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Poetry has been infiltrating our theatres of late, in all its forms from spoken word to visual. There’s a Bluebird inside my heart, but I tell it to shut up, takes the natural relationship between poetry and the stage one step further by challenging 14 theatre-makers to respond to Charles Bukowski’s heartbreakingly dark poem Bluebird.

Renee Liang interviews director Jessica Joy Wood.

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Charles Bukowski’s poem Bluebird speaks to the yearning and fear we feel when sharing our vulnerabilities with the world – a feeling most creative people are very familiar with.  In a project that promises to be revealing and moving, 14 theatre-makers have written their response to the poem, performing it as a tapestry piece called There’s a Bluebird inside my heart, but I tell it to shut up. 

What’s more, they have pledged any profits to Project Jonah, to benefit whales (the animal with the largest heart).  

Why do you make theatre?

To tell stories. Stories give the world more perspective which creates more acceptance and kindness. Which we all need in buckets. Also to give people an opportunity to laugh and cry and all the things in between.

Why is poetry cool?

Because there is freedom in it. When you write prose, or dialogue or whatever there are rules, structure and plot and yadda yadda (or maybe there's not but I find myself tied in knots trying to abide by these things!) and with poetry you can break everything. You can make up words and put words together that don't mean anything, but somehow they mean exactly what you want it to. It's a little slice of soul, isn't it? A sliver of someone or sometime or something.

How did you come up with the idea for this piece?

I didn't! Shoshana McCallum was the brilliant mind behind this. What a superstar.

How did you gather such an amazing list of performers?

The project is unique. It's quite different from what we usually create and that's always exciting. Also performers are all normally on the bones of our asses so it's awesome to be able to give something to a charity! And a lot of people owed Shosh favours - if you know what I mean.

What were your instructions to them?

Ooooh. It changes for every single one of them. There are 14 very different scenes and 16 very different actors so really no rehearsal is the same. I guess it's all about finding the wee gems in each scene and making sure we make them sparkle.

Why do you have a soft spot for Project Jonah?

What they do is so wonderful. A team of volunteers out there no matter what, not just rescuing but protecting and providing education about these amazing creatures. I mean really, what's not to love? Marine mammals have always fascinated me, there is something sort of magical about them, and I think a lot of people connect with that same feeling.

What are you working on next?

I'm writing a play which will be on later this year, as well as a few other film and TV bits and bobs that are coming up and hopefully more directing!