06 - Drama with a Purpose: Sarah Ellis on Theatre Inspiring Change

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions on misogyny, racism, and domestic abuse.

In this incredible episode of "Show Up and Shine," Carole Ann Rice explores the transformative power of theatre with Sarah Ellis, Director of Theatre Inspiring Change. 

Together, they delve into the challenging topics of misogyny, racism, and domestic abuse through the lens of theatre's potential to foster discussion and provoke change. 

Sarah shares her unique approach to bringing impactful performances directly to the community—whether in schools, workplaces, or even on trains—making theatre accessible and engaging. 

This episode is a profound journey through the arts' ability to empower and inspire, highlighting the importance of visibility and voice in tackling societal issues. 

Powered by and edited by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real

Transcript

Sarah Ellis: 0:00

Oh my god. I'm not the only one. But also this brave. translate that for bossy and big I think, you know, this woman has just said that in front of all of these people and owned it without shame.

Unknown: 0:19

Well, welcome to show up and shine with the UK is leading life coach Carol Anne Rice, the podcast that is curious about what drives, motivates and inspires people to show up for success. Even when the clouds gather. The chips are dying and the do they beggins

Carole Ann Rice: 0:39

pay welcome everybody to my show up and shine Podcast, the podcast that wants to know what gets you out of bed out from under the duvet come rain or shine, it's raining. The cats been sick, the children are ill you're not looking great. The city lights gleaming? How do we get on with our lives when the chips are down? I'm fascinated by superstars. I've mentioned that before Madonna Taylor Swift you know, at date tours, a sharper shine every night, not only if they show up and shine, but 1000s and 1000s of people and they wear sequins and then makeups perfect on a wide profile. But on a micro level. We're all doing it. We have to get to school, we have to drop the kids off, we have to put our makeup on we have to pull our jeans a bit tighter. Certainly I do. And put the show must go on. Now I couldn't have a more ideal guests about the show going on when the chips are down. And I want to introduce Sarah in a moment. But let me just say we will be covering the subjects of so you know hold your breath misogyny, consent, racism, homophobia, domestic silent, sorry, domestic abuse, and comedy. I know. It's a funny old mix, isn't it? But who better than to be the emcee of all this? As Sir LS who is head of theater inspiring change, and I nearly called it the inspiring change theater. I suspect you get that a lot to eat.

Sarah Ellis: 2:05

I don't and that's quite inspiring. Actually, Carol, I might. I might have a think about that. Yeah, the name was named always difficult, aren't they? You know, like, what to call things?

Carole Ann Rice: 2:17

And it is what it is. It's an inspiring change, not as I thought inspiring change theater. So the last, what is it? What do you do, Sarah? And how did it come about?

