2023 Round Up!

It is that time of year again where everywhere you look people are sharing their incredible achievements, amazing partners they've worked with and the goals they've hit in the past 12 months. While it is wonderful to see how much friends and colleagues have achieved, it can also be pretty shitty when you get that sinking feeling that maybe you've not actually done as much or as well or as much good stuff as everyone else... anyone else?

So I was a tad hesitant to share this post, because my friends I can be on both sides of the new years coin. On one side wanting to reflect and celebrate what I've achieved and on the other knowing how shitty it can make people feel. So I've decided to share this post, but with this message first:

You are amazing. You have done amazing things. And no matter what you have or haven't done this year I can guarantee that you have achieved more than you think, made more people happy than you realise and that everything that has happened to you, even if it doesn't seem like it now, is leading you to something more amazing than you could imagine and it will make sense in time.

Now read that again.

Good.

So onto the round up!

As you know I am a logical and fairly statistical creature at heart so let's start with the numbers:

• I have produced 12 incredible projects

• I have led 8 lecturers/workshops

• Supported 16 artists to apply for funding bids

• Had 2 of my own original plays performed

Within this I also gained my first West End Credit for Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial, became a Stage One Bursary winner, presented and won an Offie and met some incredible people along the way too!

But, while this may look impressive there are also some numbers that you might not realise

• I was rejected from 26 jobs this year

• Had around 4 weeks of the year I couldn't walk or work due to my chronic knee issues

• Started 4 scripts that I did not and still have not finished

And do you know what I spend far more time focusing on? That's right. List two.

However, from writing this post I have realised how much of the good stuff, the amazing things, the down right unexpected incredible things that had happened this year, that I had totally forgotten about! And I actually feel super proud of myself. When I started freelancing I had 0 idea of how it would turn out and honestly, I was so scared, but looking back now I know that if I hadn't taken that leap, I would have achieved far less than I have now. If I hadn't taken that leap I wouldn't be lecturing (something I adore that I want to do more of in 2024), I wouldn't have worked on the West End and I wouldn't have been able to support as many incredible artists as I have.

So I want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has supported, encouraged and championed me this year you are incredible!

As for 2024... well I have some rather exciting news to share with you in the New Year so do keep your eyes peeled for that, I've been doing a lot of work behind the scene to make it happen so I hope you love it! But aside from that I would love to:

• Work with more universities, schools and colleges to lecture and teach more emerging artists and young people about our industry

• Support more artists in writing, editing and securing funding bids

• Share more with you here on this blog and maybe meet some of you who read this in person too!

• Take things a little easier to protect my health and brain!

On the off chance you think you can help with any of these goals well now is the time for your first good deed of 2024 and pop me an email at charlotte@cahcreative.co.uk

But for now have an incredible New Year however you may be celebrating and I shall speak to you in 24!