An Introduction

And so my world record attempt for the longest period of stalling before writing a blog is complete. 195 days folks, that’s some world-class writing avoidance I’ve completed there. I’m accepting your imaginary rapturous applause with a gracious nod. Thank you, thanks, thank you and you at the back.

Now that I’ve robbed you of your imaginary congratulations I feel I should be completely honest and admit that I did cheat, I have written a couple of other blogs, they just didn’t seem quite right to open with. Realistically I probably only properly procrastinated for a month. I’m sorry, sorry, sorry, and you at the back what can I say? I apologise, but every story needs a setup, an introduction to the world we’re dealing with and so it felt appropriate to wait for a meaty topic to surface.

And surface it did this week as Gomito attempted to write a new mission statement.

Wait! Don’t be disheartened by these rankly corporate words which seem a bit unnecessary for a group of people who spend considerable amounts of time making puppets out of toilet rolls, it turns out that they are in fact a cunning disguise for (among other questions) the most exciting, gigantic, brain-melting discussion you can start us on.

WHY DO YOU MAKE THEATRE?

Oh yes. The big one.

Because we love to watch it. Because it’s live and unpredictable and unrepeatable. Because it’s covered in human fingerprints. Because it sneaks up on your emotions, from an angle you didn’t see coming.  Because it can bring people together to enjoy themselves. Because it lets you escape the humdrum.  Because it uses the collective power of many brains. Because it is the sum of all arts, the tickler of all senses. Because it doesn’t feed anyone or keep them warm, but it steadfastly exists.  Because it’s impractical and its usefulness is immeasurable. Because it vanishes as quickly as it appeared. Because is possibilities are endless. Because it’s difficult to make. Because we are curious about things that only theatre will tell us. Because someone once told us we couldn’t. Because it makes people happy. Because of the collective breath an audience emits at the end of a show. Because it staves off the robotic, the systematic, the mass-manufactured. Because it’s exciting. Because it has no rules. Because it’s open to interpretation. Because we want to be better at it with every try. Because it can never be finished. Because it’s important.

And on and on it goes, a mess of ideas, the perfect introduction. Welcome to Gomito, we’ll talk more on these things in due course.

For now my second admission; this is in no way a mission statement, a mission statement is specific and clear like these charming corporate delights:

PEPSI – “Beat Coke”

HONDA – “We will crush, squash, and slaughter Yamaha”

NIKE – “Crush Reebok”

I’ll spare you the details of how I’ll distil our brain-splurges down to a suitably Gomito version of one of those, but rest assured I’m working on it, in conjunction with a new world record attempt, just 195 days of pondering to beat…aw come on imaginary crowd, no need to boo. Hey you at the back, no heckling! I’m writing it! Alright I’m writing it now! Stupid imagination. Shuuudup.