I haven’t always been a banana in fact the journey from here to here was not
the journey from here to here was not
the journey from here to here was not what I quite expected when I was younger
what I quite expected when I was younger
what I quite expected when I was younger I wanted to be really good at pretending
I wanted to be really good at pretending
I wanted to be really good at pretending I wanted to be so good so that no one
I wanted to be so good so that no one
I wanted to be so good so that no one would know the real me so one summer age
would know the real me so one summer age
would know the real me so one summer age 20 I went off to Italy to study to
20 I went off to Italy to study to
20 I went off to Italy to study to become a clown in commedia dell’arte
become a clown in commedia dell’arte
become a clown in commedia dell’arte what I discovered there was a form of
what I discovered there was a form of
what I discovered there was a form of theatre popularized in the 16th century
theatre popularized in the 16th century
theatre popularized in the 16th century full of characters with social masks a
full of characters with social masks a
full of characters with social masks a devious servant a foolish old man a
devious servant a foolish old man a
devious servant a foolish old man a captain a lover all stock characters
captain a lover all stock characters
captain a lover all stock characters that we would recognize in our pantomime
that we would recognize in our pantomime
that we would recognize in our pantomime today but in order to play these
today but in order to play these
today but in order to play these characters to be a clown I had to know
characters to be a clown I had to know
characters to be a clown I had to know who I really was
who I really was
who I really was so I’d left the UK only to discover that
so I’d left the UK only to discover that
so I’d left the UK only to discover that I couldn’t hide from me this was not
I couldn’t hide from me this was not
I couldn’t hide from me this was not what I had signed up for I was not happy
what I had signed up for I was not happy
what I had signed up for I was not happy what do you mean you want me to look at
what do you mean you want me to look at
what do you mean you want me to look at my personal life I want to pretend and I
my personal life I want to pretend and I
my personal life I want to pretend and I so desperately wanted to carry on
so desperately wanted to carry on
so desperately wanted to carry on pretending I didn’t want to look at who
pretending I didn’t want to look at who
pretending I didn’t want to look at who the real Emma was so I learnt the
the real Emma was so I learnt the
the real Emma was so I learnt the physicality I enjoyed understanding
physicality I enjoyed understanding
physicality I enjoyed understanding stagecraft and I learnt how to hold a
stagecraft and I learnt how to hold a
stagecraft and I learnt how to hold a crowd but to be a clown you have to be
crowd but to be a clown you have to be
crowd but to be a clown you have to be the lowest status in the room and as I
the lowest status in the room and as I
the lowest status in the room and as I stand here dressed as a banana I once
stand here dressed as a banana I once
stand here dressed as a banana I once again find myself the lowest status in
again find myself the lowest status in
again find myself the lowest status in the room but I had to continue I had to
the room but I had to continue I had to
the room but I had to continue I had to persevere somehow this driver about
persevere somehow this driver about
persevere somehow this driver about being on stage and wanting to pretend
being on stage and wanting to pretend
being on stage and wanting to pretend kept on winning I wanted to become truly
kept on winning I wanted to become truly
kept on winning I wanted to become truly expert in hiding so I got lucky I went
expert in hiding so I got lucky I went
expert in hiding so I got lucky I went to drama school and I went there with
to drama school and I went there with
to drama school and I went there with the sole intention of truly once and for
the sole intention of truly once and for
the sole intention of truly once and for all becoming an expert in pretending
all becoming an expert in pretending
all becoming an expert in pretending because I didn’t want to look at who I
because I didn’t want to look at who I
because I didn’t want to look at who I was or where I’d come from my family
was or where I’d come from my family
was or where I’d come from my family full of angst trauma and grief is my dad
full of angst trauma and grief is my dad
full of angst trauma and grief is my dad died when I was 10 and his death left a
died when I was 10 and his death left a
died when I was 10 and his death left a void that I so desperately wanted to
void that I so desperately wanted to
void that I so desperately wanted to fill with somebody someone that would be
