicks away.
Next I traverse the breadth inside and out, the place is a hive of activity and anticipation for the coming evening, I go outside and there is a vista on the wall, the perfect prospect for photos, my passion is piqued as my camera clicks away.
Inside around the stage area the set up is coming together, there are lamps all over the pad which gives it a homespun touch, what I markedly have an inclination towards are all the emblematic Russel effects on banners and walls, such as the clenched fist which is a salute to express unity and strength and the saying 'If not now? When?' The occupy mask. All the symbols of change.
The smell of sage and Incense lead me to a yoga session which is being held in a side room off from the stage, there is a profusion of lighted candles and the room is brimming with yogis who have commenced as I edge to the front, a charming man demonstrating gives me his mat and i plunge into sun salutations. The space is a little crabbed and we are directed to move sideways onto our mats with legs akimbo to place our heads on the floor, we are so close together i have someone's shank in my face, in fact all but those at the front have an extremity facing them, somehow we manage to get our heads betwixt our legs. The teacher is outstanding and I am feeling serene, then a voice breaks my absorbtion, It's Tony, It's time. As I go to join the others there is a great deluge, a hurricane of people by the doorway and at the centre is Russel Brand, so much excitement! Its our time to dance now and after Risen Dance Theatre have done their piece, Emily, Joseph and Peter dance, the 'professionals'.
I pay homage to Russell who has been clean for eleven years, as i've been reading his book, he makes references to Joseph Campbell, Jung and a whole host of other very interesting people he is bringing the lowdown to a new generation of people. He interests me because he is in recovery and has found spirituality, fellowship and yoga has been a part of his recovery. So much of his book i can relate to as he talks of his journey but this particular excerpt I thought was apt to why Risen Dance Theatre is important to me.
'Without the compassion of others, the support and encouragement of people who had been through what I was going through, and learned to live a different life, i would never have been able to stop. Through them I saw a vision of how I could live differently. If people whose problems had been more severe than mine could stop, then perhaps I could. More importantly than that, the feelings they described were the same as the ones I was experiencing. This gave me something that my life had lacked until that point: Community. Common unity'.
Common unity is something the whole world needs not just us in recovery, we have happened along the answer through our journeys into recovery. I've enjoyed writing this blog and in true Russell style i've added some big words because he totally inspires me!
'Without the compassion of others, the support and encouragement of people who had been through what I was going through, and learned to live a different life, i would never have been able to stop. Through them I saw a vision of how I could live differently. If people whose problems had been more severe than mine could stop, then perhaps I could. More importantly than that, the feelings they described were the same as the ones I was experiencing. This gave me something that my life had lacked until that point: Community. Common unity'.
Common unity is something the whole world needs not just us in recovery, we have happened along the answer through our journeys into recovery. I've enjoyed writing this blog and in true Russell style i've added some big words because he totally inspires me!