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New show tells true story of one man’s two and a half year journey to recovery after Guillain Barré Syndrome paralysed him
Getting Better Slowly
Stockton ARC
Thursday 3rd November 2016
At the
age of 26, in the space of three weeks, Adam Pownall went from being a fit and
healthy dancer and performer to a paralysed man unable to blink unaided. Getting Better Slowly is the story of
his two and half year battle back to health, from learning to walk and talk
again to the movement classes that kept him going to the first time he managed
to play football again. Through speech, movement, sound and verbatim text taken
from interviews with Adam and his family, the show follows him from diagnosis
to rehabilitation, capturing his highs and lows to create an inspirational
piece that asks the audience how they might deal with an unexpected illness or
accident.
Following
his rehabilitation, Adam returned to work in the arts. In 2014 he won the Olwen
Wymark Award for supporting New Writing within Theatre for the Writer’s Guild
for his work in opening and running Create Theatre in Mansfield, and he
recently become Artistic Director of Lincoln Drill Hall after being Programme
Co-ordinator at Derby Theatre. Getting
Better Slowly is his first performance role since his illness was diagnosed
in 2009. He said, “Prior to March 2009 I was always the type to describe myself
as a positive person. However, it isn’t until you are dealt a life-changing
situation you are truly tested and you have to summon the strength to find real
positivity.
“I woke up one morning with what felt like a
hangover, and my feet were cold… but they never warmed up. I was in hospital
for a total of six months, three in a rehabilitation ward going through
countless physiotherapy sessions, all of which causing excruciating pain due to
my nervous system being messed up. With support of the hospital physio team I
used dance to aid my recovery, leaving the hospital every Tuesday to attend a
dance class with friends, at first in a wheelchair then using walking aides
when my movement got better. There were obviously days where I wanted to give
in, I struggled with bouts of depression due to being lonely, feeling like a
failure when I couldn’t take more than five steps unaided. I was tired,
chronically tired.” But with positivity and determination Adam has made a show
which tells his story to raise awareness.
“I regularly support GAIN Charity, I go and visit
any current sufferers to offer them my story as a way of hope and positivity to
help them in their ordeal, and Getting
Better Slowly is part of this venture to create awareness and inspire
hope.”
GAIN (Guillain-Barré & Associated
Inflammatory Neuropathies) Charity is
the official charity for GBS. For more information please visit www.gaincharity.org.uk
Cast
Kitty Randle and Adam Pownall
Creatives
Creative Producer Adam
Pownall
Writer Nick Wood
Director Tilly Branson
Movement Director Marc
Brew
Associate Choreographer Kimberley
Harvey
Designer Kate Unwin
Sound Designer Adam P.
McCready
Lighting Designer Howell
Thomas
Associate
Dramaturg Luca Rutherford
Production
Manager Laura Stone
On The Web
@GBSproject #gettingbetterslowly
www.gettingbetterslowly.com
Supported by Arts Council, England Commissioned
by GAIN Charity, Core Lincolnshire One Venues & Lincoln Drill Hall.
With support from ARC Stockton Arts Centre, Déda Derby & In Good Company.
With support from ARC Stockton Arts Centre, Déda Derby & In Good Company.
Tickets
Getting
Better Slowly (suitable for 11+) is at ARC on Thursday 3
November at 7pm.
To book tickets (which are priced on a Pay What You
Decide basis) or for more information phone ARC box office on 01642 525199 or
go to www.arconline.co.uk
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