Week #10 - Life's Baggage

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Today's session was a happy accident. 

Our original plan of creating Nathalie's family tree went out the window.

Instead we focused on the baggage we brought with us today. 

If there is one thing we have learnt over the past 10 sessions is that we should always leave enough luggage space for what our creative journey has to offer. It is not just about sticking to the itinerary!

Catherine delved deep into the bottom of her small bag.

Much like the scene in Mary Poppins, Nathalie watched in amazement to see how much Catherine could fit in her handbag. 

Catherine had 74 hair ties in her bag, 75 if we count the one on her head. Not one but two pairs of glasses and two sets of headphones. A couple of lipgloss tubes, the very essential break time snack, Jaffa cakes, nasal spray, oral spray, cough sweets, tissues and the list continues.....

Nathalie is not such a neat packer. Her belongings just thoughtlessly chucked into the bottom of a large leather bag. Loose change, loose cards. Many cards, debit cards, loyalty cards, membership cards and her favourite, the Waitrose card.

Catherine was unimpressed to learn Nathalie does not own a wallet. 

'For God's sake!'

We were both carrying a heavy load.

We began to create what looked like a ball of string from Catherine's 74 hair ties.

We did this together and sat back to enjoy our creation, in silence. 

Things We Packed in Our Bag Today


This is a reflective diary following Catherine and Nathalie's creative exchange exploring how performance can promote equality between artists with and without learning disabilities.

Nathalie Carrington