WORDWALKS

These outdoor performances combine Ailsa’s loves of walking, nature and poetry – with a touch of history thrown in. They are moving, exhilarating, magical and uplifting. They use words and silence, and sometimes music, as their text, and the landscape is their shifting backdrop. Ailsa can conduct them in any outdoor locale, and for any occasion. Maximum group size is twenty, and they run between 90 minutes and three hours, depending on the area covered, and the pace of the group. Slow is best!

MONOLOGUES

These are indoor performances. They grew out of Ailsa’s two books, and have been performed in tents, churches, halls, homes – and even theatres. Both run for 50 minutes, and both celebrate journeys.

The Pilgrim Progressing is inspired by Ailsa’s walk across Spain, but focuses on her joy in language – both poetic and colloquial. It is a love song to walking and to Spain.

The Snail’s Mail celebrates friendship, questioning, listening, slowing, paying attention, rhubarb and licorice. Not necessarily in that order! It can be performed with or without Tony Doherty as host.

SPEAKING

Ailsa is an uplifting and highly motivating speaker. A shape-shifter who has re-invented herself many times, Ailsa speaks with passion and imagination. She has inspired corporate titans and spiritual seekers; educators and seekers; and listeners of all ages and experience. Resilience, wonder, imagination and creativity are her mantras, but being a story-teller, every speech is individually crafted to fit the occasion – so every speech is alive. And having been an actor and director, every speech she makes is performed with brio.

Ailsa and Tony Doherty, her co-author on The Attachment, can also be booked as a double act for speaking engagements.

TEACHING

Ailsa’s writing workshops are unique in that they grew out of her work in the theatre. They are particularly helpful in the generative phase of a project – when beginning, when stuck, or when in need of a sharp left turn. She prefers to work in a venue where she can access an outdoor space as well as more conventional work rooms, and she asks that participants wear loose clothing and that they come prepared to write freehand, rather than on a computer. There is no strenuous physical activity – but plenty of mental stretching!

For further details or enquiries about wordwalks, monologues or teaching, please use the contact form. For speeches, please get in touch with one of Ailsa’s speaking agents.