DEMENTIA
‘FIGHTING FOR LIFE’
Inspired by a family written case study, The Findlay Report, it highlights the troubling concerns of members of the Findlay family when their elderly parents needed joined up health and social care – Joan had dementia and Jim had Motor Neurone Disease - towards the end of their lives but it wasn’t readily available - and is still problematic.
Older people living in their own homes are a ready target of fraudsters
Older people often cover for each other to protect their families from their difficulties
In older couples, one is often forced to become the unpaid carer of the other
Care homes are not always able to accommodate couples.
‘DON’T LEAVE ME NOW’
A story about the impact of early onset dementia on the lives of two very different families. Inspired by the real story of Professor Rachael Dixey and her long-term partner, Irene Heron and Chris and Cindy Toulman.
More than 200 performances
Developed originally with the support of West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
Endorsed by all major dementia charities including the Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK and Dementia Pathfinders and Cruse Bereavement Care.
‘WHERE OR WHEN’
This play was commissioned by a major NHS Trust that was anxious for older people with a dementia diagnosis to be treated holistically and with respect; that healthcare professionals would take time to understand the history and lives of the patients and certainly not be dismissive of their language which could well be rooted in the life of the person before dementia.
LIFE LIMITING ILLNESS & BEREAVEMENT
‘BOUNCE BACK BOY’
Created from the story of Josh Crawley, a young man with profound disabilities who was adopted and cared for devotedly by his adoptive family. Josh was not expected to live beyond childhood but in fact, lived to his early 20s. After transitioning from a child to an adult it became clear that adult hospices were not set up to cope with a young person with complex needs. He had to be cared for by his mum with the support of palliative care home visits but as his main carer, it made it difficult for her to also be a ‘mum’.
The play highlights young people with palliative care needs and the challenges accessing them
Gives a voice to a young person who never had a voice in life but had a good functioning mind
Raises issues faced by a family with a profoundly disabled child.
‘HOMEWARD BOUND’
An award-winning play originally commissioned by the National Council for Palliative Care (now Hospice UK). The play tells the story of Lesley and Seth Goodburn and the swift trajectory from the point that Seth started to show symptoms of an illness that was eventually diagnosed as pancreatic cancer to the point he passed away in a large NHS Hospital. His wife Lesley was unhappy with a number of care practices they encountered, and the aim of this play is to create greater awareness among healthcare professionals when considering their approach to end-of-life care.
Difficulties in accessing a home GP visit
Difficulties in diagnosing a life-limiting condition
Hospital conditions
Personal privacy and dignity not only for the patient but for close family.
‘BLUE SKIES’
Commissioned by Wakefield Hospice, the brief was to create a play encouraging conversations around advance care planning, organ donation, living wills, power of attorney and post-bereavement help and support.
Looked at through the eyes of a young man from a single parent family faced with the prospect of losing his mum
Difficult conversations
The role of a hospice in helping to open a dialogue
Life beyond loss.
Commissioned by Rowans Hospice, the brief was to write a play around bereavement and resilience. The principal character has emerged from an abusive relationship just about intact. She reconnects with a former close friend to learn that he is now terminally ill and is suddenly confronted with the trauma of her past and deeply unhappy that she will soon lose her closest ally. She turns to a bereavement psychologist for help and support, and watch her journey as she builds up her resilience and starts to prepare for the next stage of her life.
Building confidence when feeling at rock bottom
Not being afraid to ask for support and accessing the right kind of help
Building resilience and being able to support others when we become stronger ourselves
Coping with denial.
‘HELLO MY NAME IS’
Commissioned by St Gemma’s Hospice, Leeds where the consultant geriatrician Dr Kate Granger passed away shortly after her 30th birthday, but not before creating the ‘Hello My Name Is…’ campaign with her husband, Chris Pointon. When Kate became a patient herself, she looked at the health professionals from the patient’s point of view, rather than as a doctor and came to really understand the confusion felt by many patients when they are at their most vulnerable.
Little things make a big difference
It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it
The power of a smile and building empathy quickly
A developing love story showing the journey of Kate and Chris as they consolidated their 50-year future into 5 years
Performed widely for the NHS and private health sector.
‘SOUND OF SILENCE’
A 30-minute play that looks at families bereaved by a suicide. The most likely cause of death of young men aged under 35 is by their own hands. Inspired by the real story of Ross McCarthy, a 31-year-old from a supportive family with much to live for - but he chose the other option. This play features his mum, dad, sister, fiancée and psychologist and himself - was taking his life the worst thing he ever did in his life and could it have been different?
Poor provision of mental health services
Encouraging conversations with those close to us who may be at risk
Getting the right kind of professional help when it’s needed
Understanding the signs and symptoms around a person who is considering ending their own life.
