TOGETHER PROJECT, SPARE TYRE & JACKSONS LANE
As a dementia arts specialist Georgia was invited to work as the Lead Artist for Spare Tyre & Jacksons Lane's Together Project. The ambition of the Together Project was to reduce isolation and promote wellbeing by bringing high quality arts to adults aged 60+, who are living with dementia's at the Haynes Dementia Hub, Haringey. This innovative project united partners from across the local authority, housing, voluntary and arts sectors to devise a new and more artful way of working in adult health care.
Please see below the year one and year two video summary:
HANDHELD STORIES, SPARE TYRE & JACKSONS LANE
As part of the Together Project, Georgia co-created alongside participants at the Haynes Dementia Hub, exploring the theme of hands and the stories that they might hold. This multi-disciplinary and sensory practice led to the creation of a series of vessels which were inspired by those stories. These vessels were later exhibited at the Tate Modern and Alexandra Palace.
An example of one of the participant inspired vessels.
Feedback from Handheld Stories at the TATE EXCHANGE.
TINDERELLA, LONDON BUBBLE YOUTH THEATRE
Georgia was the Lead Facilitator for London Bubble's Youth Theatre, a weekly theatre group that offered a creative space for young people aged 12-18 to collaborate, share ideas, tell stories and devise theatre.
In 2016 Georgia worked alongside participants from the Youth Theatre to create 'Tinderella'. This devised piece of theatre explored first love, coming of age and the world of dating against a virtual/social media backdrop and the pressures that this might bring.
CREATIVE ELDERS PROGRAMME, LONDON BUBBLE
Georgia led, designed and delivered the artistic practice for London Bubble's Creative Elders Programme. Alongside a team of Artist Facilitators the programme offered older adults in the Southwark region a space to create, share and connect. By exchanging stories, exploring movement and creating theatre the programme reduce social isolation, increased wellbeing, built communities and supported good health. This portfolio of work included Creative Homes, Tea Break Theatre and the Rotherhithe Shed.
Youth Theatre, YOUNG CARERS BUCKS
Young Carers BUCKS commissioned Georgia to design and deliver two youth theatre projects for children & young people.
The aim of each short project was to foster theatre as a tool to increase confidence and emotional wellbeing among participants. Each workshop used script writing, improvisation, movement, physical theatre and devising to explore the groups desires and common curiosities.
Both projects concluded with a final performance to family, guardians and friends.
Creative Responses, Chichester Festival Theatre
As a leading creative ageing practitioner Georgia was invited by the Chichester Festival Theatre to join the Creative Responses pilot project. Georgia led Creative Responses in Barlavington Manor and Hillside Lodge, care homes which were designed for adults living with advance dementia's. In the pilot phase workshops focused on creating a sensory experience, rather than working with verbal communication. Participants explored puppetry, painting with bamboo canes and story telling through objects to name but a few elements.
Royal Opera House and Streetwise Opera
In summer 2019 Georgia was engaged by the Royal Opera House & Streetwise Opera to produce Carmen: Frailty, fire and freedom. Together, the two organizations delivered weekly workshops at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre for up to 30 people aged 40–75 who have been affected by homelessness. Participants worked alongside leading artists to devise a response to Barrie Kosky's Carmen. This culminated with a performance in the Paul Hamlyn Hall (ROH, Covent Garden) to an audience of 200 people.
Murmuration, Brighton People's Theatre
During the COVID-19 pandemic Georgia was engaged by Brighton People's Theatre as the Assistant Director for the short film Murmuration. The piece examines Brighton as we emerge from the COVID-19 national lockdown. Produced and co-created with BPT's members over a six-week term, in collaboration with Artistic Director Naomi Alexander, Brighton-based film & TV writer Kenny Emson, and local filmmaker Dylan Howitt.
The Chatter Project - Chichester Festival Theatre
Georgia is the founding Lead Artist for the Chichester Festival Theatre's The Chatter Project. The Chatter Project is a fortnightly theatre workshop for adults aged 65+ designed for sharing stories, making friends and creating theatre.
The Chatter Project hosts groups in Selsey and Chichester, and once a term participants are invited to a friendly and informal event to share the work that has been created.
To find out more please click on the link below:
https://www.cft.org.uk/take-part/community/the-chatter-project
The Life House Project - University of SURREY
Together with Tonic Housing, the UK's first LGBTQ+ affirmative retirement community, the Guildford School of Acting and the University of Surrey The Life House Project is a participatory theatre-based initiative, which explores the unique housing and care needs of the LGBTQ+ community in London.
Many LGBTQ+ individuals face anxieties about housing and care as they age. The Life House Project aims to address these concerns by providing a platform for older adults to share their experiences and explore solutions collaboratively.
Through participatory workshops and one-on-one interviews, this project creates a space for participants to express themselves creatively through theatre, scriptwriting, and poetry. This approach supports participants in telling their stories and highlights their specific needs and desired forms of support in relation to housing and adult social care in the UK.