There’s something powerful about a piece of theatre that makes you think, feel, and leave with a better understanding of the world around you. Navigating Margaret, the dementia awareness performance, produced by Arts Uplift, does precisely that. Last year, this incredibly moving show toured across the Midlands again, leaving its mark on audiences and participants alike. It’s also the reason I joined Arts Uplift as anAdvisory Board Member.
Latest Dementia Statistics
Why is dementia awareness so important? 1 in 14 adults over 65 years have dementia and 1 in 3 people born today will develop the disease. Current statistics also show that around 1 million people are living with dementia in the UK and this is set to rise to 1.4 million by 2040 (Alzheimer’s Society).
With an increasing number of families being affected by the impact of dementia, it’s crucial that we understand how to provide support within our communities. Instead of delivering a leaflet or a lecture, Arts Uplift decided to address this issue through the power of theatre.
Navigating Margaret offers the audience a unique lens to view this condition from the perspective of someone living with dementia. I know only too well the huge impact dementia has on families as my late Mum had Alzheimer’s Disease. Apart from medical information, we didn’t understand exactly how this condition was affecting my Mum or how she might be viewing the world through her eyes.
Margaret’s Story
The production is rooted in real-life stories gathered through Arts Uplift’s Suitcase Stories project, developed in partnership with Museums Worcestershire. It follows a Worcestershire woman’s journey living with dementia and the effect it has on her family.
Margaret was one of the first women to fly an aeroplane in the county. Her life unfolds from the 1960s to the present day, looking back at her childhood and a ground-breaking, intercultural relationship. Weaving dialogue and movement with a fairy-tale quality, the play blends the real with the abstract, and four diverse professional actors bring the story to life.
Each performance is followed by a question-and-answer session featuring dementia experts, cast members, and the producer. Audiences have the chance to explore both the subject matter and the creative process behind the performance. The show is suitable for older people, professional care staff, NHS workers, health students, volunteers, carers and family members to those with early and mid-stage dementia.
The response from those who have seen Navigating Margaret speaks for itself. Audience members have described it as “wonderful, magical, informative”, noting it “helps dispel the fear and concern around dementia.” Others found it “charming and poignant,” and “a real emotional lift.”
Dementia Workshops
Alongside the performances and using excerpts from the show, a series of dementia workshops were also held. Offering a practical, interactive introduction to dementia, dementia care, and prevention, participants unanimously reported learning something new. 100% of participants said they would recommend the training.
The leading force behind Navigating Margaret is Jenny Davis, founder and director of Arts Uplift. With decades of experience in community arts, Jenny trained in drama and theatre and spent many years running youth theatres and directing productions.
When Jenny served as Arts Development Officer for Wychavon District Council from 2007, her work increasingly focused on arts, health, and older people. This included regular music workshops for people with dementia in care homes across the district.
It’s Jenny’s depth of experience, along with practical and community-focused delivery that gives Navigating Margaret its integrity. This performance will make you laugh and cry and is “a positive way of looking at how to make a difference” to build understanding and reduce stigma. It offers support and guidance to anyone touched by dementia, helping them to navigate the most challenging of human experiences.
Navigating Margaret Returns in Autumn 2026!
The good news is that the story is not over – Navigating Margaret is coming back this autumn with performances in Nuneaton, Leicester and Birmingham! The Arts Uplift team are excited to bring this to new audiences. Whether you are a carer, health professional, or simply someone who wants to understand dementia a little better, join us for this magical experience.
To find out when and how you can book a place, contact Jenny Davis: jenny@artsuplift.co.uk
🌸 Easter Sunday Cake & Tea Fundraiser at Wren Hall
Join us this Easter Sunday at Wren Hall, Wroxhall, for a wonderful afternoon of cake and tea. 🍰☕ Celebrate this special day with your friends and family while supporting a meaningful cause in your community.
📅 Event Details
Date: Sunday, 5 April Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Location
Wren Hall School Lane, Wroxhall Warwickshire, CV35 7NF
No booking needed – just turn up and enjoy!
💛 Supporting Arts Uplift’s 10-Year Fundraiser
All proceeds will go towards Arts Uplift’s 10-Year fundraising campaign, helping to fund life-changing creative activities for adults across Coventry and Warwickshire.
🚗 Parking
Parking is available at the venue.
🙋♀️ Volunteers & 🎂 Cake Donations Needed
We are looking for volunteers to help on the day and people who would like to bake and donate cakes.
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 follows each show with a panel including dementia experts, members of the cast and the Producer. This will enable the audience to explore the subject matter and the creative journey. Local dementia support information will be available to take away.
Who should see the play
The play is suitable for older people, professional care staff, NHS workers, health students, volunteers, carers and family members, people with early to mid stage dementia, theatre goers and anyone generally interested in dementia.
The show is not suitable for people with late-stage dementia. Age recommendation 12+ due tooccasional mild swearing.
Individual scenes from the play for dementia conferences, team away days and learning tools
Scenes from the play can be performed by the actors individually for dementia conferences, team away days and learning tools and much more.
Diagnosis of Alzheimers dementia
The stress on family members
Deciding to put your loved one in a care home
Get in touch for costs for this package info@artsuplift.co.uk
Watch Navigating Margaret the trailer
Dementia Awareness Workshops
Using excerpts from the show (videos) the workshops are a practical introduction to dementia, dementia care and prevention. Low pressure interactive play opportunities, discussion 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 2-person team (the actors) and local dementia specialist.