‘FIGHTING FOR LIFE’
Inspired by a family written case study, The Findlay Report, it highlights the troubling concerns of members of the Findlay family when their elderly parents needed joined up health and social care – Joan had dementia and Jim had Motor Neurone Disease - towards the end of their lives but it wasn’t readily available - and is still problematic.
Older people living in their own homes are a ready target of fraudsters
Older people often cover for each other to protect their families from their difficulties
In older couples, one is often forced to become the unpaid carer of the other
Care homes are not always able to accommodate couples.
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE
VOICES AMPLIFIED
Covert and subtle discrimination in the NHS, including thoughtless use of language and preconceptions about other people, are threads that run through “Voices Amplified.” The damage and hurt caused to those on the receiving end of thoughtlessness and micro-aggressions can affect those providing care as well as those receiving it. The play is inspired by real experiences and takes place in an NHS hospital in the UK.
‘UNFORGETTABLE: TELLING THE CARE HOME STORY’
During the covid pandemic, care homes experienced probably the most challenging operational period in their history. This play tells the story of a residential care home from the point of view of the paid care worker, the residents, the residents’ families and the owners. How the recent experience of the pandemic will impact on the care home structure as it currently stands is one of the themes that is explored.
‘LET’S TALK LYMPHOEDEMA’
A relatively common health condition but not often talked about. The play was commissioned by Juzo and is based on a book written by royal photographer Gemma Levine who suffers from this condition herself. Sometimes, but not always, an after effect of breast cancer, this debilitating condition sees the swelling of limbs and bodies which can only be treated by specialist massage and special garments. It can affect children and others of all ages - men and women – with the patient sometimes feeling that they look grotesque and have to cope with many negative comments. The writer worked closely with Professor Peter Mortimer, based at St George’s Hospital, London who is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of lymphedema.
Launched in New York by American film actor Kathy Bates who has the condition and wants to help promote awareness.
Two different stories are interwoven - a younger and an older person
It opens a debate on this illness and highlights treatment options
Treatment in the UK is not always available on the NHS and this play explores why.
‘BENEATH THE WHITE COAT’
Inspired by the book of the same name, written by Dame Dr Clare Gerada, this play looks at how healthcare professionals handle their own feelings of stress and trauma - particularly during the covid pandemic. Often, they can become depressed or alcohol/drug dependent, sometimes suffering from overwork and suicidal feelings. The play supports a major new initiative to make free confidential healthcare available for all health professionals so that those that take care of us are also cared for.
Launched in March 2022 at the Wounded Healer Conference held at the Royal College of GPs, London
‘YOU KILLED MY HUSBAND’
An NHS Trust were unhappy with the increased number of complaints they were receiving on a whole range of issues - from car parking to the hospital being accused of negligence. Their complaints team were working flat out with a range of difficult issues. One particular complainant was determined to prove that the hospital, through their negligence were responsible for her late husband’s death. They were not but they could have handled the meetings, conversations and the anguished widow’s earlier complaints more sensitively. This play tells the story through a range of different scenarios - some ‘bad’ and others ‘good’ so the learning is about communicating more compassionately and effectively that can often result in the non-escalation of a complaint and the improved well-being of the complainant.
‘FIGHTING FOR LIFE’
Inspired by a family written case study, The Findlay Report, it highlights the troubling concerns of members of the Findlay family when their elderly parents needed joined up health and social care – Joan had dementia and Jim had Motor Neurone Disease - towards the end of their lives but it wasn’t readily available - and is still problematic.
Older people living in their own homes are a ready target of fraudsters
Older people often cover for each other to protect their families from their difficulties
In older couples, one is often forced to become the unpaid carer of the other
Care homes are not always able to accommodate couples.
‘DON’T LEAVE ME NOW’
A story about the impact of early onset dementia on the lives of two very different families. Inspired by the real story of Professor Rachael Dixey and her long-term partner, Irene Heron and Chris and Cindy Toulman.
More than 200 performances
Developed originally with the support of West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
Endorsed by all major dementia charities including the Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK and Dementia Pathfinders and Cruse Bereavement Care.
‘HOMEWARD BOUND’
An award-winning play originally commissioned by the National Council for Palliative Care (now Hospice UK). The play tells the story of Lesley and Seth Goodburn and the swift trajectory from the point that Seth started to show symptoms of an illness that was eventually diagnosed as pancreatic cancer to the point he passed away in a large NHS Hospital. His wife Lesley was unhappy with a number of care practices they encountered, and the aim of this play is to create greater awareness of healthcare professionals when considering their approach to end-of-life care.
Difficulties in accessing a home GP visit
Difficulties in diagnosing a life-limiting condition
Hospital conditions
Personal privacy and dignity not only for the patient but for close family.
