[Music] life in many ways is just one big stage
life in many ways is just one big stage
life in many ways is just one big stage show because in our special ways we’re
show because in our special ways we’re
show because in our special ways we’re all wearing some kind of mask we’re all
all wearing some kind of mask we’re all
all wearing some kind of mask we’re all living in a fabricated persona
living in a fabricated persona
living in a fabricated persona because understanding and showing the
because understanding and showing the
because understanding and showing the world who you truly are is essentially
world who you truly are is essentially
world who you truly are is essentially one of the largest obstacles that will
one of the largest obstacles that will
one of the largest obstacles that will ever have to overcome mainly is because
ever have to overcome mainly is because
ever have to overcome mainly is because we have to have an awareness of how
we have to have an awareness of how
we have to have an awareness of how other people see you granted you don’t
other people see you granted you don’t
other people see you granted you don’t have to act upon that but an awareness
have to act upon that but an awareness
have to act upon that but an awareness is enough but maybe it’s because you
is enough but maybe it’s because you
is enough but maybe it’s because you have to face up to how you see you
have to face up to how you see you
have to face up to how you see you because when you understand who you are
because when you understand who you are
because when you understand who you are when you are comfortable in your own
when you are comfortable in your own
when you are comfortable in your own skin that is when you begin to
skin that is when you begin to
skin that is when you begin to understand how much power you have as an
understand how much power you have as an
understand how much power you have as an individual there is no quick fix it
individual there is no quick fix it
individual there is no quick fix it doesn’t happen overnight there’s no easy
doesn’t happen overnight there’s no easy
doesn’t happen overnight there’s no easy route it’s a journey and today I’m gonna
route it’s a journey and today I’m gonna
route it’s a journey and today I’m gonna share my story and tell you about my
share my story and tell you about my
share my story and tell you about my relationship with creativity and how
relationship with creativity and how
relationship with creativity and how it’s helped ease the wheels forward into
it’s helped ease the wheels forward into
it’s helped ease the wheels forward into finding my sense of self now ever since
finding my sense of self now ever since
finding my sense of self now ever since I was a little girl I loved to smile
I was a little girl I loved to smile
I was a little girl I loved to smile there’s something so pure and wholesome
there’s something so pure and wholesome
there’s something so pure and wholesome about a smile and effortless energy
about a smile and effortless energy
about a smile and effortless energy exchange from one person to another
exchange from one person to another
exchange from one person to another it’s beautiful positive domino reaction
it’s beautiful positive domino reaction
it’s beautiful positive domino reaction and so like other little young minds
and so like other little young minds
and so like other little young minds around me and with my default cheesy
around me and with my default cheesy
around me and with my default cheesy grin I began to take on the world a
grin I began to take on the world a
grin I began to take on the world a world that I was told I could have
world that I was told I could have
world that I was told I could have anything a world I was told I could do
anything a world I was told I could do
anything a world I was told I could do anything a world I was told I could be
anything a world I was told I could be
anything a world I was told I could be anyone after all we instinct
anyone after all we instinct
anyone after all we instinct instinctively instilled this gift of
instinctively instilled this gift of
instinctively instilled this gift of possibility into the next generation a
possibility into the next generation a
possibility into the next generation a new years went by and I started to
new years went by and I started to
new years went by and I started to realize that the beauty in the world
realize that the beauty in the world
realize that the beauty in the world that I was seeing for other people they
that I was seeing for other people they
that I was seeing for other people they didn’t even realize that very same
didn’t even realize that very same
didn’t even realize that very same beauty existed I began to realize that
beauty existed I began to realize that
beauty existed I began to realize that this big wide world that I had grown
this big wide world that I had grown
this big wide world that I had grown accustomed to for my own past
accustomed to for my own past
accustomed to for my own past source of exploration and fascination
source of exploration and fascination
source of exploration and fascination was starting to become restricting and I
was starting to become restricting and I
was starting to become restricting and I can do anything about it
can do anything about it
can do anything about it and you have to note that statistics do