Sarah Ellis: 2:30

So to inspiring change is a theatre company, we produce theater shows that talk about the stuff that maybe we don't want to talk about, or don't want to admit that needs to be talked about. So you've already mentioned a few of those things, misogyny, sexism, racism, domestic abuse, county lines, bullying, etc, etc. They're essential conversations. For us as human beings. We're very UK based at the moment, even though we have done work internationally. But you know, in the UK, all of the things that we work on are things that affect people, some people every day, I believe in the transformative power of theater. It's as simple as that. So the other thing about what we do, so kind of that's what we do, where we do is really crucial with the company. So we take theater to people rather than expecting people to come to theaters. So for example, we work in schools, colleges, universities, with worked with WorldPay, at their offices, we're working with, we're looking at mental health that was and empowering women in the workplace. We're working with the probation service at the moment on an anti racism project. And we, you know, we we go to their probation offices, we work in hotels, we work in all sorts of places. For me, that's about making things as inclusive as they possibly can be. We've even done shows in parks, you know, with people, we've done shows on a train anywhere, we can pop up naturally, and that's pretty crucial. You know, because I think, you know, it can be seen as elite. And that that is we're kind of the opposite of that. We're kind of like, Hey, we're here, right? Let's have a conversation. The conversation bits important because it's not only a theater show where you see somebody's story, but there's an interactive element afterwards. And that's crucial, really crucial. So for example, we were in South End yesterday, with a group of year 10 pupils, looking at sexism, misogyny, and violence against women and girls. I'm very lucky to be funded by the home office at the moment and the PFCC. To look at violence against women and girls and how to combat it. So the actors who are in the play, the audience then get to help them to sort out what's going on in their life. It's a thing called forum theater. It was developed by an amazing guy called Augustus Vidal, who was from Brazil. And he used to incite revolution. Now, we're not inciting revolution before anybody panics and cancels any bookings with us. But what we're doing is using that interactive process for the audience to kind of go, well, actually, let's do a, I don't know, a rehearsal for life. Let's tell the actors what to do the actors then go back in try it out, then they come back out and go right, what else can I do? I think probably the best way of, of kind of underlining that is, we have got a play called the bruise you can't see. And it's about the early warning signs of domestic abuse. So our audience gets to go back in time and the play to spot what those early warning signs look like. And the whole point of it is, it's about empowering us as human beings, to find our own unique voice, and to be powerful in our relationships. You know, none of the stuff that we talk about happens to us, it's all behavioral decisions. So when I say it doesn't happen to us, sorry, I mean, like, somebody doesn't punch their partner from nowhere. That's not a thing.

Carole Ann Rice: 6:37

And if they is that the is that the and so it's all about the story leading up to that moment, the choices you make in that moment, and for the victim, the choices you make, after that moment, as well whether to stay, whether to react, whether to report it. And the story behind the victim is what they put up with to and their choices. So this is this is incredible. I'm just going back a few notches here. I love the fact that wherever you turn up the show happens there is a very kind of let us do it is like arts and crafts. Let's do it right here reminds me of Mickey Rooney. And, and, you know, Judy Garland, let's put the show on right here. You know, it's like anywhere is the show, it's showtime. But what is great is it's interactive, and you don't know the ending. And so the audience have to participate and learn as they're participating. That's amazing, amazing concept.

Sarah Ellis: 7:30

It's really important because I think what I've always felt quite strongly about is the difference between being passive and and being part of something and Maya Angelou, who's one of my favorite writers, Maya Angelou says, and I can't, I haven't got the quote exactly. But what she says, you know, tell me something like, Tell me and I'll listen, show me an AR look. But if I can feel it, that's when I realize, and I look at myself, as you know, a white woman, it would be wrong for me to show up and say, Oh, I understand racism, or what it feels like. Of course, I don't, I absolutely don't. But that doesn't mean I can't empathize. It doesn't mean I can't be an ally. And it doesn't mean that I can't learn. And by doing that, I can become a real ally, and really about changing where we are, because these are all prejudices and discriminations, that it's about hate as well. Let's be really clear. We were talking about a certain influencer yesterday, who is a male? Yes. And he's, I was quoting some of the things that he had said, you know, a man should be a leader, a woman should be a follower. Women are stupid, they don't understand taxes. I got on an aeroplane and I saw it was a female pilot. I mean, that's interesting in itself, we don't say male pilot, do we, but we say female pilot. And, and I thought, Why should I be on a? You know, how can I stay on a plane with a female pilot where most women can't drive? Like it's nonsense. And that nonsense is affecting hundreds of 1000s of people. Because we know there is a gender pay gap, whether we want to admit it or not. There is factually in the UK, a gender pay gap. And people are learning from this, whether they realize

Carole Ann Rice: 9:35

it or not. So I'm intrigued them when you when you stage a production and it gets to that crucial part in the production where the audience have to decide. And then you then there's the end of the show. Do you see the changes in that audience? Do you see that this their opinions change? They're seeing it differently, their perception has changed. Is that kind of typical, or after the production

