Video reflection

It's the Saturday after an incredibly busy week in Accra, most of it spent travelling, making videos, editing and uploading them for the Interact Project. It has been a real learning process: I hadn't done any video editing before coming to Ghana and have finally worked out my way around the software and the challenges of uploading to YouTube on a very slow and erratic internet connection.



I've been struck all week by how natural and confident most of the practitioners have been recording the videos, how happy they are in their work and how driven they are by the needs of the community in which they live and work. Things at Theatre for a Change aren't perfect, of course - nothing ever is - but what drives the work and gives it its heart is the commitment of the people who run it. I asked Johnson earlier this week whether he'd ever like to work in the UK or America, he said he'd prefer to do projects in Darfur or Sudan.

For some of the practitioners recording their videos was a real challenge, especially Reggie who suddenly became unexpectedly nervous when faced with the camera. His most natural, fluent moment came when talking about the way he had lost his job because he wasn't willing to give up on his commitments at the Community Theatre Centre - one of the most touching segments that we shot during the week.

I'm just about to set off for a few days away in and around Kumasi and am back in Accra on Friday. I really hope that all the practitioners in the UK find time in their busy schedules to record their videos on time - being away makes it difficult to make sure messages are getting through and that people are happy with what they have to do. I'm delighted that we've got such high profile theatres involved and such talented, interesting practitioners. We're all really excited to see their videos next week.