#93 Power and agency
Issue #93 Power and agency
20th December 2023
Hello.
Twas the mail before Christmas
And all through the text
Half the readers were thinking
What will he write next?
Yep. This will be the last full Improv Fables of the year. Next week, you'll get my annual report of everything I've watched, read, listened to, played, eaten, performed and taught in 2023 (along with some Top 5s for easy digestion).
My watchword for 2024 will be simplicity. How can I create a life full of the things that nurture and inspire me whilst sloughing away the parts that no longer serve?
Apologies for using the word slough just now. Yuck!
Rule of three
[TV] Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas
It's hugely cheesy, over-produced and silly but this Christmas special on Apple TV knows the secret of good television. All you have to do is point the camera at Hannah Waddingham. She is a glorious human being of infinite talent, warmth and beauty.
[Book] Nettle & Bone (recommendation from Laura Mead)
The Hugo award-winning Nettle and Bone, by T. Kingfisher, is a re-examination of fairytale tropes and themes, featuring complex family relationships, brilliant elderly female characters, and the cutest little skeleton dog. The author got the idea for it when asked to re-write ‘The Princess and the Pea’ for modern times, and found herself contemplating what sort of prince would demand a bride whose skin would bruise easily. It’s a dark but ultimately hopeful story of reclaiming power and agency. I hoovered through it in a couple of hours.
[Article] Positive News
The antidote to apocalyptic thoughts, Positive News have released the top 25 good news stories of the year. Enjoy!
Longform thoughts
Whatever or however you celebrate, a lot of us will be going home for the holidays. So here’s a selection of improv games that I think are perfect to play with the extended family.
Improv games that also make good festive family games.
Radio contact
Santa's Little Helper.