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!”
Who should participate in the workshops
The workshops is suitable for older people, professional care staff, NHS workers, health students, volunteers, carers and family members, people with early to mid stage dementia, theatre goers and anyone generally interested in dementia. The workshop is not suitable for people with late-stage dementia.
Get in touch for costs for this package info@artsuplift.co.uk
Watch the dementia awareness workshop trailer
Testimonial
Kevin Moffatt, dementia researcher (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.”
Arts Uplift are committed to being as environmentally responsible as possible. Please consider travelling to the show and workshops by public transport, on foot or car share.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer/Director Helen Tennison
Designer Zahra Mansouri
Music Matt Eaton
Producer Jenny Davis
Meet the cast and workshop facilitators
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
Lucinda graduated from the Academy Of Live & Recorded Arts completing the 3year Diploma in Acting. She continued her training with Anne Bogart (Viewpoints) and Seb Harcombe (Stanislavski). She won the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ award in the 168 LA Film Festival for her role in the film Home, dir: Debs Paterson. Theatre credits include Shall We Shog? (The Globe) dir: Ken Campbell; Decor Without Production 1 & 2, (The Royal Court) dir: Ken Campbell; Cathy,Wuthering Heights, (The Rosemary Branch and UK tour) dir: Helen Tennison; Hecuba in Hecuba, (The White Bear) dir: Justin Murray; Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, (Dirty Market Theatre) dir: Georgina Sowerby. Lucinda combines her skills as an actor, artist and writer. She was selected for The New Writers programme at The Royal Court & The Arcola as well as receiving a poetry writing award from The Arvon Foundation. She also received The Royal Female School of Art Award. In addition to her works being shown at The Arcola & The BAC, Lucinda is currently developing an original piece of theatre with St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney, London. This is the second time Lucinda has been a part of the company for Navigating Margaret.
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.
🎉 Quiz Night & Charity Auction – Supporting Arts Uplift! 🎨
Get ready for a night of laughter, friendly competition, and feel-good fundraising! Join us for Arts Uplift’s Quiz Night & Auction — an evening packed with excitement, great company, and a chance to make a real difference.
🧠 What’s Happening
💡 Fun & Lively Quiz: Test your knowledge across rounds for everyone — from music and movies to general trivia!
🎁 Charity Auction: Bid on amazing prizes and experiences, including:
Portrait Photography session with Karen Divorty
Afternoon tea at Audley Binswood
Theatre tickets for The Loft Theatre
A round of 18 hole golf at Stratford Park Hotel
40 mins facial at Spa Leamington
Yoga or pilates sessions at Little Light Studios, Leamington
Cut and Blow Dry haircut with Rachel at Hair@103
60 minute treatment at Fire and Earth Leamington – this can be used for massage, sports therapy, physiotherapy or personal training.
Initial assessment podiatry appointment at Stride Clinic, Warwick
Golf performance assessment at Fade Golf in Warwick
💜 Why We’re Fundraising
Arts Uplift uses the power of the creative arts — from storytelling and dance to music and theatre — to bring communities together and boost physical and mental wellbeing. Your support helps us run creative projects for adults of all ages across Coventry and Warwickshire and beyond.
Every ticket sold, every bid placed, and every donation made goes directly toward keeping these life-enhancing programmes alive and thriving.
👥 Team Info
Teams of up to 6 people
Flying solo or short on teammates? No worries! Email jenny@artsuplift.co.uk and we’ll help you join a team.
So grab your friends, bring your competitive spirit, and help us make a difference — all while having a fantastic night out!
📅 Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Venue : The Fold, Spencer st, Leamington Spa, CV31 3NE
🚗 Getting Here
Parking: The nearest car parks are located at Bath Place. Alternatively, on-street parking is available near the venue.
By Train: Only a 5-minute walk from Leamington Spa Train Station
By Bus: Hop off at The Parish Church stop on Spencer Street — just a 2-minute walk to the venue
✨ Don’t miss this incredible evening of fun, community, and creativity — all in support of Arts Uplift!
Unwind from the week and immerse yourself in great conversations at our brand-new monthly Book Club. Hosted at the fantastic 1 Mill St – Fluters Bar, each session will feature a structured discussion led by Aarthi.
Not only will you enjoy an inspiring evening with fellow readers, but your ticket fee will also go towards supporting Arts Uplift’s creative arts programmes, which use the arts to improve the physical and mental health of adults across Coventry and Warwickshire.
📖 This Month’s Book: Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and Matthew Patterson
From America’s most beloved superstar and its greatest storyteller—a thriller about a young singer/songwriter on the rise and on the run, and determined to do whatever it takes to survive.
Every song tells a story.
She’s a star on the rise, singing about the hard life behind her.
She’s also on the run. Find a future, lose a past.
Nashville is where she’s come to claim her destiny. It’s also where the darkness she’s fled might find her. And destroy her.
Run, Rose, Run is a novel glittering with danger and desire—a story that only America’s #1 most beloved entertainer and its #1 bestselling author could have created.
🌟 What to Expect
A welcoming, relaxed atmosphere at 1 Mill St – Fluters Bar
A structured book discussion with Aarthi
The chance to connect with fellow book lovers
Your participation helps fund Arts Uplift’s creative arts programmes
✨ We can’t wait to see you there for an evening of books, conversation, and community!
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