It aint over till the fat lady sings…

TOLA LAWAL, Community Ensemble Participant

Well there was a fat lady, but I don’t remember her singing. So I guess it aint over. It may be the last show, but the memories will continue to live on. So in a nutshell… Whoo hooo…

For me I can honestly say there is a high degree of mixed feelings. I’m totally feeling the buzz of last performance jitters. I feel so privileged to have met and worked with many talented and unique individuals, from different lifestyles who all had a different reason for taking part in Messiah. From the first rehearsal to the last performance, it has definitely been a journey for me. It has opened my eyes to so many things and even made me realise where my heart lies.

There have been laughs, tears, jokes and even moments of conflict but that’s what family is about, being a ‘Community’. So many things I can’t even begin to write but it’s been a very special and personal experience for me that if just ONE of you weren’t there, it wouldn’t have been the same.

Opera is something different to what I’m used to, but I feel a very much part of it like dance, drama and music. Deborah Warner’s vision of Messiah was shared with many thousands of people and each one of us, through love, support and commitment, made that vision come alive. And I am very much proud to be a part of that vision.

I’ll leave others to get to the nitty gritty details of the process but I just wanted to post something, because I’m just bursting with ideas and visions and gratitude for this opportunity. It may have been for a short time but it will play a big part. Everything in life happens for a reason!

Thank you all for making this what it is! I hope and pray you all figure out where your path leads you to. And realise that whatever you want, it’s yours. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Wish you all the best of luck in life, keep on smiling and being “satellites of the sacred”. This is not goodbye, but more of a see you later…

Loads of love, hugs, peace and harmony!! See you at the TOP!!