and you have to note that statistics do
and you have to note that statistics do show that children in this early stage
show that children in this early stage
show that children in this early stage of life academically aren’t quite
of life academically aren’t quite
of life academically aren’t quite balanced it’s it’s not until like social
balanced it’s it’s not until like social
balanced it’s it’s not until like social aspects start getting sprinkled into the
aspects start getting sprinkled into the
aspects start getting sprinkled into the mix that you start to see a dynamic
mix that you start to see a dynamic
mix that you start to see a dynamic shift an example my bold confidence and
shift an example my bold confidence and
shift an example my bold confidence and my outspoken nature which was once
my outspoken nature which was once
my outspoken nature which was once encouraged was now becoming repressed
encouraged was now becoming repressed
encouraged was now becoming repressed because being bold and outspoken aren’t
because being bold and outspoken aren’t
because being bold and outspoken aren’t necessarily characteristics that you
necessarily characteristics that you
necessarily characteristics that you want from a little girl my assertive
want from a little girl my assertive
want from a little girl my assertive nature and my inquisitive side of me the
nature and my inquisitive side of me the
nature and my inquisitive side of me the way it was being met I started to
way it was being met I started to
way it was being met I started to realize my ethnicity was starting to be
realize my ethnicity was starting to be
realize my ethnicity was starting to be in play now this this dark unprovoked
in play now this this dark unprovoked
in play now this this dark unprovoked response to you when you are just
response to you when you are just
response to you when you are just existing in the world and that that
existing in the world and that that
existing in the world and that that beautiful time of life when your sense
beautiful time of life when your sense
beautiful time of life when your sense of self should be a wonderful wealth of
of self should be a wonderful wealth of
of self should be a wonderful wealth of discovery this negative energy seeps
discovery this negative energy seeps
discovery this negative energy seeps into a developing mind and it walks away
into a developing mind and it walks away
into a developing mind and it walks away you see the world it chips away I became
you see the world it chips away I became
you see the world it chips away I became upset I was hurt I was angry but I
upset I was hurt I was angry but I
upset I was hurt I was angry but I wasn’t allowed to have a voice after all
wasn’t allowed to have a voice after all
wasn’t allowed to have a voice after all in the eyes of society I was just
in the eyes of society I was just
in the eyes of society I was just another black female now we do lump and
another black female now we do lump and
another black female now we do lump and label people together that have similar
label people together that have similar
label people together that have similar characteristics because it does take a
characteristics because it does take a
characteristics because it does take a lot of time and energy to learn about an
lot of time and energy to learn about an
lot of time and energy to learn about an individual it’s so ingrained in our
individual it’s so ingrained in our
individual it’s so ingrained in our culture and we’ve all been guilty of
culture and we’ve all been guilty of
culture and we’ve all been guilty of that so no one should ever feel truly
that so no one should ever feel truly
that so no one should ever feel truly bad for prejudging however when those
bad for prejudging however when those
bad for prejudging however when those same prejudgments are robbing someone of
same prejudgments are robbing someone of
same prejudgments are robbing someone of the possibility of themselves finding
the possibility of themselves finding
the possibility of themselves finding themselves for themselves that’s when it
themselves for themselves that’s when it
themselves for themselves that’s when it becomes problematic I did not fit into
becomes problematic I did not fit into
becomes problematic I did not fit into any of the boxes and all the labels that
any of the boxes and all the labels that
any of the boxes and all the labels that were slapped on me
were slapped on me
were slapped on me just slid right off that was a place for
just slid right off that was a place for
just slid right off that was a place for me I was on the outside left exposed and
me I was on the outside left exposed and
me I was on the outside left exposed and vulnerable so of course I was a perfect
vulnerable so of course I was a perfect
vulnerable so of course I was a perfect target to be bullied from all the
target to be bullied from all the
target to be bullied from all the directions so my identity before I even
directions so my identity before I even
directions so my identity before I even could understand what it could be it was
could understand what it could be it was
could understand what it could be it was ripped out of me and dissected by people
ripped out of me and dissected by people
ripped out of me and dissected by people who are essentially having their own
who are essentially having their own
