Human behaviour

'And remember – it really doesn't matter if you can't sing. OK, GO!'

My hair just about stood up on end.

When I'd turned up at an improv acting class, I hadn't expected that I would be asked to sing in front of everyone else. Even for just nine terrifying seconds.

I'll admit it. I'm a loud and proud introvert, and it's been a life-long mission to learn how to get comfortable around other humans.

I'm sure, as an artist, there's nothing wrong with creating work just to please your own curiosities. But for me, it's always been about connecting. I can't find the exact quote, but Robert McKee said something like, 'The purpose of all art is to offer an opportunity for someone else to have a moment of recognition – a moment of me too', and this really rang true with me.

And so I figured – acting is a study of humans. Why not give it a go?

So I sang my nine seconds, as everyone else did, and then we gave each other a huge round of applause. And it really wasn't so bad. In fact, it felt amazing to be supported in that way by thirty perfect strangers. 

'If you ever get close to a human
And human behaviour
Be ready, be ready to get confused
There's definitely, definitely, definitely no logic
To human behaviour
But yet so, yet so irresistible...'
Bjork, Human Behaviour

Pearl