games – and so she thinks

Play time! Even for adults.

admin — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 08:36:20 +0000

We have this binary distinction in terms of the activities we can engage in, all defined by age. Play is for children; work is for adults. You can label activities such as drawing, role play, sports, aimless wandering etc as work, mindfulness, exercise or just necessary, and some how that legitimises them. But what’s wrong with playing?

Nothing. In fact, there’s a lot right with it. Science and research backs this up. Play can relieve stress, boost creativity, improve brain function, and improve our relationships with other people by fostering trust with others. Forward thinking organisations like Google and Pixar have taken an experimental approach and success has followed with productivity and profits.

The School of Play was set up earlier this year, and is dedicated to promoting happier adulthood through lifelong play. A consultant-coach, storyteller, and games maker who combines business strategies with play to bring about positive organisational change, Portia Tung creates what she calls ‘adventures’ with the aim of helping developing their ‘play intelligence.’ At trendy Drink, Shop, Do, a play with play embedded into every corner, the Night At The Curiosity Carousel offered an opportunity to get involved, relax a little, maybe have some fun – and of course justified by the potential that it might be good for us.

The carousel was essentially five tables set up with different activities including drawing, games, craft and writing (I won’t tell you exactly what – discovery is part of the fun!), and opportunity to reflect was offered. The four principles of Everyone’s invited; An option not an obligation; Opportunity to give and receive; and Game-changing were evident in the room, as strangers shared and smiled with one another. One participant noted during the session that ‘Strangers are simply friends you haven’t met yet’ and another participant simply said the session brought them ‘Joy!’ One particular ride on the carousel led the player to say:

‘I really enjoyed the evening and time went by without even noticing it. It was imaginative, creative and entertaining. The kind that makes you forget where you are or even that you are an adult. Portia has a special talent to transport you to a different place where playing is all you focus on, and all of a sudden you are free again. You can give as much as you want, but the more you give the more you get out of the experience. Thank you Portia for a great adventure!’

It’s rare that as adults caught in the race of London, or indeed life, we allow ourselves to stop, relax, and just play for no reason than the activity itself. Regardless of any scientific evidence or productivity claims, it just makes you feel good. And surely that is reason enough in itself.

Portia is also the creator of Agile Fairytales, a series of learning games for adults, and is author of choose your own adventure style The Dream Team Nightmare, which uses agile working techniques and storytelling to develop productivity in business teams. Check out the next event in November, where Portia and The School of Play invite you to a Mystery Masquerade, and keep up to date with future adventures, debates and keynotes here. Have fun!

Wyndstock – The Country House Party

admin — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:00:05 +0000

I love festivals. The feeling of freedom, exploration, an opportunity to revel in the luxury of being oneself, as well discover and diversify what excites you. I also love picnics, country houses, gin & tonics, and twilight magic.

Until recently (I.e April when I received a press release alerting me to the change in affairs) I was under the impression that never shall the two meet, and I was destined to either spend my summer dreaming of sophistication, or revelling in it. Hello Wyndstock, please enter and shatter my preconceptions.

Despite the fact that Wyndstock is billed as an anti festival (in fact its organisers (founders of B&H Group, The Last Tuesday Society and The Blitz Party, amongst others) vehemently detest the f word and all its grubby associations – big queues, corporate sponsors, vile toilets) there seems to be a lot in common, hence my pre midsummer night excitement. Wyndstock has none of these – but it does embrace the freedom and spontaneity that people have come to expect of festivals, and themselves at the events.

Taking place in a glorious country house in Suffolk, the event is one of delight and class. Music to be reached by guided paths into the woods, literature readings popping up all around, a game or two of croquet, gin and picnics. None of this queuing for semi cooked burgers and warm beer, as all meals are provided, and by all accounts are meals, not substandard snacks that fill a hole and line a stomach.

With swing dancing, fireworks, games, astronomy, literature, music, crafts and tours, as well as the all important music. Get your tickets here.

Plus, I have always thought I could look rather fetching in a little cocktail dress and some wellies.

Music. Bingo!

admin — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:33:01 +0000

I don’t like numbers. I’m a words girl. And try as they might over the years, bingo callers have , managed to make the numbers that exciting. Legs eleven, two little birds, however you dress it up, digits are still digits. A bit of competition injects some pizzazz into proceedings, but I still find it difficult to let loose over a grid full of figures. Musical bingo on the other hand has long intrigued me. Guess the song, win some prizes, have a drink – genius.
August 25th saw me pop my bingo cherry, and I’m thrilled that it was at Musical Bingo with Jess Indeedy, at the acheingly cool Drink Shop Do in King’s Cross. The queen of musical bingo, American Jess has been bringing her show to both sides of the Atlantic, with residencies at Drink Shop Do, the National Theatre, Shoreditch House , The Hospital Club as well as Berry Park Brooklyn, Soho House in New York and the 606 Club. The format is the same as normal bingo – but with a far heftier dose of glamour and cool. The plan of action is as follows a)listen to DJ Helix spin the tunes. b) recognise them and c) mark them on your card d) on completion of a line or house wave arms in the air e) run up and win prizes, of the quirky and kitsch variety. Rounds cover everything from 90s to Motown, Musicals to Colours, Commercials to Love, providing plenty of opportunities for a singalong as well as furrowed brow of frustration as you realise you really should know the song.
Miss Jess Indeedy is a true hostess, and every quarter hosts a members only event at the lovely Shoreditch House. The setting is their gorgeous roof garden, the haunt of Madonna et al, and prizes step up to the mark, Musical Bingo and Shoreditch House clubbing together to come up with luxury prizes, such as a bottle of champagne, free bowling and beer for 6 in their private lanes, or a round of our bespoke cocktails, the Musical Bingotini and the Jesspresso Martini. Of course, such a sumptuous setting is by invitation only, so if you fancy getting on the list, I suggest you start making friends at one of the upcoming events….

Thursday, September 8th at 8pm – The Baby Bathhouse, Stoke Newington, £5
Tuesday, September 13th 7:30 pm – Shoreditch House, London, Members Only
Thursday, September 22nd at 8pm – Drink Shop & Do, King’s Cross £5
Saturday, October 15th 9pm – Wah Wah Live! The Scala, £15
http://www.musical-bingo.com/