Chiswick Book Festival 17th - 19th Sept

InterAct are delighted to be involved in this years Chiswick Book Festival run by Torin Douglas. The festival very kindly chose InterAct as a charity to give a donation to last year and we're delighted that InterAct founder Caroline Smith and a group of our actors will be bringing some award winning stories to life on Saturday 18th! For more details about the book festival visit their website at:
http://www.chiswickbookfestival.org/supporters/index.php

We would particularly like to thank Jo Brendon from our Development Board for actively developing this relationship with the festival on InterAct's behalf.

Rosemary Branch Theatre is branching out!

InterAct reader Cleo Sylvestre is also joint Artistic Director of the Rosemary Branch Theatre. The theatre are having their 3rd year of Branching Out at The Rosemary Branch (www.rosemarybranch.co,uk) from 9th Nov til 3rd Dec . The deal is that the theatre is available for rehearsed readings, work- in-progress, etc. It's a straight 50-50 split with the box office and most people have one or two nights. There are still some free slots and the person to contact is scarldawn@aol.com. The Rosemary Branch Theatre has won two awards this year and their current production ( HMS Pinafore) is Critic's Choice in Time Out.

Summer Party Sept 12th 2010

Our Summer Party for 2010 was held at the Orangery at Kenwood. A grand location and once again, we were blessed with some lovely weather for the afternoon. Good food, good wine and good company were present and we'll be looking to ensure that more people are able to come along next year!

InterAct fundraising day at Bristol Sept 7th

The wonderful Arabella Tresillian, InterAct's co-ordinator in the South West organised a superb fundraising day for InterAct's proposed work at Southmead Hospital. The fantastic Envision Theatre kindly donated their time and artistic talent to present a super display of music at Southmead hospital, followed by a similarly super show at the Mayor's Mansion House! InterAct are looking to raise enough money to deliver the service at Southmead for at least 2-3 years.

InterAct participate at the UK Stroke Club Conference Daventry Sept 2010

The charity were invited to attend the UK Stroke Club Conference held in Daventry on the 2nd Sept. InterAct were represented by Nirjay Mahindru and actress Laura Rees, both of whom performed the peice IT COULDN'T HAPPEN TO ME a two-hander which explores the consequences of stroke on a couple. Following the play, Nirjay gave an overview of our work, and Laura talked specifically about what it's like for an actor to read in the hospitals. Our seminar session lasted an hour and the feedback was hugely positive, with the Stroke Association asking if we'd come back next year!

Fancy a night of dazzling entertainment and glitzy company? Happen to live in or near to Bristol? Yes? Then click here to book your ticket for the forthcoming InterAct West event taking place in Bristol on 7th September.

InterAct Goes West

This September, InterAct is co-hosting an awareness-raising event in Bristol to help drum up support for the proposed launch of our service at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. The invites are and press releases are being signed off as I write... so, more details very soon.

Nell Dunn gives copyright of Lost and Found to InterAct.

Writer Nell Dunn, a trustee of InterAct has very kindly given the copyright of her fantastic play LOST AND FOUND to InterAct Reading Service. The play explores the consequences of stroke on the lives of 3 very different people and can be seen at http://vimeo.com/9729158

It has been shown as a rehearsed reading at the Tristan Bates Theatre in Jan 2009, and Connect, the Disability support network office at Borough, London. We are hoping to obtain funding to perform LOST AND FOUND as rehearsed readings at stroke clubs, hospitals, theatres throughout the country and we're also looking to develop it as a radio piece. We are very thankful to Nell for her wonderful generosity.

Children and Stroke

Stroke is so often associated with the elderly, that indeed is the publics perception of just who will get a stroke. In point of fact, over 1000 babies every year in the UK will have a stroke, and the proclivity of stroke amongst young people is quite startling. Here's a link to a Telegraph article from Monday 26th July.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/7907230/The-child-victims-of-stroke.html

http://www.childstroke.org.uk/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Actress Jane Lapotaire article on her stroke

Actress Jane Lapotaire on the consequences for her following her stroke. The Guardian newspaper article can be found at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2003/apr/29/healthandwellbeing.health

Stroke debate in House of Lords

Stroke was discussed in the House of Lords recently, led by the Rt Hon Lord Rodgers, who himself had a stroke a few years ago and was in the Royal Free and the National. Here's the link to the debate.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/100630-0007.htm#10063035000546

