Wander Through

In this final two part episode, Part One walks you along with the audience as the performances of Theatre of Wandering happen on the streets of Coventry. Take a detour to hear where Annie is and what the publics reactions are to her in conversations with psychologists and Occupational Therapists from the Memory Assessment and Community Dementia services. Return to the play to find what happens to George and Annie as help is found. Join Francesca to hear what the audiences thought and the questions that Theatre of Wandering asks.

In Part Two, get deeper into conversation with the Memory Assessment and Community Dementia Team as Francesca asks what the next steps would be for George and Annie in reality after the audience bids them goodbye. We return to the questions how do we communicate with and about people living with dementia? What good can the arts do to provoke conversation and change? And what are the things that could change?

Resources/Websites:

In this final two part episode, Part One walks you along with the audience as the performances of Theatre of Wandering happen on the streets of Coventry. Take a detour to hear where Annie is and what the publics reactions are to her in conversations with psychologists and Occupational Therapists from the Memory Assessment and Community Dementia services. Return to the play to find what happens to George and Annie as help is found. Join Francesca to hear what the audiences thought and the questions that Theatre of Wandering asks.

In Part Two, get deeper into conversation with the Memory Assessment and Community Dementia Team as Francesca asks what the next steps would be for George and Annie in reality after the audience bids them goodbye. We return to the questions how do we communicate with and about people living with dementia? What good can the arts do to provoke conversation and change? And what are the things that could change?

Resources/Websites:

In this Two Part episode (50 mins & 37 mins), Francesca goes in search of where Annie came from talking to the artists and facilitators that were laying groundwork in workshops and connections. We catch a glimpse of the Annie’s rehearsing out on the streets of Coventry before hearing from artists and facilitators. 

In Part 1 Francesca talks to artist and facilitator Angela Mhlanga, musician Lucy Payne and writer and facilitator Alex Johnson.

Take a break before joining Francesca in Part 2 as she talks to sound artist Indira Lakshmi, and we hear one of her pieces ‘Gradually Going’ featuring Fliss Arthur and Doreen Tanner. We finish by talking to Charmaine who founded and runs Dementia Activity Days before catching a glimpse back at Annie. 

Throughout Part 1 & 2 there are descriptions of people living with dementia, care and loss. Part 2 contains a sound piece where you hear people living with dementia talking about their experiences.

Resources/Websites:

Listen to Soundscapes

In this Two Part episode (50 mins & 37 mins), Francesca goes in search of where Annie came from talking to the artists and facilitators that were laying groundwork in workshops and connections. We catch a glimpse of the Annie’s rehearsing out on the streets of Coventry before hearing from artists and facilitators. 

In Part 1 Francesca talks to artist and facilitator Angela Mhlanga, musician Lucy Payne and writer and facilitator Alex Johnson.

Take a break before joining Francesca in Part 2 as she talks to sound artist Indira Lakshmi, and we hear one of her pieces ‘Gradually Going’ featuring Fliss Arthur and Doreen Tanner. We finish by talking to Charmaine who founded and runs Dementia Activity Days before catching a glimpse back at Annie. 

Throughout Part 1 & 2 there are descriptions of people living with dementia, care and loss. Part 2 contains a sound piece where you hear people living with dementia talking about their experiences. 

Resources/Websites:

Memories with Grandma

In this feature length episode, we step into rehearsals as scenes are made and changed. Francesca talks to member of the Belgrade Arts Gym Margaret Emerton, finds out what co-director Naoki Sugawara is finding out about Coventry and takes a deep dive over tea and biscuits into Social Prescribing, care, community and acting. We finish with song and more direction from Bonds Hospital, an almshouse in Coventry.

This episode contains descriptions of people living with dementia, care, bereavement and loss. The impact of the pandemic is mentioned throughout.

Care- Coordinators and social prescribers, Heather Hine, Shannon, Teresa at Stony Stanton Surgery.

Useful links:

Carers Trust

Listen-in on rehearsals on the streets of Coventry and in the room at the Belgrade Theatre, as scenes are created with a real Police Community Support Officer. Meet writer Richard Walls and the cast hearing different experiences of people living with dementia. Be there to hear the narrative develop.

With performers and co-creators Christopher Old, Eric Hodgkins, Ambika Sharma and PSCO Ella Venables.

Useful links:

More info about Social Prescribing

An introduction into Theatre of Wandering and how it started. Francesca talks to creatives and producers to trace Theatre of Wandering's journey from Japan to Coventry finding out why now? Why here? And why this story is relevant to all of us.

Meet co-directors David Slater and Naoki Sugawara, and Hannah Graham from Coventry City of Culture.

Useful links:

More info about Social Prescribing

Theatre of Wandering is a performance that draws upon a community’s experiences and reflections about what it is to live with dementia.

It’s been created in 2021 through hundreds of conversations and creative exchanges with shop keepers, care workers and Coventrians of all ages, to uncover and share a community’s hidden stories about one of our society’s greatest challenges.