From Receptionist to Solo Show

After five years of recovery, adn getting better at managing my anxiety and bipolar disorder,I had a good job as a receptionist at a small graphic design company. But I kept feeling the urge to act. That’s when I started writing about my experiences with mental illness, especially psychosis.

I decided to give it a try. I scratched that creative itch. Writing wouldn’t disrupt my agreeable, though slightly boring, office job, right?

While still working as a marketing assistant and receptionist (mostly a receptionist), I performed the excerpts at the KickstART Disability Arts Festival. Then, three invitations came: England, New Zealand, and Calgary.

They all asked, “Were these excerpts from a one-person show?”

I wondered, “Should they be?”

What else could I do? I said yes! But I only had a few scenes – not nearly enough for a full show. I needed to write more.

Presenting at KickstART had energized me. I was hooked and determined to find more time to write and be creative.

Soon after KickstART, my boss at the graphics firm had to let me go. Was it just a coincidence? Or something more? Maybe the company was struggling. I prefer to think it was meant to be.

I still needed to earn money, but I wasn’t going to waste this opportunity. I started working as a background extra on film sets. It was the perfect “hurry up and