Judy Gordon was born in London and grew up in Australia. Her career in the UK and Europe as a soloist ballerina, actress, singer and dancer in musical theatre, television and theatre led to directing and choreographing. As a performance artist, she created cross-collaborative work and taught at Penn State, Greenwich and Brighton Universities. Graduating from Goldsmiths (BA (Hons) in English & Theatre Arts) in 1998, she founded and was Artistic Director of local performing arts charity, Montage Theatre Arts until 2015. She has just completed directing her first dance film with older people, Through the Looking Glass, based at the Broadway Theatre, Catford.  

Contact: judygor@gmail.com

_____

HOW TO PLANT A TREE

• Stand the tree in the pot in the planting position you fantasised it would be.
• Cartwheel around the site to ensure all activity draws attention from your neighbours.
• Sing loudly of the forthcoming planting. Its name or species isn’t important enough to remember or share.
• Dig a hole twice the width and depth of the pot with a generosity not shown before.
• Mix in the fertiliser with the soil to proclaim your net income and enrich vast travel plans.
• Carry the tree to the site. Lift it tremendously above your head with both hands. You have complete control. You always did.
• Remove the container. The tree won’t free itself easily. A good squeeze on both sides of the pot, squashing it of air will force it out. You know force.
• Put the tree in the hole and straighten. Have friends and neighbours view the plant from a number of directions, so they can praise your choice and its disposition.
• Pack the soil. Fill and backfill with soil and stories of when you were thriving decades ago.
• Repeat the stories as you firm in the root ball, to stabilise any insecurity with flimflam and treading hard.
• Don’t forget to stake the trunk – for it will not grow well without support. Like you.
• Water it in withLouis Roederer Cristal. No mind the plant doesn’t like it. You do.
• Avoid breaking new shoots; soft as your ageing flesh that gives away the truth.
• Mind its higher branches that snap like your temper under pressure.
• Rub its leaves. With each stroke, tell a lie about yourself.
• Glory in the flowers that burst, flattered by his passing affection.
• Clear the surrounding area to isolate the plant. Demonstrate your new passion until the leaves can no longer give, and fall, spent.
• Leave it alone.