I am far from the land and routines of life that for nigh on 60 years I called home. The people, places and pasttimes that occupied me are now completely a thing of the past and when I am compelled to think about them I am thrown off centre. Life in Brighton had been full of creativity and performance supplemented with a strong attachment to a number of friends and people I would see on a regular basis and when it came to performance, the many friends I that collaborated with. Since I began my travels these occupations, these friends have naturally taken a back seat . When Monday came about and I was due to meet with my old friend Joanna Rosenfield, I felt discombobulated by the environment of Tokyo and the far east that we would be meeting in, so different to our usual home gatherings.
The day actually came as shock after the 20 degrees temperature of the marathon the day before. When the curtains were drawn open what we saw was a grey and drizzly city scape which by the time I got out had become persistent rain and eventually snow. I had arranged to meet Joanna, at the Tokyo museum of Contemporary Art which, when I arrived after a 2km walk in the rain turned out to be closed. It was joyous to see her again after more than two years and as neither of us knew the area we were we opted for a walk around the park in which the Gallery was situated. The rain was relentless we were educated on each others life over the last few years. It soon became unbearably wet and I discovered a nearby cafe we could go to. We arrived at what was one the most stylish cafes I had ever seen. ‘Have you booked?’ We were asked. It transpired it was a coffee connoisseurs establishment and you actually had to book for coffee tastings. We finally found a refuge from the rain and a place to have coffee and just talk. Joanna has been carving a career in Butoh and her dedication to her craft was inspiring and left me feeling a little ashamed of my cultural shilly-shallying. Peng had booked us tickets for a film at 3pm so we took a bus to Nihombashi to meet Peng to watch ‘A Complete Unknown’. As we got off the bus the rain had turned to snow and we gave ourselves up to Hysterics at the appalling weather conditions. I was to watch the film soaked and frozen. We said our goodbyes and I made a small promise to myself that I would pursue the life creative as soon as I was back home in Beijing
Tuesday it was back to Beijing but not before some last minute shopping in Ginza and the flagship Muji Store. An interesting time navigating the Tokyo railways and the flummoxed at check in as once again I was unable to get a Vegetarian meal on the flight. Once again, the air stewards came to my rescue and I was able to eat. We arrived home just before midnight, exhausted and sleepy and preparing for a couple of days rest.
True to my word I did nothing productive on Wednesday and on Thursday, if it hadn’t been for the fact that I needed super glue and there was none in the house I would not have gone out. I went to Walmart Supermarket at Caishikou and on my way back I took advantage of being out and shopped for the first time in the dairy shop across the road for yoghurt and then strawberries and tofu in Guang’an market where I was given 2 satsumas free.
One of the insights that has struck me about China, is the continual quest for the new. From technology to food there seems to be a limitless search and desire. it is my feeling, belief that in the UK we value our old friends and cherish the familiar and any change or any sight of something new is often regarded with disdain. I am in fact reminded of my own production of Brian Mitchell and Phillip Reeves wonderful musical ‘ The Ministry of Biscuits’ which affectionately satirises this aspect of the British temperament. Not a week goes by here in China when a coffee house or bakery of tea shop isn’t promoting a new flavour or taste and offering a limited edition free gift with the Purchase. These promotions sell out unbelievably quickly so great is the demand and I have often found myself travelling to distant coffee shops in the city to obtain one. Friday started with trying a new milk tea version of Longjin Green tea. Unusually we were able to get a delivery and of course it came with a free gift of a charming fridge magnet.
On my return to Beijing, having been inspired by Joanna’s industrious sojourn in Japan, I signed up for a play reading of Sam Shepherds True West in Tongzhou with ex colleagues from Universal Studios Beijing. The readings at some performers home near the theme park and the journey by subway and bike can take nearly one and a half hours so I broke the trip with a coffee at Tu Qiao where I caught up on some admin in a nearby cafe. The reading was good fun and an opportunity to be a little creative. I got a taxi home which even at a late time of night took nearly an hour.
When I woke on Saturday I had received a message from Cozmikk acting Agency looking for 2 male auditors for a workshop on acting in Vertical Shorts. I had no idea what was meant by ‘Vertical Shorts’ and I had made plans to go out but intrigued by the concept and feeling it was a step in the right direction to get acting work in Beijing I decided to attend the workshop instead. It transpires that Beijing is one of the centres of production of Vertical shorts which are short serialised films made for the phone, hence they are filmed in a vertical format. The stories are short 1-2 minute. It was enlightening experience and I had the opportunity, which I really enjoyed, of joining in the workshop, reading for all of the participants as well as engaging in the exercises.
The week was a sharp reminder, as Joanna, the play reading and workshop had been, of my intentions to try and build an acting career and I was determined, as the week ended to take the example of old friends past times, to take seriously the opportunities and get out and to get work.
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