“You can really connect with someone if you can laugh together. It reminds us ‘Oh, we’ve got more in common than we have in difference.’ …It brings us into the moment and together as people rather than [as] our identity. And I think that’s really powerful.” -Jessica Shaw
Jessica Shaw wanted to be an actress until a performance changed her understanding of what theatre can do – and how play helps us connect with ourselves and each other.
More About Jessica:
Jess is the founder of PACT Creative Training, (PACT stands for Play, Act, Create, Transform), a company putting laughter, joy, and play into staff (and everyone’s) wellbeing.
Jess has over 20 years’ experience designing and facilitating drama and play-based creative workshops, first in the charity and education sectors. She set up PACT Creative in 2016 and now works across sectors using creativity and play to bring humour, joy, and fun to the workplace and beyond.
Jess is a passionate advocate for the use of play, creativity, and a playful mindset to address all and any personal and work-based challenges and areas for development.
Highlights
- Jessica leads Lara and her producer Jennifer through a classic improv exercise – with hilarious results
- Why feeling resistant to play is exactly the right mindset to have going into a play exercise
- How a civic theatre performance in Ghana blew up Jessica’s entire understanding of what theatre can do – shifted her vision for her life
- How play might save your tense family dinner and help you connect across generations
- How to tune into what makes you feel playful – and how to allow for more wonder in your day-to-day life
- Why finding your “little cheeky playful joy” might improve your emotional fitness (and make you more productive)
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Connect with Jessica: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Thank You for Listening!
This episode was produced by Lara Dalch and Jennifer McCord.
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xo,
