Getting Better Slowly, the inspiring true story of one man’s two-and-half-year journey to recovery after Guillain-Barré syndrome paralysed him, is to be streamed for charity this April.
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 his story of being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome and his two-and-half-year journey to recovery from being isolated in his own body.
From learning to walk and talk again to the painful months stuck at home, to the first time he managed to play football again, the show asked audiences how they might deal with an unexpected illness or accident, and now sheds light on a journey to the other side of isolation.
Getting Better Slowly toured extensively through Autumn 2016 and 2017, and was recorded at Lincoln Drill Hall. The show, which has already reached many recovered GBS suffers, was previously streamed in Spring 2017 to reach those who were currently undergoing treatment for the illness.
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 about illness and recovery.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare autoimmune condition affecting the peripheral nervous system, usually leading to temporary or long-term paralysis. Around 80% of those with GBS will make a good recovery, but between 5-10% of people will not survive and the other 10-15% may be left with severe mobility or dexterity issues. Chronic variants such as CIDP are similar but longer-lasting, requiring ongoing treatment.
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; before becoming Programme Co-ordinator at Derby Theatre, Artistic Director of Lincoln Drill Hall, and Programming Director at Hull Truck Theatre, where he is currently.
The show is free to view and welcoming donations for GAIN Charity, the official charity of the illness in the UK. GAIN helps people understand and manage acute and chronic variants of the syndrome, raises awareness, and promotes clinical and non-clinical research into these conditions.
When: 3rd April 2020 at 7pm
Where: Streaming on YouTube, sign up via www.facebook.com/GBSproject (Suitable for ages 11+)
£: Free but donations to GAIN most welcome
More info: www.facebook.com/GBSproject
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