Sarah Ellis: 9:58

the best job in the world because you see Eat, what I what I love some taken a little step backwards, it's really important to us that I've always believed that quite often people want to give you the right answer. Yeah. And I don't believe that anybody wakes up in the morning and you know, and says, Well, I'm going to punch my girlfriend, you know, I'm going to abuse my husband, I'm going to be really racist. Today, I'm going to rape somebody today. I don't think that's a thing, unless you're talking about a minute shy, psychopaths, etc. But regular human beings, of which there are very, very many, I don't think they wake up to do that. But things happen throughout the day, or throughout the night that trigger them, that fulfill their bias and their prejudice quite often unconscious. So that then their actions are working on that and their experience and their own trauma. And they're bringing up and the people that are around them. So what we're about is saying, hey, that's cool. But when you're in that moment, you've got a choice. And actually, that's part of the learning. Do we know we've got a choice? Like, if somebody really upsets you do, can we stop in that moment and go, I've just been triggered. I've got a choice now. What's, what's the repercussions? So the way that we work is quite noisy, passionate. And people respond really, really quickly. The cycle. And how we do that is, it's not complicated, but not very interesting for you to listen to. I don't think the reason for that is because we don't give our audiences time to go, Aha, what does this person want me to say? What people do they go? Oh, right, you tell him or you tell her or don't punch him in the face? Whatever. Yeah. Our secret ingredient is that the actors will absolutely do what the audience says, which includes punch in the face, lots of other things. And that's really super important, because the audience then sees those quick decisions come to life,

Carole Ann Rice: 12:18

and the consequences.

Sarah Ellis: 12:21

And the consequences, because I think we all know, what it feels like to want to punch someone in the face, right? Like, I think most of us understand the that feeling. But I'm lucky enough to say that I've never actually done it, I've gone Okay, Sarah, you could punch them in the face. But number one, you might get hurt. Number two, you might get arrested and not be able to do your job number three, you're probably not very good at it, you know. And that's super important. Because then what happens is the other person reacts to the punch in the face, or whatever it is, then they come back and go, What do I do now quite often, violence breeds violence, if someone is violent, your fight or flight will kick in. And then we get to this place where it's not nice. And as the facilitator, which is my job, I will come in and say, Okay, where are we at? Are you getting what you want? Is this making things any better? Or I was one of the actors to come in as a police officer. You're arrested? Because assault is illegal? Oh, yeah. But it was only self defense. Well, actually, that isn't self defense, because you walked forward three steps, and punch somebody, even if they punched you for. So there's this massive load of learning in there. But I also know that at that point, the audience has, has really come on board, because they there's this feeling of oh, you actually are going to do what we say, Okay, what would I really do? If someone was putting pressure on me to have sex? What would I really do if I was in an office? And I know I'm not being picked? Because I'm a person of color? You know, or what would I do if I saw racism going on? What would I do if I if my friend was in an abusive relationship? And that's where the sweet spot is. Because then you've got this room of people working for the same thing, but also debating, and actually the wonderfulness of young, young people. I've been working with young people this week, but also adults, to be able to say, yes, but I do think if you wear a bikini top and a short skirt, you're putting yourself in danger. And rather than being shut down, anybody should wear anything they like and not be raped. We can defrag what that means. What does that mean? Is it the same if a guy wears shorts and doesn't have a top? Is it the same? Where are we focusing on where are these messages coming from? And that's the bit that's the bit that I love. Because you're not saying no, you're just saying interesting. Let's pull that to pieces.

Carole Ann Rice: 15:00

Hi, I'm Caroline, I've been a coach for 20 years and I share all my incredible coaching tools and techniques at the pure Coaching Academy. If you're looking to train to be a life coach, join us is eight weeks of pure, fun, intense training and everything you need to know about becoming a world class life coach, we also show you the tools and techniques you need to supply mazing abundant practice to pure coaching academy.com is where you need to go to see how to change the world with you doing what you do best as an amazing life coach. You must get to a stage in a production where you can see the change occurring, you can see the cogs, turning the perception wheels grinding in a different direction. And not an enlightenment for want of a better word coming into the room. And everyone's seeing things differently. And that must be the sweet spot for you.