We have a Facebook Page

Dear All,
Here's the link to our Facebook page, please let your friends know!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/InterAct-Reading-Service/135570389794247?ref=ts

InterAct perform at Connect for a Day

InterAct performed a piece entitled It Couldn't happen to Me at Connect, the disability support network head office on Marshalsea Road London as part of their Connect for a Day workshops. The play, a two hander performed by Nirjay Mahindru and Eleanor Rhodes explores the consequences of stroke on a couple, and lasts about 12-13 minutes. This was followed by a Q n A with the audience, who thorough enjoyed the piece. Alex Stirling, Specialist Development Manager at Connect said "Your play obviously had a great impact on our audience of people with aphasia and their relatives. "

BBC highlights stroke information

Here's a link to a BBC breakfast item this morning.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10723076

More links to stoke related policy documents

Here's a great link to access various stroke policy and strategy documents.
http://www.healthcareforlondon.nhs.uk/stroke-project-documentation/

Transforming Stroke Services Conference Tuesday 20th July

The transforming Stroke Services conference occured yesterday and here are some brief points from it.
Dr Anthony Rudd Clinical Director of Stroke in London said that the reconfiguration of stroke services in London represented a major step change in stroke service delivary.

In 2004, Stroke cost the NHS £7bn but only £590 million of that was spent on acute care.

Hyper Acute Stroke Units (HASU's) officially went on stream as of 8am on the 19th July 2010.

Average ambulance journey time to a HASU is 14 minutes in London.

Since February 2010 there has been 587 thrombolysed patients, a four fold increase.

Average length of stay in a HASU is 3 days and average lenght of stay in a London stroke unit is now down to 17 days.

Dr Rudd stated that post hospital discharge was still problematic, saying that it cost "£50,000 to keep someone in a nursing home per year".

The national context of accelerating stroke improvement was articulated by Professor Roger Boyle, the Director for Heart Disease and Stroke, Dept of Health. Professor Boyle has led the development of a national stroke strategy since 2006. It was refreshing to hear Professor Boyle say that "The patient experience is vital" and that the psychological well being of patients is part of the London pathway.

Patient experience was consistently commented on, bringing new validity and importance to the once derided notion of anecdotal evidence. Keith Millar, a stroke survivor summed it up rather succinctly when he said that following his stroke "I became a non-person". We still have plenty of work to do!

Shakespeare on the street!

On 31st July InterAct Reader Kelda Holmes and her fiancee (soon to be husband on the 21st August 2010) are participating in a fund raising event to raise money for Fantastic Theatre Company, The Globe players!

They will be performing a Shakespeare duologue ( Kate and Petruccio Act 2 Sc1, Taming Of The Shrew) on every Shakespeare Road, Avenue, Crescent etc in greater London, during the course of a 7 hour period.

They are not alone in this...at the start of the day there will be a group on every target road. Each group will work out a route taking in as many target roads as possible, in approximately 7 hours, performing a duologue at each and photographically recording it! If you see them, let us know!

Changes to NHS

The new Government has unveiled its White Paper on reform of the NHS. Details can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_117352.pdf

Specifically on stroke, the National stroke guildelines can be found at
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/books/stroke/stroke_guidelines_2ed.pdf

Hospital Team Meetings

Here are the latest dates for hospital team meetings.

Mile End team meeting will take place at 11.00am on Sat 4th Sept in the Victoria ward meeting room.

WEST MIDDX & CLAYPONDS - THURSDAY 5thAUGUST (Emma to chair)

ST MARY'S - SATURDAY 24TH JULY - HOSPITAL CANTEEN - 12.00 NOON (Christine to chair)

BRIGHTON & HAYWARDS HEATH - SUNDAY 25TH JULY - VENUE AND TIME TBA - (Christine to chair)

CHELSEA &WESTMINSTER - FRIDAY 30TH JULY - CARLUCCIO'S (accross road from C+W) - 12.00 NOON (Emma and Christine to chair)

KINGS & LEWISHAM - SUNDAY 15TH AUGUST - NICKY'S HOUSE -11.30 AM (Emma and Christine to chair)

What some of our actors are up to at the Moment (July 2010)

Risa Hall has been performing her original music from her new cd, Glass Half..? on BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC Radio Nottingham and other places. Her album was produced by Nigel Stonier (Thea Gilmore, Joan Baez, Waterboys) and features 10cc/Jethro Tull drummer Paul Burgess on both drums/percussion.

