Navigating Margaret – a brand new dementia awareness play for adults.
In Autumn 2025 we will be taking Navigating Margaret and its associated dementia awareness and music workshops on tour across Coventry, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.
Based on real-life stories 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 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). The script will be rehearsed fully over 3.5 weeks with 4 actors developing its full potential with slight changes to the script to incorporate South Asian culture through the character of Graham.
A Question and Answer session will follow each show with a panel of dementia experts, members of the cast and the Director. This will enable the audience to explore the subject matter and the creative journey. Local dementia support information leaflets will be available for each audience member.
Who should see the play
The play and associated dementia workshops are suitable for older people (including South Asian), professional care staff, NHS workers, health students, volunteers, carers and family members, people with early stage dementia, theatre goers, the Deaf community, and anyone generally interested in dementia.
The training
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.
The workshops
Lively participatory music or movement to music workshops for people affected by dementia (all stages), deploying the creative efficacy of music playing and movement & incorporating a variety of styles & era’s participants are invited to move (seated or standing), sing along and or play percussion to familiar songs. The content will be culturally relevant to the group that is receiving the workshop e.g. South Asian dance for Ekta Unity group of elders.
Sponsorship Opportunity for local businesses
Could your company benefit from aligning itself with Navigating Margaret and objectives? Would you like to reach the following audiences with your marketing?
Navigating Margaret target audiences
Older people (including South Asian), professional care staff, NHS workers, health students, carers and family members, people with early stage dementia, theatre goers, the Deaf community, and anyone generally interested in dementia.
Target geographic areas
Coventry, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.
By sponsoring “Navigating Margaret,” your company can significantly elevate its profile and demonstrate a strong commitment to social responsibility. Our play offers a unique platform to reach a diverse audience, including individuals with dementia, their caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the general public. Your brand will be prominently featured on our website, marketing materials, social media channels, and press releases, ensuring maximum visibility and positive association with a cause that resonates with many. This strategic partnership will not only enhance your brand reputation but also positions your company as a compassionate and forward-thinking organisation.
We have a variety of packages to suit your requirements/budget . To discuss this opportunity contact Jenny Davis jenny@artsuplift.co.uk 07946 585978
Bookable Outreach Activities to accompany the play
| Workshop 1:
Dementia Awareness – Unleash the Power of Understanding – 2 hour interactive dementia awareness workshop Are you ready to gain practical insights into dementia, care strategies, and risk reduction? Join our engaging workshop designed for adults, carers, care staff, and individuals in the early stages of dementia. What to Expect:
Suitable for groups of 12-15 people. Price £250 Hear what our participants have to say:
For further information or to book contact Jenny at Jenny@artsuplift.co.uk |
Workshop 2:
Music and Movement for Well-being – 1 hour workshop for older adults and people living with dementia Experience the transformative power of music and movement in this uplifting workshop designed for older adults, people living with dementia, and their carers. What to Expect:
Price: £80 For further information or to book contact Jenny at Jenny@artsuplift.co.uk |
Play description
A powerful and moving theatrical production inspired by real-life experiences of people living with dementia and their carers from Worcestershire.
Based on stories gathered from Arts Uplift’s successful Suitcase Stories project, the play delves into the journey of a Worcestershire woman living with Alzheimer’s dementia, exploring its impact on both her and her family.
Once a quick-witted female pilot, Margaret is getting increasingly forgetful and erratic, so her son encourages her to get a diagnosis. A familiar story perhaps, but Margaret’s ensuing journey through stages of dementia is anything but pedestrian. The action flashes back and forth between her family struggling to cope with her gradual changes and the tangled memories of her earlier life. Her 1950’s childhood in her family’s launderette, working at the carpet factory, courting Charlie at tea dances, and becoming one of the first airwomen in Worcestershire.
With a touch of fairy-tale magic, the play uses text, movement, and original contemporary music to create a captivating blend of realism and abstraction. Four talented actors will bring the story to life, raising crucial awareness about dementia.
The Navigating Margaret Tour and associated workshops have been supported by Postcode Local Trust
R&D Rehearsed Readings of the play – Summer 2024
The rehearsed readings of the R&D stage of Navigating Margaret are now complete. Using 4 actors this took place during the Summer of 2024 with the aim of developing the show in Coventry and Warwickshire and improving awareness of dementia and its impact on the individual and family members through the delivery of dementia awareness training.
| Watch the Rehearsed Reading of Navigating Margaret from August 2024
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Find out what the audience said about the Rehearsed Reading
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Images from the rehearsed reading Summer 2024
CREATIVE TEAM
| Writer/Director Helen Tennison Designer Zahra Mansouri Stage Manager Hannah Fenwick Music Matt Eaton Producer Jenny Davis |
Actors Illona Linthwaite Eliza Thompson Tuhin Chisti Lucinda LLoyd |
Meet the cast
Eliza Ann Thompson
Playing Young Margaret and Dani
Eliza Ann is a 22 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 rendition of Navigating Margaret with ArtsUplift. She is now returning as Young Margaret and Dani, in the R&D version of Navigating Margaret – The Tour (2024). 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
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.
Dementia awareness training details – accompany the play
As part of the tour of Navigating Margaret we will be offering a 2 hour fun interactive accessible workshop based on the play. The actors will perform some excerpts from the show and discussion and activity will be based on this. Inspired by Forum Theatre practices ( the engagement of spectators influencing and engaging with the performance with the power to stop and change the performance outcomes for the positive). This workshop is a practical introduction to Alzheimers and dementia care. There are low pressure role play opportunities (only if you want to), practical explorations and games to build an actionable understanding of dementia and dementia care.
Suitable for Adults such as carers/loved ones of those living with dementia, care staff, people interested in finding out more about dementia, people with early stage dementia that want a fun, interactive way of learning!
Funders
The Research & Development on Navigating Margaret has been made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England and the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Fund, amongst others, with a plan to tour it next Autumn 2025!
Based on real-life stories gathered from Arts Uplift’s successful Suitcase Stories project in partnership with Museums Worcestershire, Navigating Margaret, is an exciting, diverse and high quality theatre production about a Worcestershire woman’s journey living with Alzheimers 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 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).
Audiences said
“It was exceptional- everyone should see it! I laughed and cried. The humility and tender representation was mind-blowing.”
“Great acting and excellently thought through script/lighting/music etc”
“It needs to go on tour”
“It was charming and poignant and so beautifully detailed, real emotional lift. Thank you”
“Thank you for sharing, it was so lovely and really touched my heart on the impact of dementia.”
“So pleased to give an outstanding review of Navigating Margaret by @arts_uplift Fingers crossed we haven’t seen the end of this creative, emotional and heart-warming production”
The original production was performed at Malvern Cube in Worcestershire with a cast of professional and community actors for 3 shows ONLY, Friday 24 and 2 shows on Saturday 25 March 2023 (relaxed performance 2pm) 2023. Written and directed by Helen Tennison, an International Director, the show beautifully brings to the stage the rich stories collected from Worcestershire residents, living with dementia and their carers. See PAST PROJECTS for more information about the Malvern show.
Writer/Director Helen Tennison
Design by Zahra Mansouri
Sound by Matt Eaton
Lighting design by Dan Parry
Producer Arts Uplift Jenny Davis
Watch the performance at Malvern Cube Navigating Margaret the trailer
Below are some photos from the original show – photographer Keiko Ikeuchi