who are essentially having their own battles of insecurity so they had to
battles of insecurity so they had to
battles of insecurity so they had to attack the dregs of confidence that I
attack the dregs of confidence that I
attack the dregs of confidence that I once held I stood and I listened to all
once held I stood and I listened to all
once held I stood and I listened to all of these voices and all the labels and
of these voices and all the labels and
of these voices and all the labels and justifications for these attacks I
justifications for these attacks I
justifications for these attacks I started to notice they contradicted
started to notice they contradicted
started to notice they contradicted themselves so I stopped listening
themselves so I stopped listening
themselves so I stopped listening because if that’s not who I am and if
because if that’s not who I am and if
because if that’s not who I am and if that’s not who I am if that’s not who I
that’s not who I am if that’s not who I
that’s not who I am if that’s not who I am then they’re wrong why Who am I Who
am then they’re wrong why Who am I Who
am then they’re wrong why Who am I Who am I now that is a big question for
am I now that is a big question for
am I now that is a big question for anyone to deal with at any point in
anyone to deal with at any point in
anyone to deal with at any point in their life but I started to understand
their life but I started to understand
their life but I started to understand that the socially dictated placement for
that the socially dictated placement for
that the socially dictated placement for me in this world was not where I wanted
me in this world was not where I wanted
me in this world was not where I wanted to be and the validation that I so
to be and the validation that I so
to be and the validation that I so craved I knew that I will never get it
craved I knew that I will never get it
craved I knew that I will never get it from an external source I had to find it
from an external source I had to find it
from an external source I had to find it within myself I had to understand myself
within myself I had to understand myself
within myself I had to understand myself and like any major goal in life it’s
and like any major goal in life it’s
and like any major goal in life it’s always best to break it down into
always best to break it down into
always best to break it down into manageable bite-size chunks in order for
manageable bite-size chunks in order for
manageable bite-size chunks in order for me to accept Who I am I have to learn
me to accept Who I am I have to learn
me to accept Who I am I have to learn about Who I am
about Who I am
about Who I am well I like smart being and I like
well I like smart being and I like
well I like smart being and I like making people happy but what makes me
making people happy but what makes me
making people happy but what makes me happy kind of night writing very the
happy kind of night writing very the
happy kind of night writing very the trials and tribulations of my teenage
trials and tribulations of my teenage
trials and tribulations of my teenage temptations amorous admirations of
temptations amorous admirations of
temptations amorous admirations of sensations of my soul my mind melted
sensations of my soul my mind melted
sensations of my soul my mind melted into muscle and I finally phoned into me
into muscle and I finally phoned into me
into muscle and I finally phoned into me a hunger quelled a thirst quenched from
a hunger quelled a thirst quenched from
a hunger quelled a thirst quenched from their rising was my defo writing became
their rising was my defo writing became
their rising was my defo writing became my voice and with this
my voice and with this
my voice and with this I threw myself into so many aspects in
I threw myself into so many aspects in
I threw myself into so many aspects in my life and until something stuck and my
my life and until something stuck and my
my life and until something stuck and my drama teacher miss Cunningham she saw a
drama teacher miss Cunningham she saw a
drama teacher miss Cunningham she saw a spark within me she saw a beauty that I
spark within me she saw a beauty that I
spark within me she saw a beauty that I didn’t even know existed and with the
didn’t even know existed and with the
didn’t even know existed and with the help of my my family I tentatively took
help of my my family I tentatively took
help of my my family I tentatively took the steps into this new creative realm
the steps into this new creative realm
the steps into this new creative realm and I auditioned and gained a place at
and I auditioned and gained a place at
and I auditioned and gained a place at the Birmingham repartee Youth Theatre
the Birmingham repartee Youth Theatre
the Birmingham repartee Youth Theatre and the theatre became my second home I
and the theatre became my second home I
and the theatre became my second home I was around people from different walks
was around people from different walks
was around people from different walks of life that had different learning and
of life that had different learning and
of life that had different learning and physical capabilities I was around boys
physical capabilities I was around boys
physical capabilities I was around boys for the first time so it’s an all-girls
for the first time so it’s an all-girls
