Yesterday Rachel and I travelled down to Oxford with Rachel’s family to celebrate her brother Russell’s graduation from Oxford Brooks University. It was a great day that finished off with an amazing meal in a newly opened restaurant in a converted prison! They’ve turned the whole place into a hotel and it was amazing to see the vision someone had for a disused prison.

Today we went into Oxford during the day and then this afternoon drove to London as we went to the theatre to celebrate Rachel’s other brother Oliver’s birthday. On both counts I have been really inspired by amazing talent and performance. As we were wandering around Oxford, there was a group of around 10 people from Zimbabwe who were singing and dancing along to just one of them playing a conga drum. It was fantastic. I’ve always had a bit of a thing for African rhythm and music and these guys were so good. I loved the rawness and simplicity of it and yet such excellence and genuine talent. I am always moved when I see talent being expressed so powerfully.

And tonight’s visit to the theatre was simply sensational. We went to see the preview to the brand new West End musical called Wicked. It’s a prequel that has been written to the Wizard of Oz and it was fabulous. The set was amazing and the music so moving. The lead actress - Idina Menzel - had a truly awesome voice. There is something so inspiring about seeing talent developed to such an extent. I sense God smiling too when He see’s one of His creations using their gifts to such an extent.

I love the contrast of the simple music of the Zimbabwean dancers to the multi-million pound prodcution of Wicked. Both were so inspiring and uplifting and yet in such very different ways. Either way, isn’t that what performance and creativity and talent is all about? Both these experiences have really reminded me of the power of performance. Music, dance, creativity, and talent all have the power to move us and inspire us. They are meant to inspire us.

Here’s a couple of pictures from the last few days:

The converted prison

Zimbabwean singers & dancers

technorati tags: the future now, wicked, west end, musical

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