Sarah Ellis: 15:56

Like it's life changing. Like yeah, that sounds dramatic. But, you know, it's when you're hearing things like, well, she was wearing a short skirt. She deserved it. You hear things like, Yeah, but all black people are or Yeah, but women, you know, women don't want to work full time or whatever is the stuff that challenges. It's lovely then to be able to Well, number one to challenge back because we can challenge respectfully. And, and nicely. It's okay. Can I challenge you on that? Yeah. How does that work? If you know? And then to see those light bulbs going on? And then then going, Oh, my God, no, actually rape doesn't have anything to do with what somebody's wearing that person. How do you stop rain? By wearing turtleneck jumpers and trousers and not going out at night? Well, no, because people are raped in their own homes. People are raped and families people are raped in pajamas, people. So by, you know, cutting that link, you've suddenly got people kind of go, oh, my god, yeah. Oh, wow. I have to share with you Kara. Like, yesterday, I had a very moving moment, which we sometimes get. We've had moments in the past where people have gone, right. Yesterday, I came to see your show. And you know, just wanted you to know that I went home and told somebody about it. And I've left my partner, you know, and all sorts of things like that. I had a young man. Yeah. And he, he was in a college and he had never come out to any of his peers or to the college staff. He said, Because the homophobia that he listened to and witness was so bad, he was scared. And he saw his peers in our show, actively stopping homophobia by teaching our actors, you know, telling our actors what to say, and how to deal with it. And all of this. He said, and I, this was a couple of years ago. He said, and actually, I felt like taking my own life recently. And now I've seen these people sticking up for me. I think I can come out in college. But yesterday, we had a teacher. Also, we're working with you. Yeah. 10s may had a teacher talk to us about a young person who unfortunately has had a hard time. And that young person came and talked to me afterwards. And I was in floods of tears, because that young person said, when you talked about. So for instance, this is something I've been through, this is why I go to work. So abuse is something that I've witnessed, felt experienced. Yeah. And I just closed yesterday. And she said when you disclosed, she said, I thought, oh my god, I'm not the only one. But also this brave. translate that for bossy and big. I think, you know, this woman has just said that in front of all of these people, and owned it without shame. And actually, if you look at all of the subjects that we look at shame is a massive part of why it continues. Homophobia, you know, I was listening this morning to a certain news to add a certain channel of program, and they had a phone in and people were saying things like young people shouldn't be talking about people who are who are gay. They don't need to know they don't need to know. And one of the problems with that is that you've got young people who've got two dads at home, you know, possibly to wonderful dads at home. But whilst we're not creating a normality, that includes everybody, that's when the shame goes there. And that's

Carole Ann Rice: 20:00

why we've got to stop it. I completely agree. Shame loves secrecy and dark places. It doesn't like light. And its shame thrives in secrecy and dark places. Now, you know, guilt guilt is one horrible emotion guilt is I've done a bad thing which you can make amends for shame is I am a bad thing. And you're not. But that's what you think I am this bad pariah this creature, this thing that I mustn't tell anyone about in case they see me. And yet, the more you hide it, the worse the shame is you because you shine a light on it with with kindness and compassion, and self forgiveness. And with kind people around you, the shame shrinks away. It's like, you know, the sunlight that the light of goodness shining on it will make that shame go. But if you keep it in a dark place and hidden, and it will get bigger and bigger, like some horrible toxic mushroom. But yeah, you're right. You're talking very, very valuable lessons here, Sarah, but you know, you were very briefly just mentioned that you revealed something and enabled another woman to speak up and listen to your story and relate to it. Is this why you started the theatre company? This is part of as part of the reason what drove off with it. Yes,

