Preview: Getting Better Slowly at Stockton ARC

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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 3^rd 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 KimberleyHarvey

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.

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