Overcoming... And planning our work ahead (5 min read)

How quickly two months has zipped by! Suddenly autumn is upon us and, with all the recent rain and Shakespearean storms, it feels as if this new season has firmly taken hold. Now, as the leaves start to crispen and fall, my summer seaside themed workshops already feel as if they belong to a bygone, but very wonderful, time. As I write this, I’ve completed all my workshops in dementia groups and am starting to think about the piece of theatre I might make and, most importantly, why.

As previously mentioned, it was through the kind support of Hertfordshire Community Foundation and Trestle theatre that I have been able to undertake this series of research workshops to investigate and understand the type of theatre those living with dementia would most enjoy. And due to the generosity of all the groups involved (Hertswise, All Sorts, Home Instead, Red Shed, Music 24 and Open Art Box) kindly throwing open their doors to my ideas I have learnt so much!

The most important discovery, I have to say, is that the piece of work I now want to make needs to be a hybrid. Those taking part in the workshops have so enjoyed being part of making the action on stage, I now see it would not be most beneficial to present a more traditional model of a theatre ‘show’ (prepared in advance to sit and watch) but rather offer a sensory experience that puts them at the heart of the action.

For this reason, I have come to realise I need to make an interactive workshop/ performance that will include music, movement, improv, script and above all variety and FUN. The desire to chat, move, laugh and enjoy is what I have most loved about the groups I’ve visited and, above all, the ability to grasp the moment and fully take part (sometimes even to the surprise of the group leaders and carers).

Looking back at my last blog you will see I wrote about joy, but it feels only right to also acknowledge the opposite emotions which are so often associated with dementia. There is much to realise and learn when this condition becomes a member of your family including confusion, fear, loss, grief, anger and, of course, mental and physical exhaustion. Then we all have to try, as best as we can, to become masters of change, acceptance and overcoming.

One emotion I met quite frequently at the start of my workshops was an initial anxiety. This is an emotional state that we have more awareness of these days and the idea of doing drama, for some, can cause quite a lot of stress and worry. (I experienced this first hand when I first started secondary school and dreaded the subject rolling around on my school timetable!)

Often, as I would explain to the groups what we would be doing, I would sometimes see a few worried faces form. I knew doubt was creeping in about their ability to complete the tasks – many having not taken part in drama for many years (if at all) – and their carers also sometimes showed concern too about whether their loved one would get involved. All of this is completely understandable, of course, and I listened carefully and hoped my reassurance would help.

You see, the wonderful thing about drama, and why I have dedicated the last twenty-five years to both making and teaching it, is that there really are no wrong answers and all contributions can be invaluable within an artistic form that has such an ability to flex and adapt. It is with the upmost joy then (sorry back to joy again!) that I can report it was very often those who seemed the most concerned initially who were the ones who could not wait to get up on stage and pose with seaside props for a fun photo at the end! And it was ALWAYS those same people, and their carers too, that came up to me to say how much they enjoyed it. For these people, something important was overcome.