fill with somebody someone that would be
fill with somebody someone that would be safe someone that wouldn’t go away so I
safe someone that wouldn’t go away so I
safe someone that wouldn’t go away so I became an adult the first of many layers
became an adult the first of many layers
became an adult the first of many layers so now I wanted to carry on pretending
so now I wanted to carry on pretending
so now I wanted to carry on pretending and drama school was good for me it was
and drama school was good for me it was
and drama school was good for me it was a place for me to pretend and to create
a place for me to pretend and to create
a place for me to pretend and to create and to start to unpick the adult self
and to start to unpick the adult self
and to start to unpick the adult self but as I stood there with a mirror
but as I stood there with a mirror
but as I stood there with a mirror looking at me what became unquestionably
looking at me what became unquestionably
looking at me what became unquestionably true was that I did not want to show the
true was that I did not want to show the
true was that I did not want to show the real me so I hid amongst other layers
real me so I hid amongst other layers
real me so I hid amongst other layers looking after my peers the mother figure
looking after my peers the mother figure
looking after my peers the mother figure and yes I learnt that the craft of
and yes I learnt that the craft of
and yes I learnt that the craft of acting is the portrayal of truth but it
acting is the portrayal of truth but it
acting is the portrayal of truth but it was my truth that I wanted to put on
was my truth that I wanted to put on
was my truth that I wanted to put on other layers so I put on the layer of
other layers so I put on the layer of
other layers so I put on the layer of being an entrepreneur I am going to
being an entrepreneur I am going to
being an entrepreneur I am going to become really successful and run
become really successful and run
become really successful and run businesses but in reality I’ve had two
businesses but in reality I’ve had two
businesses but in reality I’ve had two businesses fail my failures weren’t
businesses fail my failures weren’t
businesses fail my failures weren’t meant to happen to me I wasn’t meant to
meant to happen to me I wasn’t meant to
meant to happen to me I wasn’t meant to deal with the shame of having to let
deal with the shame of having to let
deal with the shame of having to let people go I didn’t want to have to admit
people go I didn’t want to have to admit
people go I didn’t want to have to admit that I’ve made the wrong choices but I
that I’ve made the wrong choices but I
that I’ve made the wrong choices but I had made the wrong choices and it was
had made the wrong choices and it was
had made the wrong choices and it was those mistakes those failures some of
those mistakes those failures some of
those mistakes those failures some of the most horrific times in my life that
the most horrific times in my life that
the most horrific times in my life that I truly believe have led me to right
I truly believe have led me to right
I truly believe have led me to right here right now and this very right
here right now and this very right
here right now and this very right moment because it was those failures
moment because it was those failures
moment because it was those failures that led me to stop
that led me to stop
that led me to stop and ask myself the difficult questions
and ask myself the difficult questions
and ask myself the difficult questions Who am I really what makes my heart sing
Who am I really what makes my heart sing
Who am I really what makes my heart sing what do I want to create because it was
what do I want to create because it was
what do I want to create because it was those failures are one of the main
those failures are one of the main
those failures are one of the main failures for me was that I thought
failures for me was that I thought
failures for me was that I thought society needed me to be a certain way I
society needed me to be a certain way I
society needed me to be a certain way I was invited to an event in the city so
was invited to an event in the city so
was invited to an event in the city so because it was the city I bought a suit
because it was the city I bought a suit
because it was the city I bought a suit I don’t wear suits I bought myself a
I don’t wear suits I bought myself a
I don’t wear suits I bought myself a handbag I don’t use handbags I
handbag I don’t use handbags I
handbag I don’t use handbags I frightened my quiff I have a quiff and
frightened my quiff I have a quiff and
frightened my quiff I have a quiff and at that event I disappeared and as I
at that event I disappeared and as I
at that event I disappeared and as I left that big tool building in the city
left that big tool building in the city
left that big tool building in the city I promised myself never again no more
