101360/Z/13/Z: Recovery: A Sonic Brain Injury Drama of Being Disassembled, and Reassembled, Slightly Askew

Project Summary:Recovery' is an audio-based artwork about my experience of nearly dying from a subdural empyema, a rare brain infection that has a one-in-a-million chance of occurring. Part sound-installation, part drama, part visceral-roller-coaster-ride, it immerses the audience in my process of reintegrating into the world with an acquired brain injury, of being disassembled, and reassembled, slightly askew. It will be developed with experts in Neurology from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast (Roy M cConnell, Consultant Neurosurgeon; Wendy Spence, Consultant Neuropsychologist; Colin Williamson, Head Injury Liaison Nurse), and artists in the Sonic Arts Research Centre (Queens University, Belfast). Both are global centres of excellence. Audience members experience 'Recovery' one at a time, accompanied by a nurse who leads the individual to a hospital bed where they lay down, put on an eye-mask and headphones, and listen. 'Recovery' integrates sonic arts technology, dramatic narrative, movement and sound to get inside the head of a person's experience of brain trauma. It is a story of terror, discovery, humor, but above all, hope. By immersing each individual audience member in this intimate and visceral way, 'Recovery' can powerfully engage members of the general public, including health and social care professionals, families and survivors of brain trauma, doctors, neurosurgeons, psychologists, public policy makers, scientists, academics, and artists to create empathy, stimulate interest and discussion, and encourage new ways of thinking about neurology and brain trauma.

Grant Holder:Mrs Shannon Sickels

Organisation:0

Financial Year:2012/2013