Zanzibar show

I took 3 bows. Got applause after each piece; a particularly strong burst, with cheers, for Nothing Happened, which fitted beautifully into the narrative flow.

It's hard for me to evaluate the quality of work I do in circumstances so far from ideal. Open air stage with a million other things going on around us, hand-held mic, no soundscape or light design, no set, not even a whole stage - they'd already set up all the musical equipment for the bands that would follow me, and that was the backdrop to my performance.

But the work happened. There was life and juice in it, and more moments of real power than I had dared to hope for. I filled the stage at least 85 percent of the time, and held the audience through the other 15 percent. I learned a huge amount about single-armed dupatta management :-). I spoke out against Israel's war of agression, in Nothing Happened, which is what feels most real and vital to me right now. And the responses afterwards, from audience members, were were wonderfully warm and complimentary.

Best of all, this morning I have a sense of deep satisfaction about it. So often, morning-after reviews are filled with if only I'd thought of this or tried that or been prepared for that other thing. But for the first time, I can't think of a single thing I would have done differently. There's a lovely quiet elation coursing through my veins; I did the best work I could, was fully present and at peace with every element of the reality I had to work with, brought all I could bring to it in the moment. And it was enough. More than enough.