Finding the Joy
A playful and dynamic webinar masterclass exploring how deep listening, genuine connections, playfulness and acceptance positively impact people living in late-stage dementia.
Rachael Savage, Artistic Director of Vamos Theatre (Arts Council England funded), is one of the UK’s leading experts in non-verbal communication and Arts in Health. Since 2014, over 183,000 people have experienced Rachael and Vamos Theatre’s performances and training. This engaging and entertaining webinar masterclass focuses on Rachael’s interactive performances and training created for care homes and gives an insight into her working methods, which emphasise listening deeply, making genuine connections and nurturing playful acceptance. Her ground-breaking work aims to bring a cultural shift to dementia care settings, particularly post-pandemic, and has been tried and tested through an 18-month Culture Change consultancy partnership. Rachael also shares some of her experiences as part of the UK Government's focus group on dementia and her wider work creating national and international touring theatre.
Finding the Joy is designed for anyone who would like to grow their skills of empathy, insight, listening and trust-building in dementia care, whether as a professional or in the home, including:
- Family and friends of people living with dementia
- Professional carers
- Care home managers and staff
- GPs and nurses
- Arts in Health professionals and college students
- Researchers in neuroscience, nursing and medicine
- Social prescribers
- UK universities
- Applied theatre students
- People with an interest in arts and health
Finding the Joy gives participants new understanding and tools to practice person-centred care, highlighting genuine, truthful connections.
***GROUP BOOKING OFFER*** - If you are booking 10+ tickets and would like to take advantage of our group booking rate ($16 per person) please email rhiannon@vamostheatre.co.uk
"Rachael’s workshop was the best I have ever taken anywhere in the world."
Geraldine Buckley, NOAHCON, USA
"You helped me (and other fortunate session participants) to “find the joy.” May you soon return to the U.S. to bring about more playful, profound, and much-needed transformation!"
Ermyn King - MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, USA
"I am totally in awe and inspired by the work you do and the messages and lessons we learn – everything is done so beautifully, so carefully and is full of energy and enthusiasm."
Helen Codd - Engagement Manager, Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group
About the presenter: After working nationally and internationally for fifteen years, Rachael Savage founded Vamos Theatre, the UK’s leading full mask theatre company, in 2006. As Artistic Director, her role varies from writer and director to key note speaker and Arts in Health consultant. Rachael trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, after which she performed with a range of major theatre companies in the UK and internationally. With Vamos Theatre, she has pioneered work with the education and health sectors, led residences in South Africa and China, been Mask Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company, led non-verbal communication training at London Business School, created Vamos Theatre's Culture Change Programme for carers of people living with dementia, and driven Vamos Theatre's artistic and strategic vision - leading to the company becoming a regularly funded by Arts Council England. Since creating Finding Joy in 2013, Vamos Theatre’s award-winning show about dementia, Rachael has continued to create connections with the health and social care sectors to promote the arts as a powerful tool for change. Rachael’s work in the field emphasizes non-verbal communication, empathy, listening, trust and truthful connections. In 2019, Rachael was invited to sit on the British Prime Minister's Focus Group for people living with dementia. In 2024, she was invited by King Charles to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Creative Industries in the UK, described by the King as bringing "happiness, prosperity and help[ing] to shape the world around us.”
If you have any questions please email info@vamostheatre.co.uk
