The Next Stage with DTF

When I got selected to be part of this year Next Stage I was chuffed. I applied a couple of times before. I thought to myself: finally. Than I realised... I did not know what I was getting myself into...

As a group of 20 people we saw all of the shows of Dublin Theatre Festival 2019.

We got to take part in some workshops and talks and we got to chat about ourselves and where we are in our career.

My personal highlights were Pike Street, Phantom and Phantasma, Paolini's Saló Redubbed, Baba Yaga, How to win against history, Big Kid Little Kid, Faultline.

Other honourable mentions are Piece for Person and Ghetto Blaster, Hecuba, Beckett Room.

I would have never been able to afford to see all those plays I loved. I am very thankful.

It was a marathon and very tiring at times, but it also gave me the chance to connect with people with which otherwise it might have been virtually impossible for me to get to know.

So many feelings, ideas, inspirations. So many moments in which I felt so different, lonely and misunderstood. Than I understood. No matter in which point of your career or life you may be these feelings will always pop up time and time again.

You might as well just enjoy the ride.

I feel like knowing what I know now about the Next Stage I would have approached it differently.

At the same time I am very happy of having seen all of that work. Wish there was more international work that did not come from the UK. But that is a battle for another field.

A big thanks to everybody involved, for what you shared, what you thought me and what you stand for. Whatever that may be. Keep on keeping on.