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If I were 22 – Kully Thiarai

Kully Thiarai reveals why remembering to be scared and learning to bake have driven her through her career and to her latest role, Director of Cast in Doncaster.

Kully Thiarai
3 min read

It’s so easy to think that there is a right way of doing things and a right way of being. Actually learning to be confident in one’s own skin and understanding the values you hold dear help shape how you engage with the world around you. There is a strength to being different, and offering alternative perspectives can help shape a new kind of cultural offer and broaden all our horizons.

I was told once that being a bit scared is a good thing as it stops you from being complacent. That bit of advice has helped me many times over when perhaps things have felt very scary and overwhelming. The truth is it makes you sharper with your thinking and clearer about why you are taking the risks you’re taking. Of course too much fear can paralyse and that’s not a good thing, but not enough can make you lazy – perhaps a sign that you should move on and try something new and more adventurous.

Everyone who is skilled and experienced now was once a novice and had to learn their craft. They will have felt like you feel and will have made their own mistakes. Surround yourself with talent that pushes you and be open to all sorts of learning. You never know when an experience might shed new light on how to do things in the future.

For those days when you need to clear your head and relax, find something that helps you unwind. Long walks, cycle rides, exercise of some sort, or learning something new can all help release the tensions of the day. It’s a good habit to get into, as work can be full on and exhausting. Remember to make some space for you.

There is nothing quite like tea, cake and conversation.  I enjoy cooking and many projects have grown through conversations over a kitchen table or sitting in cafes eating cake. Food is a unifying thing – it brings people together. It is a great way to build relationships, find solutions, problem solve and imagine the impossible being possible. Don’t underestimate the power of food and conversation.

Kully Thiarai is  Director of Cast in Doncaster.
castindoncaster.com