Sarah Ellis: 21:15

it absolutely was. I was I was lucky enough. So So back in the day, back in 150 years ago, as I say, when I work with young people. I was that student who wanted to go to drama school. So I was going to go to drama school, ask any of my teachers, I didn't care about school, I was going strong. So that was the end of it. And at the time, there was a thing called the Conference of drum schools. And there were the top six schools. So I did my application to the top six schools. And I ended up getting into Rose Bruford, which was an incredible, incredible drum school. And I got into the community theater course. I didn't really know what that was. All I knew is that I'd got into Rose Bruford. And you know, when there's 4000 people and you're one of the 30 You're just like, yeah, brilliant. I've done loads of musical theater. So I was stepping, changing and jazz hands, you know, throughout my whole life. And I walked into this Hattie, all boys school in Deptford. And I was like, Okay, well, you know, we make theater, you know, I'll just get on with it. And I discovered this amazing type. Oh, I'm so sorry. Told me to start again. I thought I'd turn that

Carole Ann Rice: 22:27

off. That's okay. Well, it's all natural here. Don't worry.

Sarah Ellis: 22:33

Alarm to tell me that's always talking to you at two o'clock. I don't know what's going on. Yeah, so I walked into this, this space and started to learn about this and about the concept, that theatre could be used to make change, and to destroy discrimination and prejudice, and to empower people. And I fell in love. You know, I fell in love. And worked really hard for three years. Unfortunately, the things that had happened to me happened to me before drama school. And actually, during drama school, I was a few things. And I left drama school kind of going, actually, I don't want to be an actor, I want to create theater that makes change. And I realized that art that when I'd gone through these traumas, I felt like I lost my voice. Now you talk about getting up and shining and getting on with it. And as a former, I'm exactly that person, you know, you get a cup of coffee. You just you get up and you get on with it. Like there's no choice. The show must go on, you know, in theater, we don't kind of go home well, it's got a bit tricky. Well, it doesn't matter what else happens, the show must go on. And, but what I'd realized is kind of for myself, I'd lost my voice. I didn't. So I was raped. And I didn't tell anyone for a long time. I told somebody who's my best friend after a few years, but I didn't really tell many other people for many, many years. And I was treated for PTSD a couple of years ago. And origin COVID Actually, to be fair on how you know, and I realized it just it all came together that if I lost my voice and I'm quiet, I'm gonna stop talking how I if I lost the ability to express myself properly, then surely I've discovered this way of working that can help other people find their voice as well. And that is done before as work because because it works. You know, we we had a show about that teenage pregnancy that we worked with the Primary Care Trust. And with Hartside, who are amazing HIV organization. And we got, we did a play about teenage pregnancy. And we toured Stevenage for five years now at the time Stevenage were had the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Europe. And we got that down by 15%. Over the time that we were there. And we could have stood at the front and gone, right. Use protection don't have unprotected sex. And that's it. Because it probably is that simple, right. But it isn't that. Well,

Carole Ann Rice: 25:39

it's just like, we go on a diet, you can stop eating and exercise more than why doesn't it work? So yeah, that's, yeah. So that's the simple thing you stopped not that. use contraception. Yeah. 100%.

Sarah Ellis: 25:52

And when, when you actually look at what's underneath all of that stuff, it's about the relationships that people are in, it's about coercion, it's about lack of self esteem. It's about people believing that their place is somewhere where actually they don't necessarily want it to be. And by empowering that, but also by saying, let's have an honest conversation, you might want to have get married and have children. And that's brilliant. But let's get away from this. That's what you're expected to do. I mean, the other thing that I was thinking about when you said about me coming on here, which I think he's really super important. I'm not sure if I can mention names. So I'm going to say a celebrity just in case but there was a celebrity who, who I follow. And he wrote a very long, long, long letter to the public. Because there was another celebrity who was involved in a massive thing, something to do with the Olympics with he was a performer. And him and his wife went through something horrible. And he turned up at work to do his performance. Very, very famous guy. And the public kicked off, there were letters, how can you be there when you've been through this and your wife is at home? This is awful. What kind of man are you? And the celebrity that I'm talking about, wrote this long letter saying, what you have to understand is that she married him as a performer. And we know that we know this as a performer, you get up Because the show must go on, despite what's going on. And actually, presumably, she would have wanted that for him as well. And that resilience is at the core of our industry, whether it's theatre, whether it's film, whether it's pop stars, whether it's music, you know, Madonna, etc, etc. But one of the other things that I do is that I teach young people to create their own theater, I have an academy in Essex. And that's one of the things that actually I instill in them. Which is, you know what? It's tough, it's difficult. What's the solution? Come up as get up, best foot forward, let's get on with it. And I find that I worry that I'm quite old fashioned with that now. But I think that's crucial. I think it's crucial for all of us not to always do it. Sometimes I