‘BOUNCE BACK BOY’
Created from the story of Josh Crawley, a young man with profound disabilities who was adopted and cared for devotedly by his adoptive family. Josh was not expected to live beyond childhood but in fact, lived to his early 20s. After transitioning from a child to an adult it became clear that adult hospices were not set up to cope with a young person with complex needs. He had to be cared for by his mum with the support of palliative care home visits but as his main carer, it made it difficult for her to also be a ‘mum’. The play has been filmed and is available through the Royal College of Nursing or it can be performed with a single actor.
Young people with palliative care needs and the challenges accessing them
Gives a voice to a young person who never had a voice in life but had a good functioning mind
Issues faced by a family with a profoundly disabled child.
‘HELLO MY NAME IS’
Commissioned by St Gemma’s Hospice, Leeds where the consultant geriatrician Dr Kate Granger passed away shortly after her 30th birthday, but not before creating the ‘Hello My Name Is…’ campaign with her husband, Chris Pointon. When Kate became a patient herself, she looked at the health professionals from the patient’s point of view, rather than as a doctor and came to really understand the confusion felt by many patients when they are at their most vulnerable.
Little things make a big difference
It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it
The power of a smile and building empathy quickly
A developing love story showing the journey of Kate and Chris as they consolidated their 50-year future into 5 years
Performed widely for the NHS and private health sector.
SOCIETY
‘FINISHING TOUCHES’
Commissioned by legal firm, Leigh Day and launched at The Barbican Theatre, London. The brief was to create a play that looked at the issues around peer-on-peer abuse, grooming and historic abuse. The play also touches on county line gangs and psychological issues arising from abuse.
Performed at The Barbican Theatre and many other major theatres across the UK
Post-performance discussions have raised difficult and important issues
The psychological effects of historic abuse are shown that can come to the fore and have an effect years later.
‘CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS’
Another play commissioned by legal firm, Leigh Day this play is based on the true story of campaigner, Marilyn Hawes. She created the charity called ‘Freedom From Abuse’ after she was ‘groomed’ by her Head Teacher boss and close family friend so that he could have access to her sons. Like many abusers he was ruthless in working towards accessing her boys and was eventually convicted but only with a short sentence. Marilyn Hawes was incensed by the lightness of his sentence and single-handedly fought successfully to have his jail sentence increased.
The play takes the audience on a journey with her and her family as this extraordinary story unfolds
The methodology of an ‘abuser’ is laid out.
OTHER STAGE PLAYS by Brian Daniels
‘WHERE IS YOUR MAMA GONE?’ - “A raw, explosive drama grabs the audience’s attention immediately…..compelling and compassionate. … the young people in care whom we took to the performance were absolutely riveted” - Maggie Taylor, Action for Children.
Brian Daniels was living in Leeds in the mid 1970s. In 1975, the man known as the ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ murdered his first victim and went on to murder 12 more women and left several others for dead. It was through researching the story of his first victim and her children that Brian was inspired to create a fictional story based on the real events.
A comedy about a provincial Jewish family coming to terms with the struggles of single parenthood, alternative lifestyle choices and keeping up appearances. Denise Goldberg is a single parent and her two daughters, both in their 20s, have very different ideas about what will make them happy. Denise too feels that life for her can begin again at 50 – but their choices are coloured by what they feel their friends, family and neighbours will think of their unusual lifestyle choices.
Based on the inspirational true story of Shoah (Holocaust) survivors, Hana Pravda and Milos Dobry. Hana is an actress and Milos is an athlete. They have spent their working lives building suspense, knocking crowds into submission, and drawing gasps from their onlookers. Both Auschwitz survivors, it’s now their moment to show how strength, and a will of iron, shaped this dual tale of love, loss and salvation. Or was it just luck?
‘PORTRAIT OF A COMPOSER’ - A play about the holocaust performed by 4 musicians and 3 actors
In 2019, the Leeds Jewish Welfare Board commemorated 140 years of continuing service to the Jewish community of Leeds. The Board, originally known as the Board of Guardians, commissioned this play that looks back to its early years and includes some very personal and authentic experiences of the community. It’s not a unique story – the play echoes many stories of contemporary immigrants to the UK.
UPCOMING PLAYS
‘EVERYONE MATTERS’
The working title of a newly commissioned play looking at discharge procedures when patients are returned home and considering the continuing safety and wellbeing of the patient.
‘CHOICES’
Many people with profound disabilities and dependent on private carers would like more control over the way in which their allowances are used. How are personal carers screened? Who controls the purse strings and how independent can you really be as a person with a severe disability? How will your family ever understand that you have formed a relationship and want to set up home independently, without your parent feeding you?
Enabling people to be more financially independent
Selecting carers and a person having more control over those that care for them
The role of the family carer
Knowing that there is still a job market open for those at home and disabled.