The Crows Plucked Your Sinews has allowed me to re-connect with something I’ve longed to re-connect with – the Somali language.
It is so important for me, as a Somali diaspora, to have that route into which I can access my history and language. What better way than through poetry and performance? This is one reason why I am very happy to be a part of this play.
It has been very educational and has provided me with a lot of context conflicts in Somalia.
In terms of performance, I’ve begun to enjoy taking on these characters. I’m continuously blown away by the script – in terms of the performative aspects that went from being really abstract and me being fearful about how these characters would come about. But that definitely changed when I was in front of the audience for the first time. It’s a continually evolving cycle of states of being.
I really enjoy being in front of an audience and the energy exchange that takes place. I feel a sense of responsibility as I know that it’s an important story I’m delivering – becoming the vessel for that and by the end I’ve handed it over to the audience. And I feel a sense of lightness afterwards.
I’ve definitely begun reflecting on time more because of this play and the measurement of it during the performance.
It’s a strange, but beautiful thing.
Aisha
The Albany, Deptford 