for the first time so it’s an all-girls school but I also had people from
school but I also had people from
school but I also had people from different cultures and different class
different cultures and different class
different cultures and different class backgrounds but none of those aspects
backgrounds but none of those aspects
backgrounds but none of those aspects mattered none of those labels mattered
mattered none of those labels mattered
mattered none of those labels mattered what mattered was how we treated each
what mattered was how we treated each
what mattered was how we treated each other and the content of our character
other and the content of our character
other and the content of our character so with my newfound teenage confidence I
so with my newfound teenage confidence I
so with my newfound teenage confidence I noticed that my grades skyrocketed up
noticed that my grades skyrocketed up
noticed that my grades skyrocketed up and my academic achievements started to
and my academic achievements started to
and my academic achievements started to build a new foundation for me but I
build a new foundation for me but I
build a new foundation for me but I wanted to continue on this creative
wanted to continue on this creative
wanted to continue on this creative route to see how far it would get me and
route to see how far it would get me and
route to see how far it would get me and I was honored to gain a place at
I was honored to gain a place at
I was honored to gain a place at Dartington College of Arts which is in
Dartington College of Arts which is in
Dartington College of Arts which is in totnes and South Devon and at the time
totnes and South Devon and at the time
totnes and South Devon and at the time that I attended it was the last
that I attended it was the last
that I attended it was the last remaining Higher Education Institute in
remaining Higher Education Institute in
remaining Higher Education Institute in the UK that was solely dedicated to
the UK that was solely dedicated to
the UK that was solely dedicated to artistic practices and it was known
artistic practices and it was known
artistic practices and it was known worldwide for its quite radical teaching
worldwide for its quite radical teaching
worldwide for its quite radical teaching methods but fundamentally it was its
methods but fundamentally it was its
methods but fundamentally it was its priority towards context and questioning
priority towards context and questioning
priority towards context and questioning as you as an artist and toward your
as you as an artist and toward your
as you as an artist and toward your practice that will hold its legacy and
practice that will hold its legacy and
practice that will hold its legacy and it was there my bold inquisitive
it was there my bold inquisitive
it was there my bold inquisitive confident go the little black girl in me
confident go the little black girl in me
confident go the little black girl in me started smiling at the world again and I
started smiling at the world again and I
started smiling at the world again and I haven’t stopped smiling since and now to
haven’t stopped smiling since and now to
haven’t stopped smiling since and now to this day like I am an international
this day like I am an international
this day like I am an international award-winning cabaret artist and I have
award-winning cabaret artist and I have
award-winning cabaret artist and I have been so for ten years and one of the
been so for ten years and one of the
been so for ten years and one of the biggest things that people ask me is how
biggest things that people ask me is how
biggest things that people ask me is how it did I get into cabaret well all of my
it did I get into cabaret well all of my
it did I get into cabaret well all of my life I have been on the receiving end of
life I have been on the receiving end of
life I have been on the receiving end of prejudice stereotyping labeling and I
prejudice stereotyping labeling and I
prejudice stereotyping labeling and I wanted to reclaim a sense of self for
wanted to reclaim a sense of self for
wanted to reclaim a sense of self for myself I wanted to reconnect
myself I wanted to reconnect
myself I wanted to reconnect with the body that society’s labels are
with the body that society’s labels are
with the body that society’s labels are taken away from me and the joy with with
taken away from me and the joy with with
taken away from me and the joy with with cabaret is that when with my work is
cabaret is that when with my work is
cabaret is that when with my work is that I can I sacrifice a lot of myself
that I can I sacrifice a lot of myself
that I can I sacrifice a lot of myself and my identity to also address a lot of
and my identity to also address a lot of
and my identity to also address a lot of social attitudes the walls race gender
social attitudes the walls race gender
social attitudes the walls race gender sexuality all of because those kind of
sexuality all of because those kind of
sexuality all of because those kind of aspects on this body they don’t really
aspects on this body they don’t really
aspects on this body they don’t really get addressed in mainstream media but in
get addressed in mainstream media but in
get addressed in mainstream media but in the Cabaret stage it’s a safe space to
the Cabaret stage it’s a safe space to
