On the latest #WinHappy podcast I chatted with Sally Smart of Smart Productions in Schull in West Cork.
We sat in her workshop which was a large room sitting above the ground floor theatre area, known to many kids as "The Loft".
This is where Sally paints, plans the different productions, where the kids are invited to build the sets and bring their ideas to life on the stage below.
While the whole place feels a bit chaotic you feel that it is a creative space where kids can freely experiment and express themselves.
I can honestly say that Sally is one of the most fascinating people that I have met who has lived the most unusual life and I was gripped by her story. Her mother wanted her family to live simply and sustainably from the land in their Cornwall home and her father was a complex character who suffered from severe mood swings that clearly impacted the family and Sally.
Frustrated by a world that supressed her creativity Sally "ran" away to Australia, she lived alone on a deserted island for 9 months, she fell in love with Gus, an Aboriginal man. They lived and travelled together with their children across the desert in the station wagon that she had bought with their two children. She made clothes to earn income along the way.
Sally is headstrong and determined and she lives and stands by her principles in everything that she does.
In part 1 you can hear the first part of her story as well as the racism she experienced in Australia and the personal risks that she took in her early days travelling and living alone.
Part 1 - Sally Smart escapes to a deserted island for 9 months!
Sally returned to Cornwall for family reasons and to work through some of the trauma that she had experienced in her early life. This resulted in the end of her marriage.
Instead of settling down, typical Sally bought a camper van and took off around Europe with her three girls - she continued to make and sell clothes. She home schooled her children with visiting interesting places being part of that education.
28 years ago she visited a friend in West Cork with her three daughters in the camper van that they were all living in. For the sake of the children Sally decided to put down roots and after many years she was able to explore her own passion for theatre and productions.
Six years ago Sally's vision was realised and created a safe place called "The Loft", where with her help kids can express themselves creatively, in a way that she was never able to.
Ayoola, her own daughter, who is now a successful actress was one of the very first to benefit from Sally's teaching, spirit and encouragement. They are now collaborating on a number of interesting projects.
Sally's perspective on children and the need for creativity in their development is very interesting and what she is doing is so valuable. Away from parents in a safe environment she provides all of the children with an opportunity to get involved, have fun and learn.
We wish her luck and hope she can hold onto "The Loft" as it is a lot more than a warehouse in the middle of a West Cork village.
In part two you can hear the wonderful Sally Smart chatting about her West Cork adventure.
Part 2 - Sally Smart on the importance of children being able to freely express themselves
Greg
The #WinHappy podcast is available on Apple, on all podcast apps and is also on Spotify.
No comments:
Post a Comment