Convener: Sam Smith (Parrot{in
the}Tank)
Participants: Verity (Magic Me, Living Structures)
Summary of discussion, conclusions and/or
recommendations:
- How can devising aid us in
our understanding or our approach to Dementia care?
- What exploratory and
investigative techniques found in collaborative and devised theatre can be
utilised to enhance our interaction with sufferers of Alzheimer’s?
- What do people’s experiences
of caring for Alzheimer’s patients tell us about the requirements there are for
meaningful interaction to take place?
Anecdotal
evidence from people who have encountered Alzheimer’s disease talks of the
hardships, but also the moments of magic; the breakthrough revelations, flashes
of character, unknown skills unearthed. For these to happen require space, time
and freedom. They can’t be forced. Can the way we’d prepare a rehearsal room to
be an atmospheric, fertile, stimulating environment tell us about authoring
meaningful interaction?
We
may have made more questions than conclusions! But we talked about:
·
‘Play’
in devising and how structures need to be put in place to allow us to feel free
enough to lose the inhibitions holding us back.
·
The
inhibition stripping nature Alzheimer’s can have, and noted the childlike open
mindedness this is similar to.
·
How
important being open minded is when fostering communication with a sufferer, if
they cannot talk for example. What do you look to then? What parameters can you
put in place to entreat interaction? How can this be done outside of
institutions as part of your normal day to day relationship with a patient?
·
Structuring
exchange between Care homes, family and patients. Can rehearsal room techniques
for exploring the world of a play/the core of an issue, be used to inform the
care each patient receives?
(Example of an elderly Man in America who would gather all
of the wheelchairs from the hospice and line them up in the main corridor. He
would then gather all of the restraining straps from wards and tie each
chair the handrail. Staff left him to
his own devises but it was understood to be a protest, until a family member
pointed out he was a cowboy until the age of 18; He was tying the horses to the
hitching post at the end of a day of work).
·
Attitudes
encountered in care homes about creative interventions, singing workshops,
movement workshops etc. “They won’t be able to do that“… How damaging and
restrictive a prescriptive attitude such as this could be.
·
Magic
Me’s charity work in care homes. (Cocktails & Carehomes)
