I watched this amazing Youtube video on my iPad yesterday. An awe inspiring piece of street theatre.

It got me thinking how our lives are lived more and more in two dimensions … on our “devices”.

We can, and do, connect virtually with almost anything, anywhere, any time. In fact Ian discovered this event reading a (gasp) book, and googling it.

But I wish I’d really been there. That's the point of street theatre, right?

Imagine being there on the streets of London - closed to traffic to make way for a five-story elephant, a giant girl and a huge happy crowd. Getting sprayed by the water. Ducking down the side streets for another look.

These are moments when we can enjoy our true humanity, three dimensional reality experienced with all our senses.

I love my iPad, and these “devices” (sad little word) are the occasion of so much creativity on so many people’s part today. But virtual reality isn't the real thing.

Our grand-daughter is in Vietnam right now with a group from her school. They're all separated from their smartphones, living every moment, and immersed for real in that wonderful country and its people. It’s cool following them on Instagram, but let’s not pretend it's the same.

Watching the World Cup on TV was fantastic too … but nothing like being there on Copacabana beach, or in the Maracanã.

Please, let’s get out more, re-engage with the third dimension and our other senses, and enjoy more moments made completely real.

Heather

More Google bait: The Sultan’s Elephant was created by French theatre company Royal de Luxe, and brought to London by Artichoke, a year after the 2005 bombings. Ian's book was "Whatever It Is, I Don’t Like It”, by Howard Jacobsen.