I promised myself never again no more
I promised myself never again no more hiding then I was invited to this event
hiding then I was invited to this event
hiding then I was invited to this event tutti-frutti and I knew the other
tutti-frutti and I knew the other
tutti-frutti and I knew the other professional women were going to wear a
professional women were going to wear a
professional women were going to wear a brooch or a headdress but wasn’t just
brooch or a headdress but wasn’t just
brooch or a headdress but wasn’t just going to be quite enough for me and
going to be quite enough for me and
going to be quite enough for me and always a dress with like little
always a dress with like little
always a dress with like little pineapples on it so I took a deep breath
pineapples on it so I took a deep breath
pineapples on it so I took a deep breath and I bought my first Bernardo outfit as
and I bought my first Bernardo outfit as
and I bought my first Bernardo outfit as I put it on for the very first time I
I put it on for the very first time I
I put it on for the very first time I felt this fear in my stomach but I took
felt this fear in my stomach but I took
felt this fear in my stomach but I took a breath and I went out but I got into a
a breath and I went out but I got into a
a breath and I went out but I got into a taxi cuz it was raining I didn’t be a
taxi cuz it was raining I didn’t be a
taxi cuz it was raining I didn’t be a wet to banana and then after the event I
wet to banana and then after the event I
wet to banana and then after the event I went on the tube went to restaurants and
went on the tube went to restaurants and
went on the tube went to restaurants and the response I got from people would
the response I got from people would
the response I got from people would blew me away because as I stood there
blew me away because as I stood there
blew me away because as I stood there truly as me people were open they were
truly as me people were open they were
truly as me people were open they were excited they were engaged and it dawned
excited they were engaged and it dawned
excited they were engaged and it dawned on me because I’d let all my layers down
on me because I’d let all my layers down
on me because I’d let all my layers down other people let bears down – so it’s
other people let bears down – so it’s
other people let bears down – so it’s led me to walk the streets of London and
led me to walk the streets of London and
led me to walk the streets of London and men many different guises Smurfs and
men many different guises Smurfs and
men many different guises Smurfs and elves and a lampshade because I truly
elves and a lampshade because I truly
elves and a lampshade because I truly believe when we give ourselves
believe when we give ourselves
believe when we give ourselves permission to enjoy our lives it’s
permission to enjoy our lives it’s
permission to enjoy our lives it’s extraordinary what can happen and for
extraordinary what can happen and for
extraordinary what can happen and for those of us in business those businesses
those of us in business those businesses
those of us in business those businesses that really seem to succeed are those
that really seem to succeed are those
that really seem to succeed are those that put fun joy happiness
that put fun joy happiness
that put fun joy happiness right at the heart of the way that they
right at the heart of the way that they
right at the heart of the way that they do things they don’t just do business
do things they don’t just do business
do things they don’t just do business because that’s the way they’ve always
because that’s the way they’ve always
because that’s the way they’ve always done it but yet when I asked a roomful
done it but yet when I asked a roomful
done it but yet when I asked a roomful of entrepreneurs recently where would
of entrepreneurs recently where would
of entrepreneurs recently where would you place business this is fun
you place business this is fun
you place business this is fun this is serious 98% of them said serious
this is serious 98% of them said serious
this is serious 98% of them said serious why now those of you that are brave
why now those of you that are brave
why now those of you that are brave those of you that choose to put fun and
those of you that choose to put fun and
those of you that choose to put fun and joy in the heart of your lives will of
joy in the heart of your lives will of
joy in the heart of your lives will of course get health benefits you’ll sleep
course get health benefits you’ll sleep
course get health benefits you’ll sleep better you’ll feel less stressed and
better you’ll feel less stressed and
better you’ll feel less stressed and your whole way of being will shift so I
your whole way of being will shift so I
your whole way of being will shift so I ask you each and every single one of you
ask you each and every single one of you
