Image used with permission from Royal Exchange Theatre and Together Dementia
Royal Exchange Theatre X Together Dementia Support
We’ll Be in Touch
We’ll Be in Touch was a unique project that developed in response to the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. Following training, volunteers from Manchester’s Royal Exchange Elders Company led creative phone calls with participants from Together Dementia Support. The weekly telephone calls resulted in the creation of original poetry, which was then shared online. The project reshaped the way the two organisations work and had important implications about this type of partner working in a post-COVID world.
DISRUPT commissioned a short film to be made exploring the project, as well as a live-streamed panel event bringing together volunteers, participants and staff, including Andy Barry (Elders Programme Producer, Royal Exchange Theatre), Lucy Temby (Dementia Group Leader, Together Dementia Support), and Liz Postlethwaite (Small Things) who helped develop the programme.
THE COMMISSION
‘We’ll be in Touch’ is a short film that explores the project and the positive effects this has had on participants and volunteers alike.
ABOUT THE COLLABORATORS
Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre is an award-winning producing theatre with a rich history of innovative community engagement including our flagship Elders Company. The Elders Company is recognised internationally for its ability to challenge stereotypes around ageing, promote creativity into later life and reduce social isolation.
Together Dementia Support (TDS) is a registered charity offering support and therapeutic activities for people living with dementia, their carers and supporters in Manchester. TDS provide high quality activity and support groups to help people with dementia to maintain skills and hobbies, and to enable both them and their carers to make friends and maintain wellbeing.