Carole Ann Rice: 28:35

ask you a question, then Sarah, because I'm old fashioned as well. Because I think my worst times is when I've had a lot of time to ruminate, and go over and drag over negative things in my mind over and over. And you know, when people say, I like to be busy, it's not just busy for the sake of it. But when you're doing something that matters, you're not ruminating, you're not looking at all the dark cobwebby things, you're able to move ahead. And maybe there's something to tell these young people. Yes, it's good to explore your feelings. Yes, it's good to look at what happened and name it. But let's move let's do something let's not just sit around and think about it and hurt ourselves. Let's do something positive. And that's it sounds that's what you like what you do with your with your, your group in Essex there is getting them to actually do rather than sit around and over examine. Yeah.

Sarah Ellis: 29:23

And also, you know, to take time out and to talk when you need to, but also the act of walking like you're saying, get up, walk, go and go and read something go and get involved in a film where something matters, you know, best foot forward, which is your best foot your left or your right. Okay, today, it's my right, brilliant. Take a step. Because actually Life is short, isn't it? And I don't want to sound corny and all of that stuff. I'm going through the menopause. So maybe I'm not feeling as infinite as I did when I was 20 cheaper, life is short. And, you know, the happiness that we can get from the connection that we make with other people is priceless. And that for me is what? Amen to that. Yeah, you know, we're human. I love that. Oh,

Carole Ann Rice: 30:18

Sarah, you're talking my language connection is everything. And in my academy, my pure Coaching Academy, we have a spirituality module, which I have put in there. And it's unique to us. Not many coaching academies have this. And people say, Why do you have a spirituality module, you're training people to be life coaches, because yes, life is good with, you know, money, a fancy job, a new partner, big house, lovely car status symbols. But it's about connection is the thing that makes us happy. A connection with your own body, a connection with your community, your family and friends, your nature, the planet, this very day that we have now we'll never have, again, have a connection with your life. And connection is everything, all the other stuff is wonderful. All the lovely, pretty add ons. But if you haven't, if you've got disconnection, then you've got loneliness, then you've got sadness, and then you've got illness. So it's about being plugged in being connected to anything, even your garden, or walk around the park, or love your lovely dog or cat, your friends have a connection. It's everything. It really

Sarah Ellis: 31:23

is. And I've and I feel that connection is an important part of our work with theater inspiring change as well, because there's another one of my favorite writers is Alice Walker. And she talks about being seen, I'm sure it's her that talks about being seen. And I feel like, you know, my job is wonderful, because there are times when I worked with people, we were working in a refuge, not that long ago. And this sense of being able to say to people, I see you. Because I know when in my life when I've been seen and really seen and someone goes, Yeah, I get it. That is so powerful. And actually, we're talking to boys yesterday. And we were talking about, I mean, they all nearly died to be frank, because I mentioned periods. And of course, everyone dissolved. And I was saying to them, you know, I was saying what is it about your life that you think that women and girls don't understand? And they wouldn't say anything. So I said, Right girls, what is it about your life, you'd want the boys and men to understand? And that's when periods came up? And actually that they hurt? And that actually we're expected to carry on? And actually we consider what we were because you know, I won't tell you, you know this. So then we came back to the boys. Is it that you you know, is there anything you can share with us, because talking and understanding each other is the key to us stopping this gender, the misunderstandings between gender, which then leads to misogyny and sexism, which then lead to influence influencers being able to engage in particular our young men, right. And then they were one of the mentioned, can I say, Okay, you might need to cut this out. But can I say erection? Is that? Okay? We're not sure. There'll