ask you each and every single one of you when are you going to ask yourself those
when are you going to ask yourself those
when are you going to ask yourself those questions what makes you tick who are
questions what makes you tick who are
questions what makes you tick who are you because by asking those questions
you because by asking those questions
you because by asking those questions the results and the rewards can be quite
the results and the rewards can be quite
the results and the rewards can be quite extraordinary so that in mind can I ask
extraordinary so that in mind can I ask
extraordinary so that in mind can I ask you to do something okay in a moment I’m
you to do something okay in a moment I’m
you to do something okay in a moment I’m gonna get you to all stand up and I’m
gonna get you to all stand up and I’m
gonna get you to all stand up and I’m gonna put a box in front of you don’t
gonna put a box in front of you don’t
gonna put a box in front of you don’t worry not really he’s invisible
worry not really he’s invisible
worry not really he’s invisible and you’re gonna pull items out of your
and you’re gonna pull items out of your
and you’re gonna pull items out of your box like this I want you to think of
box like this I want you to think of
box like this I want you to think of your kitchen if you will sort of your
your kitchen if you will sort of your
your kitchen if you will sort of your kitchen yeah and you can do this you’re
kitchen yeah and you can do this you’re
kitchen yeah and you can do this you’re going to go nuts
going to go nuts
going to go nuts banana toaster fridge washing machine
banana toaster fridge washing machine
banana toaster fridge washing machine but if you can’t think of anything I
but if you can’t think of anything I
but if you can’t think of anything I don’t you just stand there go can’t
don’t you just stand there go can’t
don’t you just stand there go can’t think of anything which goes nothing
think of anything which goes nothing
think of anything which goes nothing nothing nothing until you go oh yes
nothing nothing until you go oh yes
nothing nothing until you go oh yes fridge fridge magnet apple orange pear
fridge fridge magnet apple orange pear
fridge fridge magnet apple orange pear okay so on the count of three can you
okay so on the count of three can you
okay so on the count of three can you all stand up once you three very good
all stand up once you three very good
all stand up once you three very good heyget okay and now on the count of
heyget okay and now on the count of
heyget okay and now on the count of three I want you to take items out of
three I want you to take items out of
three I want you to take items out of your box thinking of your kitchen okay
your box thinking of your kitchen okay
your box thinking of your kitchen okay one two three go
excellent excellent you all have
excellent excellent you all have kitchens I like this right but say there
kitchens I like this right but say there
kitchens I like this right but say there don’t sit down looking off you ready to
don’t sit down looking off you ready to
don’t sit down looking off you ready to sit down no stay up okay now I’d like to
sit down no stay up okay now I’d like to
sit down no stay up okay now I’d like to do exactly the same exercise but this
do exactly the same exercise but this
do exactly the same exercise but this time you’re going to take items out of
time you’re going to take items out of
time you’re going to take items out of your box from your very own planet
your box from your very own planet
your box from your very own planet that’s your very own planet one two
that’s your very own planet one two
that’s your very own planet one two three go
[Music]
[Music] good well I’m so pleased that went well
good well I’m so pleased that went well
good well I’m so pleased that went well you can sit down now right I’m curious I
you can sit down now right I’m curious I
you can sit down now right I’m curious I think I do know the answer but who found
think I do know the answer but who found
think I do know the answer but who found the kitchen the easiest show of hands
the kitchen the easiest show of hands
the kitchen the easiest show of hands anybody find the planet the easiest ever
anybody find the planet the easiest ever
anybody find the planet the easiest ever got anybody we’ve got a couple of hands
got anybody we’ve got a couple of hands
got anybody we’ve got a couple of hands oh well done well done but even those of
oh well done well done but even those of
oh well done well done but even those of you that found the planet the easiest
you that found the planet the easiest
you that found the planet the easiest there would have been a moment where
there would have been a moment where
there would have been a moment where there was a thought process well what
there was a thought process well what
there was a thought process well what does she mean planet what can I have a