Maggie Mash is performing with her group Trio Literati, singer Louise Gibbs and pianist Jonathan Gee at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's called Five in a Bar and it's poetry and music of the Beat Generation and it's at the Jazz Bar, Chambers St, 9th - 15th August at 3.30

Two of Frinton’s favourite actors launch the 70th anniversary season of Frinton Summer Theatre next week. The curtain goes up on The Mystery of Irma Vepp by Charles Ludlum on Tuesday13th. Patrick Marlowe returns for his fourth stint in town and will be joined by Julian Harries who will be notching up his fifth season at the theatre. Pat has also written a play specially for the anniversary season called The Box which will be on at the beginning of August. The two actors will be playing all eight characters with rapid costume changes, cross dressing and appearing as everything from mummies and vampires. Full details in Clacton Gazette

Julien Ball will be in Doctors 21-23 July playing Lt Col in the Army

Kirsty Cox is performing in weekly rep in Devon at the moment

Nicky Goldie is about to open in Romeo and Juliet in Oxford for Creation Theatre which runs from 9th July - 4th September, playing Nurse and Prince, and has recently filmed 2 eps of Coronation Street which may possibly be aired on 23rd August.

Rachel Stevenson is about to start rehearsals for Fragments Theatre's The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, adapted by Hannah Burke, directed by Shane Dempsey.The show is going to Edinburgh (dates are roughly 9th-18th August) and then to the Green Phoenix festival (http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/others2010/greenphoenix/)from 19th to 21st August. The company have been working as an ensemble together since last year and we're very excited to start work on what will be a highly physical and energised piece of theatre. http://fragmentstheatre.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-master-and-margarita

Sharon Heywood is doing a play from July 26th – 29th called The Decision’ written by Mia Darlone - at the Theatre Royal or also known as the Coliseum in Manchester – Deansgate She has also been doing some stand up character comedy in and around Manchester.

Jo Kloska is currently appearing in Comedy Of Errors at Regent's Park

Penny McDonald is currently rehearsing a play called 'Raving Beauties' by Dave Simpson, which will be on at the Dance House in Manchester from July 29th to the 31st for four performances.

Dominic Hecht and Katy Foster Barners are in their final week at the Mill at Sonning theatre doing an Ayckbourn called If I Were You. Following which, Katy will be filming in august for a new crime drama called Vera starring Brenda Blethin.

Martin Parr has been touring the USA with Romeo and Juliet and is now at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester doing The Grapes of Wrath

Link to short film on Mark Ware winning Life After Stroke Award

Here's the link to see the short piece made on Mark following his Life After Stroke Award victory last month!

http://www.stroke.org.uk/campaigns/life_after_stroke_awards/2010_winners/adult_courage_award.html

Fantastic Swim by Dan Crowder in aid of InterAct!

Dan Crowder completed his sponsored swim raising money for InterAct in a time of 33 minutes - 34.23 is his official time but he had to be treated for cramp when he finished so he's quite rightly knocking a minute off!! Dan also said the following.

It was a fantastic day and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes to swim.
My final total looks like £650 although a few more people have said they'll visit the justgiving page and donate. I'm really pleased with the amount. I'd be very interested to know how the money has helped as I understand you have to raise a small fortune every year to keep going. Well I had such a great time I'm sure I'll be doing some more in the future so I'll keep you posted as I think It's a smashing way to raise money for InterAct.



Thank you Dan for your wonderful effort and brilliant spirit of generosity to InterAct!

Three Monkeys project at Whittington Hospital

The Three Monkeys project performed at Whittington Hospital on Friday 2nd July. The project is a joint venture between InterAct and the Manor Gardens Heart and Stroke Project and is composed of 3 parts. The 1st part is the 12 minute play It Couldn't Happen to Me a two hander exploring the consequences of stroke on a couple. The 2nd part is a 12-15 minute piece devised by InterAct actors Christine Collins, Eleanor Caird in conjunction with stroke survivor Sally from Manor Gardens Stroke Club, and Josephine Robespierre, a carer who has been working at Manor Gardens. The final part is a Q n A with the audience.

The Whittington audience consisted of pharmacists, occupational and speech therapists. Some of the feedback included the following comments.

"Makes me think about my own practice in relation to stroke"
"Good to highlight the plight of carers"
"Would be very useful for nursing staff and care staff on the ward, and social services staff eg social workers, to improve their understanding of life on the other side".

