Have you been to the theatre lately? Perhaps you’ve attended a performance at the National Theatre in London, or watched a broadcast of one at your local cinema. If so, you’ll know that they do some amazing things at these live productions – performers float or even ”fly”, shows have live birds flying, and they even set things on fire. How do these productions do these things within the confines of a theatre or arts centre, and how do they balance risk while maintaining the artistic integrity of the production?
Enter, stage right, my guest on today’s episode, Ms. Anna Glover. Anna leads the Safety Risk and Fire Management team at the world renowned National Theatre here in London. As you will soon find out, Anna does NOT do Health and Safety risk. Rather, she and her team are a core part of these internationally acclaimed shows – full stop. The work she does embodies what great risk management is all about – taking risk with intelligence and confidence – and achieving great things in the process. We obviously cover this fascinating line of work in the episode – including her work with top directors, choreographers, designers, and actors, and on some amazing shows.
But, there is much more to Anna than this. We have a great conversation around how Anna got into this line of work. This is a wonderful example of how to find your path – or more precisely, how to let it find you. We move on to have a great discussion about Anna’s philosophy on risk, fear, and many other things. We also cover:
This is an amazing episode and I am sure you will enjoy it!
Show notes:
Anna Glover’s website – http://annagloverconsulting.com/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/annajglover
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annagloverconsulting/
Some people Anna has worked with:
“The Light Princess” – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Light-Princess-Original-Cast-Recording/dp/B0131W0S4Q
Book recommendation – Creativity, Inc.by Ed Catmull –https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18077903-creativity-inc?from_search=true&search_version=service
Book recommendation – The Organised Mind by Daniel Levitin –https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693669-the-organized-mind?ac=1&from_search=true
Joint Service Mountain Training Centre –http://www.nuffieldanglesey.org.uk/
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
Chang’s Hapkido Academy – http://www.changshapkido.net/
Poem – “The Bright Field” by RS Thomas:http://emilyspoetryblog.com/2013/10/23/the-bright-field-by-r-s-thomas/
I have seen the sun break through
to illuminate a small field
for a while, and gone my way
and forgotten it. But that was the
pearl of great price, the one field that had
treasure in it. I realise now
that I must give all that I have
to possess it. Life is not hurrying
on to a receding future, nor hankering after
an imagined past. It is the turning
aside like Moses to the miracle
of the lit bush, to a brightness
that seemed as transitory as your youth
once, but is the eternity that awaits you.