the Cabaret stage it’s a safe space to explore these ideals and the joy of my
explore these ideals and the joy of my
explore these ideals and the joy of my performances is that I get to travel all
performances is that I get to travel all
performances is that I get to travel all over the world and with Beautiful’s of
over the world and with Beautiful’s of
over the world and with Beautiful’s of theatre venues and lavish opulent
theatre venues and lavish opulent
theatre venues and lavish opulent aliased venues but I also work in
aliased venues but I also work in
aliased venues but I also work in charity events and crates shows and be
charity events and crates shows and be
charity events and crates shows and be work with people they’ve overcome huge
work with people they’ve overcome huge
work with people they’ve overcome huge issues in their life but for one moment
issues in their life but for one moment
issues in their life but for one moment it’s all about celebrating life its
it’s all about celebrating life its
it’s all about celebrating life its celebrating being new I also do a lot of
celebrating being new I also do a lot of
celebrating being new I also do a lot of events and shows in church halls and
events and shows in church halls and
events and shows in church halls and community centers from performing for
community centers from performing for
community centers from performing for the elderly adding a little bit of glitz
the elderly adding a little bit of glitz
the elderly adding a little bit of glitz and glamour into an aspect of their
and glamour into an aspect of their
and glamour into an aspect of their world the rest of society thought didn’t
world the rest of society thought didn’t
world the rest of society thought didn’t exist anymore it’s emotionally draining
exist anymore it’s emotionally draining
exist anymore it’s emotionally draining it’s mentally straining but it’s
it’s mentally straining but it’s
it’s mentally straining but it’s beautifully empowering because I’m
beautifully empowering because I’m
beautifully empowering because I’m allowing the world to see me in a
allowing the world to see me in a
allowing the world to see me in a different light and by doing so we can
different light and by doing so we can
different light and by doing so we can allow ourselves to look that’s each
allow ourselves to look that’s each
allow ourselves to look that’s each other in a different way
other in a different way
other in a different way the thing is culturally academically
the thing is culturally academically
the thing is culturally academically socially I understand the joy of having
socially I understand the joy of having
socially I understand the joy of having a creative outlet it’s very essence of
a creative outlet it’s very essence of
a creative outlet it’s very essence of me however it’s the essence of all of us
me however it’s the essence of all of us
me however it’s the essence of all of us because we all started from the same
because we all started from the same
because we all started from the same page we all started to embrace the world
page we all started to embrace the world
page we all started to embrace the world the same imagined imagination LED
the same imagined imagination LED
the same imagined imagination LED perception of the world we all use the
perception of the world we all use the
perception of the world we all use the question we’re all are open minded we
question we’re all are open minded we
question we’re all are open minded we all are quite playful and it is still
all are quite playful and it is still
all are quite playful and it is still there being creative isn’t just tangible
there being creative isn’t just tangible
there being creative isn’t just tangible skills of like pen and paper in ink
skills of like pen and paper in ink
skills of like pen and paper in ink those are just threads of a huge
those are just threads of a huge
those are just threads of a huge spectrum being
spectrum being
spectrum being creative it’s understanding what makes
creative it’s understanding what makes
creative it’s understanding what makes you happy and injecting parts of your
you happy and injecting parts of your
you happy and injecting parts of your personality into your everyday the world
personality into your everyday the world
personality into your everyday the world is going to have limitations on every
is going to have limitations on every
is going to have limitations on every single one of us but as long as those
single one of us but as long as those
single one of us but as long as those limitations are not from you then it’s a
limitations are not from you then it’s a
limitations are not from you then it’s a start
start
start so give yourself creative freedom give
so give yourself creative freedom give
so give yourself creative freedom give yourself a creative license understand
yourself a creative license understand
yourself a creative license understand and enjoy what makes you happy be free
and enjoy what makes you happy be free
and enjoy what makes you happy be free to embrace be free to explore and be
to embrace be free to explore and be
to embrace be free to explore and be free to own who you truly are
free to own who you truly are
free to own who you truly are thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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