Bringing joy as best we can.

2 years ago Eva Haddon did a talk about the work Interact was doing at the church where Harry (Eva's husband) is music director. On that occasion Harry was asked to which charity he would like the evening's collection donated, so Interact was chosen. Eva has just heard that recently a lady who had been there that evening remembered and contacted Interact after a dear friend of hers suffered a stroke, and since the service was not provided at the hospital where her friend was a patient, she asked if someone could possibly go in to read. All credit to Interact, this was done, and the patient was overwhelmed with gratitude.

Mark Ware wins Life after Stroke Award 2010

Patron Mark Ware won the 2010 Life after Stroke Courage Award after being nominated by InterAct Reading Service. The award was presented by actor Rupert Graves whose father died of a stroke. The awards ceremony was held at Claridges, and Mark's wife Sarah, along with Nirjay Mahindru from InterAct were present to celebrate with him.

Daniel Crowder InterAct Fundraiser!

We're really happy to announce that Daniel Crowder has kindly chosen to raise funds for InterAct by entering the British Gas Open Swim.

The event takes place on Saturday 3rd July in Victoria dock, London.

If you would like to sponsor Daniel, just go to his Just Giving page here:

http://www.justgiving.com/dancrowder

Follow us on Twitter!

Hi everyone, we have just updated our Twitter page and will be regularly tweeting and posting stories of interest. If you would like to follow us, go here: http://twitter.com/InterActReading

New Roller Banners and DL posters

As part of our update, we're getting rid of our old RollerBanners and replacing them with new ones, which hopefully will arrive tomorrow. We're also updating our DL leaflets which Julien uses when fundraising. On that issue, finally sent off the CityBridge application for 3 hospitals today, so fingers crossed!

At last a new Printer!!

Our thanks to the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent fund for a dontation to help us buy a brand new printer! The old one was becoming creaky and cantankerous!

Article in the Mail on Sunday

For those that didn't see the wonderful article written by actress/journalist Lisa Dwan in the Mail on Sunday, here's the link.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1249026/Why-proudest-acting-role-reading-stroke-patients-LISA-DWAN.html

InterAct makes people happy!

The charity got into the Independent on Sunday's Top 100 Happy List 2010, recognising that the work we do improves mood by alleviating depression! Here's the link to the paper.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-iiosi-happy-list-2010--the-100-1953745.html

What some of our actors are up to at the Moment

Sasha Wadell: In the Mousetrap from January – November 2010
Victoria Moseley: soon to be playing Olivia in Twelfth Night at the Tricycle. It's a Filter Theatre/ RSC co-production directed by Sean Holmes and runs from May 4th-29th.
Graham Seed: plays Nigel Pargetter in THE ARCHERS, is currently on a national tour playing Osborne in JOURNEY'S END until mid May. Has a cameo in a movie about to be released - WILD TARGET.
Heather Rayment and Kate Dyson are appearing in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Grand Hotel in Brighton in May. The show includes afternoon tea for all the guests and is set in the splendour of the Grand Hotel.
Ashley Cook: doing THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and A DOLL'S HOUSE at Lincoln Theatre Royal starting at the end of May.
Daniel Weyman: Leading The Comedy of Errors at Regents Park Theatre this summer with Chris Ravenscroft coincidently. Also has a movie called Just Ines which is about to launch at festivals and has just finished filming Day of the Flowers in Cuba - another movie. On the audio side, I've just had The Last 10 Seconds published as an audiobook (by Simon Kernick) - quite gruesome story not for the fainthearted!
Diana Marchment: currently appearing in "Wife After Death " .. a new comedy by eric Chappell which stars Tom Conti . we are touring at the moment .. a possible West End transfer is on the cards
- Emma Cunniffe is at Regents Park Theatre playing Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible.
- John Hywel: the first play he’s written, called 'Pieces', is being produced by Theatre Clwyd from 22nd April to May 15th. Is also currently rehearsing 'Salome' by Oscar Wilde for Headlong Theatre.
Penny Rawlins: going up to Edinburgh to play at the Pleasance in a play called The Cage - a psychological thriller written by Dugald Bruce-Lockhart. Playing at the Yvonne Arnaud's Mill Studio July 30th & 31st and then at the Pleasance in Edinburgh for August.
Juliet Prew: has a spot on Reggie Perrin coming up. Also playing a character called Kylie Brennan in a radio adaptation of "Secrets One the Series" for Toon Ice (an American media/publishing co) who are producing an "old time radio show", and plays the lead in a short film called "The Child" that is being entered into all the film festivals.
- Oliver Senton: Currently appearing in The Count of Monte Cristo at The West Yorkshire Playhouse til May 15th. Once back in London he'll be back in Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, currently in Hong Kong and then touring the UK, Ireland and Edinburgh; plays 5 Sundays on the South Bank from May 16th!
Josette Simon: Has studied and passed the exams for British Sign Language for the Deaf and does a number of things voluntarily within the Deaf Community. Is working with The Kaos Choir for Deaf and Hearing Children as Co-Conductor (or Signductor,to give it its proper name) of the Choir by its founders Suzy Davies and Alison Wood. On Sunday May 9th at 4.30pm, the choir will be at the Royal Festival Hall, where they will be performing 7 songs as part of the Royal Festival Hall’s celebration of extraordinary voices. It will be in the Clore Ballroom and is free admission. Also has upcoming television appearances are ‘Father and Son’ with Dougray Scott and Stephen Rea and ‘The Silence’ with Hugh Bonneville,Gina McKee,Douglas Henshall and Dervla Kirwan.