Carole Ann Rice: 33:27

be adults listening to this. I don't think there's many children listening to my podcast. I mean,

Sarah Ellis: 33:32

you know, as a word, I suppose it's biological word, isn't it? And they were saying about erections. And girls not understanding that when it happens, it can happen in the most uncomfortable of situations. Isn't that simple? For all of us to go? Oh, wow. Yeah, we didn't. We didn't go through that. When that took, what, 30 seconds for a whole group of people to go, Oh, wow. I never thought about that. That's what empathy looks like. That's what connection looks like. That's what honesty looks like, but positive, honest, you know? How often I, you know, how often do we have these conversations?

Carole Ann Rice: 34:17

So I was just gonna say, when you get up in the morning, because I was gonna say what gets you out of bed, every day must be really fascinating for you, because you don't know where those gonna go, how it's going to end what the answer is going to be, what even what the end of the play is going to be, and what the questions will be raised and how people are going to respond. How amazing so every day, it's like an abstract painting. You just don't know what the form it's going to take till the end of the day. Wonderful. So, yeah, so I'm going to ask you what makes you show up and shine. What gets you out of that bit, then? I mean, it might be an obvious question. I've just said all that. What motivates what inspires you

Sarah Ellis: 34:54

that I clearly, still remember how I felt And that if I can energetically change it for other people, then that's why I'm here. And I, at risk of sounding of going on to, you know, what's my purpose? I honestly am thankful. This all sounds weird. I'm honestly thankful that I went through the things that I went through, because it has enabled me to make a difference. And if I think about other people, I'm glad they didn't go through it. And it was me. Because it all makes sense. It all makes sense now that actually I can use I know what I'm talking about. The authenticity in my work is because of the horrible stuff that I've been through. And yeah, I am, I'm, I'm thankful for it. What else gets me up at my little cockapoo, who is by the side of me, actually got to the noisy one outside and the little one here. i I'm 56. And I also believe quite strongly that I do talk to a lot of people who don't necessarily get a lot out of their jobs. And I consider myself really lucky. If I'm honest, really, really lucky to be in a job that keeps me going. That spurs me forward. That my passion where would we be without passion? And I love that, you know, with the theater we do, we ignite that passion in other people, and sometimes is really funny. Because sometimes people will kind of walk in halfway through and there's this room full of loud, noisy passionate people don't know your heart and all of this. You know, and I've seen people walk in and go What the hell is happening here, but it's beautiful. It's absolutely beautiful.

Carole Ann Rice: 36:55

So Sarah, your your passion is everything. So you're a fire starter for passion. You're someone that's better than Specsavers. You help people be seen you you get people to be heard. And you get people out of the coal bunker of shame what a woman you are. Thank you so much. And you know, I love the phrase, all wisdom is healed pain. So if you get your pain and you heal from it, you get these golden nuggets in life called wisdom. You can't buy wisdom. You can't pretend you've got it. You can't get it from a book. That's knowledge but wisdom is healed pain and you're a wise woman. Thank you so much Sarah, for showing up and not just shining, but glimmering glittering f all over the place to play. It's boring. Those lovely golden petals that you've seen on The X Factor when the winners hit all those called bits of tinsel are flying down. You should see her everybody but thank you so much Sarah and I should put all the details of the theater inspiring change not inspiring change theater as I once thought it was and look it up join join in tell your school your boss your business. We want one of these productions in our company in our school in our parks in our parking lot. COMM This gets Sara involved. Thank you so much Sarah today you really truly did show up and shine that's that's a lovely, lovely air kissing thing there. Thank you everybody. Goodbye. Thank

Sarah Ellis: 38:21

you so much, Carol.

Unknown: 38:24

You have been listening to show up and shine podcast. Thank you for tuning into our latest episode. If you would like to learn more about becoming a coach, contact me at pure coaching academy.com In the meantime, don't forget to be divine. Just show up and Shine, shine your light whatever the weather