"From the start Bonnie entered my home showing respect, curiosity, care and creativity; eyes wide, heart open. Bonnie had developed and committed herself to this project to learn and to share. Strangers usually seek points of contact, teasing out what may be 'in common': work, travel, performing - visual arts, literature, friends, wine, chocolate - shared humanity. Our evening was spent exploring; listening & talking, weaving ideas, experiences, perspectives, tears and laughter. At times we wrote, drew and cut out coloured papers - connecting stories. A week later in the intimacy of 1:1 theatre Bonnie reflected our evening back to me with the same qualities she had entered my home - respect, curiosity, care & creativity! Such a poignant gift.Then to be a part of the general 'hosts' theatre was a wonderful opportunity to see more of Bonnie's creativity. It was a privilege to be a host Bonnie in her 'Affect Me' project and I thank her for her energy, courage and trust. I wish her well in life and in her theatre work. She has a lot to offer"
- stranger 2
"I felt like the performance began the moment I left your apartment in the morning. After having had a rather lovely and relatively normal encounter - as normal as having breakfast with a complete stranger can be - I entered the surreal world of the after-meeting... Thinking back, the whole day seems rather surreal to me, and parts of my day kept blending in with parts of the performance. The framed picture on the wall, and how the milk formed a similar pattern on the table; our previous conversations reflected against the silence of your performance, and how mixing the ingredients also reflected our morning - you adding a little to your story, me adding a little to mine."
- stranger 7
"It was an amazing experience to meet Bonnie and talk to her about my life. I thought she was going to somehow tell my story in theatre but it was so much more than that because it was about the space between us. It was so interesting to explore that in relation to both myself and Bonnie. I had a great deal of fun but at the same time I felt incredibly vulnerable
yet safe. It was confronting, at times, some of Bonnie's words about meeting me, about how I looked, about my tremor but then I realised that she held the space and I didn't need to worry. To my surprise I found myself in the middle of a card game playing myself whilst watching Bonnie speak about how it was to have met me. I wasn't sure what to do at first but I decided to relax and become part of the scene as Bonnie continued to speak about the space between us. I even managed to fit in a joke. It was almost overwhelming sitting there opposite Bonnie as she played out our morning meeting"
- stranger 10
"It was special to meet you, to share material about my life with you, and to experience your ‘performative response’ to the material which I shared with you. I was grateful for your respect for my wishes – your asking me if there was any material which I did not want you to reveal and if I would be prepared to sit with you. I was most intrigued to know just what you would do in the performance. I very much enjoyed your methodology, the 3 parts. I liked the differences between the 3 parts. I liked your props. I liked your connections with the audience generally and with me in particular. Being involved in Affect Me, has definitely affected me for the better – has enhanced my life."
- stranger 9
