The Actor

The lines have been learned;
the blocking: complete.
The time has come to take the show
to communities, whose histories are threads
woven into the seams
of its fabric.

The cast list: short
but venues extend from
village to village –
not just in the centre.
From Pinxton to the Picture Palace,
church halls and assembly rooms
are set for the welcome.

The pages of well-rehearsed scripts
are skimmed, flicked between
scenes – notes in margins
scribbled hastily.
One last look (for prosperity).

A deep breath, then a
step onto the stage – audience
members a mere 3 feet away.
You can tell by their eyes, and the looks
on their faces
how much this means.
Connections are formed in the span
of 2 hours.
The impact of which will last even longer.

The final act closes, the briefest
of pauses, to let it sink in,
then rapturous applause
and congratulations.
Handshakes, hugs, a pat on the back –
questions are asked about how it could be
that this story could be told so realistically.

That’s the beauty of storytelling: it’s an art.
Whether chatting with friends, or
playing a part,
the key to it all is to do it by
heart.