Mozambique

Am writing this over 10days into our creative bootcamp with The Hothaus in Mozambique.  (don't know when I'll be able to post it as the internet connection hasn't been very strong.)  I didn't manage to write from the 2 day (and 2000km) journey to get here, however it was largely uneventful - in a good way!  We set off a day late, due to a couple of complications, but then all went well and we crossed the border fine.

Early morning repack by the side of the road - we travelled hours without seeing another vehicle 

There's something about crossing a national boundary that is always interesting. I've crossed many in my time and always notice it. Especially when it's into a country you're visiting for the first time as this was for me. 

Scenes from the 2000km journey

Immediately it's different in terms of language and buildings. More colourful than Zimbabwe too. We stayed the night at the Pink Papaya Lodge in Chimoio. 10 of us in a dorm on bunk beds (as you do). Mine was especially rickety but fortunately, no unfortunate incident there, although the 4am departure was delayed due to one guy needing to leave a note explaining that the collapse of his bunk (luckily a bottom one!) genuinely wasn't due to anything he did!

After a 15hr drive where you definitely felt you were getting increasingly more and more remote we finally arrived at Quelimane and from there were met and followed the route to Zalala Beach Lodge. It's about 45km through coconut plantations and feels pretty remote. 

From our base at Zalala Beach Lodge, the nearest village is 3 km away (where for the first 10 days we have had most of our meals) and is a traditional rural village. I realise it's been a long time since I spent time in a more rural environment. It's good for me!

Hothaus Girls on arrival

Food has been alternate traditional meals of rice, sadza, beans or potatoes with chicken or fish. A personal high has been the occasions we've had fresh prawns – normally for breakfast and accompanied by a coconut. I've just eaten my first fresh coconut – and discovered it's not milk but water inside. That was a discovery I made once I'd (finally) managed to break into it!

The ladies who cook for us with our (v fresh!) lunch

So this is all fuel for the work.

So far, we've been working hard in various ways, working out and warming up with many dances, games and songs. We've done karate on the beach, then exercises in impro and dance etc. We've been swopping stories and using those as a basis for devising new material. It's interesting what themes have emerged and also what an intense, focused work-time can do.

Our work-space base for the first 10 days' work

Working on a particular exercise 

Within this environment I'm reminded just how much talent there is in our group.  Watching actors try out new ideas, especially physicalities as we work to divise a non-verbal language and  dialogue, and seeing the results as new characters and voices emerge has been great.

In terms of the potential we have, it seems we're just getting started.  For this reason it's great to have a concerted opportunity to devise and experiment and see where it leads us.

Movement Music on the beach at dusk!