Stroke and brain injury survivors in new music and dance performance

Stroke and brain injury survivors have taken part in a performance of new music and dance in Letterkenny.

Using music, movement and poetry as tools for self-expression stroke and brain injury, survivors from Donegal and Derry worked with leading artists Sarah Murphy and Jessica Peoples to co-create and perform a new work that supports their recovery and wellbeing.

In response to Covid-19, the creative project has explored how to work in a blended, online/offline way.  It is part of a wider national research project led by Rosetta Life and Kings College London.

Brainwaves is part of Rosetta Life’s Brain Odysseys and locally is led by partners Wall2Wall Music, Different Strokes for Different Folks, Donegal Local Development  Company and The Playhouse Derry. Londonderry. A Q&A session followed the performance.

Stroke and brain injury survivors from Donegal and Derry perform a new work that supports their recovery 

“These wonderful informal sharing performances are the results of an initial twelve-week intervention in which participants met once a week over Zoom and face-to-face to create this new work” Kevin Murphy, chief executive at The Playhouse said.

“Those taking part present and share the work with others, engage with creative practices that don’t just improve health adjustment and recovery after stroke or injury, but help us understand one another’s stories better in a long term and lasting way.”

The informal sharing performance of Chasing the Light was held in Zona Dance Letterkenny on Thursday, March 3. Another performance will be held on Thursday, March 10 at The Playhouse from 12.30 to 1pm. Those interested in attending can contact shauna@derryplayhouse.com.

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Rosetta Life works with people living with life-limiting illness to shape and share stories that matter through movement, song, image, film and writing to transform the stigma of illness and change the perception of disability.

In 2010 the charity collaborated for the first time with people living with the effects of a stroke and Odysseys was formed.

The charity brings trained professional performance artists into healthcare contexts to make ambitious public performances and works of art in collaborations with people living with the impact of neurological conditions, onwards and in the community.

Workshops are offered weekly for 12 weeks. In each session participants work alongside singers, movement artists, poets, composers to share their stories and devise an original piece of performance that we build and shape together.

Those taking part can then go on to train as ambassadors and tour, present and share the work with others.