Green Sea Day at InterAct

Our green sea day (InterAct's Blue sky day) was very productive.
We looked at various options regarding possible expansion, and we decided that, at this point in time, we shall continue to go to areas that have a large pool of professional actors to delivar the service. We are looking at Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff, Belfast. Other areas include:
Newcastle, Liverpool, Swansea, Edinburgh, Exeter, Southampton. We are looking to expand to 25 hospitals over a 4 year period if possible, and of course, this is predicated on a sound economy.
We also want to explore Hospital Radio, develop a leaving CD for readers, delivar Active Voices 2, and explore stroke and social isolation.
We feel our print needs a slight amendment and updating rather than wholesale overhaul and we've had a meeting with the Gallery partnership to investigate the website moving over to CMS rather than Contribute.

Patron Mark Ware wins Life after Stroke award

Our super patron Mark Ware has won the Life after Stroke Awards after having been nominated by InterAct Reading Service. He and 2 guests will be going to Claridges on June 15th for the formal dinner and ceremony. Mark is an extremely talented multi media artist that created the amazing film THE DOG THAT BARKED LIKE A BIRD, a film which explores stroke, and how one is perceived following a stroke. Mark has kindly allowed InterAct to use the film as a training tool for new actors.

Sad loss of Peter Cheeseman

Peter Cheeseman, former Artistic Director of the New Vic, Newcastle Under Lyme died on Tuesday 27th April. Both Caroline Smith (founder of InterAct) and Nirjay Mahindru, worked extensively with Peter, and he was an inspirational and completely original figure in the world of British Theatre. He will be sorely missed.

Ruth Rendell Short Story Competition Awards Lunch

Baroness Ruth Rendell judged InterAct's Short Story competition, now renamed as the Ruth Rendell Short Story Competition. The winner this year was Vicky Paine for her piece FLAMES. Highly commended runners up this year were Deborah Mulhearn for her piece DIAMONDS and John Clark for his piece SUPERGRASS.
Once again, our awards lunch was held at the October Gallery Bloomsbury. For a brief film on the event, captured on our new flipcam, here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQj-DI3OrpI

Sad Demise of Whittington Stroke Ward

We did our final reading at the Whittington Hospital recently. Having read there for over 8 years it was sad to say goodbye to a great team at the hospital. Hopefully, we shall be moving onwards and upwards to Homerton Hospital in the near future! Our last reading at the Whittington was on Tuesday 30th March and members of the team went along to a local pub for a goodbye drink. We all thanked Christine Collins for being such a brilliant Admin leader for the Whittington, and Rose Sawkins, on behalf of the team, gave her a few parting presents including a one years subscription to the Renoir Cinema!! The whole team have always been fantastic and InterAct thanks them all for being such wonderful readers!

1st Ever Blog for InterAct

This is my first attempt at a blog for InterAct Reading Service. Today, Wednesday 21st April 2010 we heard that we've been selected to be in the Independent Newspaper on Sunday, as an organisation that is one of the top 100 to make people happy.

Sarah and I have been busy sorting out details for the Short Story Competition on Monday 26th, and we've just invested in a new flip cam which will hopefully allow us to record and upload video onto the website!