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WANDERLUST Scotland New Zealand Playwriting Exchange writer Morna Young on looking back from a distance.
I am writing this on day 108 of lockdown, 9th July in Glasgow. Here, in Scotland we are entering phase three of ‘the Route Map to recovery’. Glimpses of ‘life before’ lurk tantalisingly: coffee shops offer takeaways, groups of friends swarm and passing cars multiply by the day. In many ways, my lifestyle has not shifted particularly dramatically during the past three-and-a-bit months. Though theatre performances are postponed indefinitely, I’m still working toward script deadlines for previous commissions, in addition to new assignments. Prior to lockdown, I was gearing up for my busiest year to date with five new premieres and those scripts still need to be written and redrafted. The most noticeable difference between ‘life now’ and ‘life before’ surfaces repeatedly on Facebook’s ‘memories’ feature. For, precisely two years ago, I was recipient of the Scotland New Zealand Playwriting Exchange, allowing me to live and work in Wellington for three months. Every day, social media conjures up an ‘on-this-day’ recollection and I marvel at the idea of travelling so far. Until a few days ago, we were prohibited to leave a five-mile radius. Travelling to Edinburgh, let alone New Zealand, feels like an alien adventure.
Viewing these online ‘memories’ has become part of my lockdown routine and I’m grateful that my past self was so snap-happy. I’m reminded of my first fortnight spent in Auckland as part of a multi-disciplinary Creative Lab (Rough Mix). A visit to Piha beach with our company of creatives shows us splashing in bluer-than-blue seas, arms linked and laughing. Artistic friendships built in a rehearsal room through trust, are quickly bonded and I suddenly, deeply long to see my friends on the other side of the world. These snapshots lead me onward to the quaint cottage in Wellington that I called home for the majority of my stay. I’m reintroduced to drinks at BATS and shows at Circa. Then begin my travels, starting with the Tongariro Crossing. I’m reminded of a shocking pink sunrise and an unfolding landscape marked by snow-covered peaks. I feel a renewed pride at completing the hike as I recall hobbling for days afterwards. My picture trail continues onto the South Island for a road-trip with my soul sister, Anya Tate-Manning, as we visit glaciers, lakes and gorges. Then a jump back to Auckland and a journey to Cape Reinga, Waipoua and Waipū. Finally, a slow, winding return toward
