Navigating Margaret Play and Workshop Tour 2025

by Caroline Barnes

The Play

Based on real-life stories from people affected by dementia that we gathered from Arts Uplift’s successful Suitcase Stories project in partnership with Museums Worcestershire, Navigating Margaret, is an exciting theatre production about a Worcestershire woman’s journey living with dementia and how it affects her family. Margaret was one of the first women to fly an aeroplane in Worcestershire and we also look back at her life from the 60s to the present day (her childhood, growing up and meeting the love of her life Charlie a ground breaking inter-cultural relationship) as her story unfolds.

The play weaves text and movement with a fairy-tale feel to it mixing the real and abstract. Four diverse professional actors will help to tell the incredible stories and raise much needed awareness and education about dementia (1 in 14 adults over 65 years have dementia and 1 in 3 people born today will develop the disease).

Audience members thoughts
“Wonderful. Magical. Informative. Helps dispel the fear & concern around dementia.”
“I thought the play was incredibly well written, the emotional aspects were very hard hitting, but very eye opening.”
“It was charming and poignant and so beautifully detailed, real emotional lift.”

A Question and Answer session will follow each show with a panel including dementia experts, members of the cast and the Writer/Director. This will enable the audience to explore the subject matter and the creative journey. Local dementia support information will be available to take away.

BOOK NOW

Watch Navigating Margaret the trailer

Who should see the play
The play and associated dementia workshops are suitable for older people, professional care staff, NHS workers, health students, volunteers, carers and family members, people with early stage dementia, theatre goers and anyone generally interested in dementia.

The show and workshops are not suitable for people with middle and late-stage dementia. Age recommendation 12+ due to occasional mild swearing.

Dementia Awareness Workshops

Using excerpts from the show and Forum Theatre techniques, the workshops are a practical introduction to dementia, dementia care and prevention. Low pressure interactive play opportunities and practical explorations build an actionable and experiential understanding of dementia.

What to Expect:

• Interactive Learning: Immerse yourself in a dynamic learning experience that combines informative discussions with hands-on activities.
• Expert Guidance: Benefit from the expertise of our 4-person team and dementia specialist, including actors who will share excerpts from their thought-provoking show.
• Actionable Insights: Gain practical knowledge and skills to enhance dementia care and promote preventive behaviours.

Hear what our participants have to say:
“Absolutely brilliant”
“Very informative and great that it got people physically involved”

In previous workshops all participants stated they learnt something new, including the complexity of the disease and the impact it has on family & friends. 100% said they would recommend the training, stating that “It was a positive way of looking at how to make a difference” and “Interactive learning is so much better than being talked at!”

Testimonial

Kevin Moffatt, dementia researcher (just retired from Warwick University)

“Professionally, I would consider that everyone should immerse themselves in Navigating Margaret. As a dementia-research neuroscientist, and the Outreach Director for Life Sciences, I am always looking for ways to use the power of the creative arts to bring this subject to the forefront. Having participated in two of the rehearsed readings and their associated workshops, I was hugely impressed. Arts Uplift’s research and dedication to the science, social implications and the personal  interactions of  families, makes for an intelligent, pertinent and factual insight into this critical area of disease and care.”

Book Your Place 

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CREATIVE TEAM

• Writer/Director Helen Tennison
• Designer Zahra Mansouri
• Music Matt Eaton
• Producer Jenny Davis

Meet the cast 

Eliza Ann Thompson

Playing Young Margaret and Dani

Eliza Ann is a 23 year old, actor/creator/movement artist, based in London and the West Midlands. Since graduating in 2022, with a First Degree in Acting, Theatre and Performance, she has continued to develop her skills in visual imagery and physical theatre. Eliza performed as Young Margaret in the 2023 and 2024 rendition of Navigating Margaret with ArtsUplift. She is now returning as Young Margaret and Dani, in this version of Navigating Margaret – The Tour (2025). Eliza is also an associate artist for the critically acclaimed Strange Futures Theatre Company, with whom she has written, devised and performed in multiple community-involved projects, including The Last Restaurant (2022), Slow Cooked Stories (2023) and On The Bare Hill (2024). The Tree Rings.

(2023) was shortlisted by both Underbelly and The Pleasance Charlie Hartill Fund. She has led workshops in puppetry and visual arts, of which involved drama students at The University of Worcester. Eliza has also supported multiple award nominated short films.

Lucinda Lloyd

Playing Magpie, Ma, Louise, Sarah

Illona Linthwaite

Playing Margaret

After training at Rose Bruford’s Drama School Illona worked in repertory theatre for several years. She later formed her own company, writing and commissioning plays. In London she has acted at The Arcola, Lyric Hammersmith, Playhouse Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, Young Vic, National and RSC Theatre Companies. She recently worked with the Dot Collective, Bedouin Shakespeare, Punch Drunk, SLG Co. and Swamp Motel playing many glorious parts. Television work includes series Within These Walls, Shadow of the Noose, The Flockton Flyer, The Bill and several plays for Today. With her one woman plays she has toured many parts of the world. This is the third time Illona has played Margaret for Arts Uplift.

Madhav Vasantha

Playing Graham, Charlie and Aunty Edie

Madhav grew up in Bangalore, India and has lived and worked in the States and the UK since then. His recent credits include The Vanishing Elephant which premiered at the New Victory Theatre getting the NY Times Critics Choice followed by a tour of the UK and USA. Among his other theatre credits are Rajesh & Naresh, Lost souls, Pericles and The Tempest. He was also one of the Sketch Ensemble cast with the award winning (RTS 2020/21 Best Entertainment Programme) TV show Crackerjack (CBBC & BBC one) which can be viewed on BBC iPlayer.

Navigating Margaret has been made possible by the following sponsors