Covid19 Interview - Fiona Leonard

Collaborating globally from the dining room table.

Step into the world of Australian author & creative director Fiona Leonard for her perspective on creative practice and community during confinement. Fiona spent six weeks at Green Olive Arts in 2014 writing for her novel series The Chicken Thief, and exploring the medina with her daughter. Now based in Düsseldorf, Germany, Fiona is the Artistic Director for Blue Goat Theater. This post is part of a series of interviews with former Artists in Residence at Green Olive Arts asking how this season of social distancing and postponed cultural mobility has impacted them.

Green Olive Arts AiR Interview with Fiona Leonard

How have you had to flex or pivot your art practice in this unprecedented season of home confinement? What are you currently working on in your studio at home?

When Germany went into Lockdown in mid-March, my theatre company, Blue Goat Theatre, was in the middle of rehearsals for a new production that had scheduled dates for shows in Düsseldorf and at the Liverpool Fringe Festival. I was in planning mode to take a group of artists to the Reading Fringe Festival in July, I was writing another play that was slated for a festival in July. And overnight it was all gone. Rehearsal rooms were closed. Theatres closed. Festivals cancelled. And everyone started talking about “social distancing”.

I hate social distancing. The term made me really angry because we weren’t ‘social’ distancing we were ‘physical’ distancing. And I felt like those words just made everyone feel lonely and isolated and helpless. So on the 21st of March I registered a domain name, that weekend I built a website and on the 24th of March I launched an online festival that was designed to remind artists that they were not alone and that creating in the middle of a pandemic was still possible. I brought together 36 artists from 9 different countries, online, to create a play in the space of one day. None of the artists knew each other, they were working across different time zones and couldn’t leave their houses – so naturally, that became the Lockdown Edition! Since then I’ve held two more – a Dance Edition and a German language edition with a Visual Edition scheduled for 5/6 June. The performances can all be viewed at www.23hourfestival.com (yes I know…23 hours…but really, who even knows how long a day is any more!)

In the space of three months, the festivals have brought together 75 artists from 14 different countries, across five continents. Together they have created 26 new pieces of performance art that otherwise would not have existed. The festival has inspired new collaborations and connections.

I still hate “social distancing” but I’m grateful for what it inspired me to do.

Click to see the trailer for the 24 Hour Festival

What does creative community and/or social sanity look like for you right now? How are you staying connected and grounded?

Staying sane, connected and grounded has revolved around findings ways to maintain connection with the people who inspire and support me. At the simplest level this has been through regular check ins, chats and hanging out. One of my friends whom I adore, messages to ask – how is your heart today? It’s such a beautiful question that goes beyond – What are you doing? How’s it going? It’s asking, how are you at your core?

I’m currently creating a multi-disciplinary piece with a group of artists from around the world that will be premiered online at the Reading Fringe Festival in July. The piece is being directed by Tsolak MLKE-Galystan, Artistic Director of MIHR Theatre in Armenia, and performed by dancer and choreographer, Mayumi Lashbrook, Artistic Director of Aeris Körper in Canada and UK based actor, Kelly Burke. The music will be composed by Augustin Gressier from France. When I look back on this year, I know that this piece will shine through all the other rubbish that has gone on. Working with this group is such a joy. Their willingness to throw themselves into the project is both humbling and inspiring.

I think the global lockdown has taken an incredible amount away from us, but it has also given us the courage to experiment, to look for creative alternatives and to really focus on what’s important.

What insights about creativity in a time of crisis can you share with other artists? What have you been learning?

So many lessons and insights…!

I have always believed strongly in building community, however, this period has reinforced my belief in the power of connecting with people whom you really care about (wherever they are in the world); both for your personal well-being and creative growth.

I have been reminded over and over of the importance and power of being vulnerable: that being prepared to show up as you are, and particularly to create from that place is where your strength and beauty lies.

Learning to Focus …

Over the past three months I have had to learn to be more strategic about how I focus my energy. There is so much going on, so much highly charged information and so much I want to do, and I’ve found myself overwhelmed on so many occasions. I’m learning to be far more ruthless about who and what I engage with…or at least, I’m trying to be…

One of the really important things I’m currently exploring is the way society measures achievement – those metrics (sometimes invisible) that we are always striving for. If I achieve [ x ] then I know I will be successful… I feel like this process overshadows more important questions like – How do I be more vulnerable? How do I bring more joy into my life? How do I hold space for the people I adore?