In the second part this Reflections of 2020 series, we hear from more of our colleagues from across TE.

Tom Giles – Trafalgar Entertainment Finance Department
Namaste.

For me, 2020 has been a year of positive change and deep reflection. Along with many others I have discovered the power of practicing mindfulness, which, along with a newly adopted vegan diet, has allowed me to connect to a deeper energy within myself than I thought possible. Abstaining from alcohol has allowed me to pursue more fruitful hobbies, such as learning new languages and instruments. I hope your year has provided you a similar journey of discovery.

Only messing, I’ve shaved my head but am otherwise basically unchanged, what a boring year. Well done if you did manage to improve yourself or learn something new in 2020, you are a better person than me. Here’s to 2021.

Will Grace – Trafalgar Theatre Productions
I began lockdown very productively by learning to code, before deciding I was definitely a “people person”. Then after being banned from impulse buying a kitchen aid, I was determined to celebrate my 1/16^th Italian roots so bought a pasta maker. I’ve used it exactly 3 times since March, so upon reflection they might have been right about the kitchen aid…

Back in July I had my 25th birthday. The rules back then were 6 people outdoors, so I had a lovely socially distanced barbecue in my parent’s garden. After months of not seeing friends (except on a screen!) it was such a relief to know that I actually still had friends. Keeping in contact with colleagues (both socially and professionally!) over the break has been a great support. I’m grateful to work at a company like Trafalgar and look forward to going back to creating more memories with my team.

Luke Shires – Luke Shires Marketing
Although at points it felt as if 2020 had grabbed me by the ankles and was dangling me over the edge of an Upper Circle balcony, I hope it is the year that encouraged the theatre industry to pause and look inwards and not just busy itself with trying to get back to ‘normal’.  I hope that moving forward there is an understanding that passion for what we do is required, but that balance is essential.  Mutual respect between everyone that makes every single cog turn must be valued more significantly than ever before.  I hope that 2020 has shown us that in the midst of the madness of the theatre industry, kindness must be carried forward so that 2021 and beyond can be anything and everything other than ‘normal’.

Donna Munday – Trafalgar Theatre Productions
My husband and I have been talking about moving to live by the sea for 20 years. We’ve been house-hunting since 2018, and during the first lockdown, we saw what we thought could be our dream house online. The day after lockdown lifted we drove to Cornwall and back in a day to see it, and our offer was accepted 48 hours later. It’s taken a long time to get through the process, but we leave Northamptonshire this week and move in on 17^th December! This pic is taken in front of our house, on the beach which floods twice a day at high tide. Can’t wait to be swimming in the sea on Christmas Day!