does she mean planet what can I have a
does she mean planet what can I have a my planet I don’t know what’s going to
my planet I don’t know what’s going to
my planet I don’t know what’s going to be bright what’s going to be wrong Oh
be bright what’s going to be wrong Oh
be bright what’s going to be wrong Oh haven’t really thought about that that’s
haven’t really thought about that that’s
haven’t really thought about that that’s quite hard but if I asked a roomful of
quite hard but if I asked a roomful of
quite hard but if I asked a roomful of children there would be no thought
children there would be no thought
children there would be no thought process we were all children once and I
process we were all children once and I
process we were all children once and I believe it’s time that we all reconnect
believe it’s time that we all reconnect
believe it’s time that we all reconnect with that little girl or that little boy
with that little girl or that little boy
with that little girl or that little boy that’s inside of us we all used to learn
that’s inside of us we all used to learn
that’s inside of us we all used to learn through play everything was possible we
through play everything was possible we
through play everything was possible we didn’t block our own ideas we didn’t say
didn’t block our own ideas we didn’t say
didn’t block our own ideas we didn’t say no I’m not creative no we’re not
no I’m not creative no we’re not
no I’m not creative no we’re not scientific because we weren’t scared say
scientific because we weren’t scared say
scientific because we weren’t scared say things like I’m no good at music I’m no
things like I’m no good at music I’m no
things like I’m no good at music I’m no good at maths because we didn’t have
good at maths because we didn’t have
good at maths because we didn’t have those words but yet as adults we put
those words but yet as adults we put
those words but yet as adults we put more and more challenges in our way we
more and more challenges in our way we
more and more challenges in our way we put more and more obstacles in our path
put more and more obstacles in our path
put more and more obstacles in our path until we become paralysed by our own
until we become paralysed by our own
until we become paralysed by our own limitations it’s time to live with more
limitations it’s time to live with more
limitations it’s time to live with more of a yes and attitude and yes why not
of a yes and attitude and yes why not
of a yes and attitude and yes why not it’s time to do the things that terrify
it’s time to do the things that terrify
it’s time to do the things that terrify you the most because as I stand here
you the most because as I stand here
you the most because as I stand here dressed as a banana it’s a pretty scary
dressed as a banana it’s a pretty scary
dressed as a banana it’s a pretty scary place to be but as I stand here dressed
place to be but as I stand here dressed
place to be but as I stand here dressed as a banana it’s a pretty good place to
as a banana it’s a pretty good place to
as a banana it’s a pretty good place to be
be
be because this is me so when are you going
because this is me so when are you going
because this is me so when are you going to ask yourself those difficult
to ask yourself those difficult
to ask yourself those difficult questions questions you’ve been putting
questions questions you’ve been putting
questions questions you’ve been putting off questions perhaps you’re scared of
off questions perhaps you’re scared of
off questions perhaps you’re scared of questions from a place deep within and
questions from a place deep within and
questions from a place deep within and when you’re going to ask what makes my
when you’re going to ask what makes my
when you’re going to ask what makes my heart sing and work it out and then tell
heart sing and work it out and then tell
heart sing and work it out and then tell another human being because we’re all
another human being because we’re all
another human being because we’re all alike you and me
alike you and me
alike you and me all human beings and we all need to come
all human beings and we all need to come
all human beings and we all need to come together whether that’s as a pair an
together whether that’s as a pair an
together whether that’s as a pair an apple a banana some grapes or the whole
apple a banana some grapes or the whole
apple a banana some grapes or the whole fruit bowl we all need to pay more
fruit bowl we all need to pay more
fruit bowl we all need to pay more attention to ourselves we all need to
attention to ourselves we all need to
attention to ourselves we all need to reconnect with ourselves we all need to
reconnect with ourselves we all need to
reconnect with ourselves we all need to be more banana thank you
be more banana thank you
be more banana thank you [Applause]
”
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