Coming to London with fingers crossed as to get an internship placement with a theatre company, I was excited yet terrified when I got the news that I would be interning with Metta Theatre. This was my first opportunity to get out of the audience chair and go behind the scenes of a musical production.
I had absolutely no clue what I was doing - hence being terrified. However, coming in with nothing more than a love and great enthusiasm for theatre, Poppy and Will welcomed me into their company and their home and have given me an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. While my tasks were only a small contribution to what is going to be an incredible musical, In The Willows, I got to see the ins and outs of the theatre industry. I now realise how much more goes into a production than people are aware of, and be part of a unique corner of the theatre industry which is, in my opinion, exactly what makes Metta special.
During a small part of my time here I was given the chance to work with one of the actors/dancers in In The Willows who happens to be deaf. After shooting and working on a video with him, doing research on charities for the deaf community, and witnessing the genuine efforts and hopes the production team had toward including the deaf community in their show, I realised that Metta was a gem hidden within the mass of theatres around the UK. Not only was there a desire to shine light on community that usually sits in the shadows when it comes to performing arts, but also determination to showcase the power of women on and off stage.
Chris Fonsecca as Otter in In The Willows, 2019
Not many big West End or Broadway productions feature many women in any type of creative role, so seeing the dedication to having women dominate the stage is incredibly inspiring. Even off stage, it is a priority to make sure videos, content and the production is accessible to everybody. Deaf, blind, young, old, male, female - Metta, in my eyes, is an example of pure and total acceptance and love.
The passion that Poppy and Will have for telling well-loved stories in a new and innovative way, was a daily reminder to myself of why I love theatre. The motivation isn’t to be the best or make the most, it is to allow anyone and everyone to express themselves through their unique talents, while telling a story that touches the hearts and souls of those lucky enough to see it. Metta has shown me that the saying is true; ‘the scariest things in life are the best things in life’. I am forever grateful for this experience and no matter what happens in the future, Metta Theatre will always hold a special place in my heart.
Mady Goebel