I am finding the links between Café Delay, my touring takeaway internet-cafe, and the Belgian Bun shop I created with Dumface in the show, The Singing Nun. Consistencies in the work can be heavy weights to drag around, or they can help you to see your work from a new perspective. Looking back helps you re-evaluate the 'failures'. The Singing Nun is the story of a real life commercial failure by an ingénue nun. 'Soeur Sourire', Jeanine Deckers, was a troubled and profoundly spiritual person who became an overnight pop star sensation. Somehow through her sad and trammelled story there emerges an enchanting lay priestess who seemed to seduce people into her strange mystical outlook by singing innocent and touching songs. The show we made in 2004 missed this last quality and so it was problematic and was received with giggles and puzzlement. But the process of owning failure has recently revealed the need for more empathy alongside the lightness and silliness, if I am going to find the truly beautiful possibilities of transcending fiasco. I'll let you know when the story is ready to view on Sway, and also when the café is open.
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