Celebrating the power of play, the joy of communication and the positive force of friendship,
Stan (named after the T–Rex at Manchester Museum) is a powerful and poignant new
production, commissioned by Z–arts and developed by Art with Heart with the help of over 200
deaf and hearing primary school children from Greater Manchester.

The production positively demonstrates how we can overcome language barriers, and challenges preconceptions of deafness.

Sam (Ross Thompson) is a happy, dinosaur loving 8–year–old whose world turns upside down
after his parents separate. As he takes himself off to the far end of the school field, he meets
Alex (Alexandra James), a deaf girl with a vivid imagination – and an impressive collection of
dinosaurs. Alex is from a proud deaf family and despite being socially isolated at school, she is
strong, smart, sociable and imaginative. The pair form an unlikely friendship and when things at
home become too difficult for Sam, Alex whisks him away on an astonishing adventure to meet
the almighty Stan, the gigantic T–Rex at Manchester Museum.

Stan from Sarah Emmott (Secret Diaries, Declaration) is written and performed in English and
British Sign Language and embeds creative captions within the set. The play will be
accompanied by post–performance workshops, an education pack including a video of BSL signs
to help hearing and deaf children communicate, three Deaf Awareness training events and a
dinosaur object handling box with some fascinating objects from Manchester Museum’s
collections. The post–performance workshop will be BSL Interpreted and has been designed
with both deaf and hearing children in mind.

Sarah Emmott comments Growing up, my parents lived very separate lives (so) my imagination
was both my safe escape and my resource to help me understand myself, my feelings and our
family situation. I wanted to create a play that reflected how vital imaginative play is as a form
of communication, not only with others but with ourselves.

Z–arts commented Art with Heart have put children at the heart of the creation of Stan and
tackled tricky issues whilst creating positive representation and a super fun show for families to
enjoy. We are so excited to bring this show to Z–arts and for as many of our friends, families and
schools to see it as possible.

 Stan: Running time 50 minutes, followed by a 30 minute workshop

Box Office Tickets are available from individual theatre box office
See www.artwithheart.org.uk   for more information and performance venues and dates

Facebook @weareartwithheart
Twitter @artwith_heart
Instagram @weareartwithheart

Sam – Ross Thompson
Alex  – Alexandra James
Mum – Gemma Green

Writer Sarah Emmott
Director Jonathan McGrath
Movement Direction Deborah Pugh
Lighting and Sound Design Adam Steed and Alex Willy
Animation and Captions Triple Dot Makers
Set and Costume Design Irene Jade
BSL Consultant Raphaella Julien

 Tuesday 25th January – Saturday 12th February

Frustrated by the lack of interesting roles for mature women, Northeast actors Jaqueline Philips
and Judi Earl have collaborated with writers Gary Kitching and Steve Byron to bring Tree to
Alphabetti Theatre this January. The world premiere will explore what it really means to be
honest and to lie, to be lonely and alone, and to live and be alive.

This funny, heart–breaking production follows the chance meeting of Hazel and Rowan. Rowan is
a liar and a fantasist; she lives vicariously through the internet and flirts with dangerous
conspiracies. But when she meets Hazel who, conversely, is grounded, worldly and honest, she is
forced to confront the fragility of life and what it means to be human – can Rowan revaluate
how she lives her own life?

Determined to write roles for older women that avoided the classic tropes of mothers,
grandmothers and wives, Tree explores humanity in the post–truth era outside the gendered
lens. Directed by Rachel Glover, this series of cosy and uncomfortable conversations is
underscored by classic songs that deal with counterbalance like Joni Mitchel’s Both Sides Now
and Ethel Merman’s Everything is Coming Up Roses.

Gary Kitching comments, Tree started as a simple request from two fantastic actors from the
Northeast during the 2020 lockdowns. Sick of being asked to play mothers and grandmothers,
they asked Steve and I, having seen our previous collaboration Bacon Knees and Sausage Fingers,
if we would write for them. We quickly decided that we would. We hope that the piece brings to
life the complexity and nuances of our performers and well as of honesty, morality, and ‘being’ in
general.

The Worriers is a growing collective of artists brought together by Gary Kitching, Steve Byron &
Ali Pritchard. Previous award–winning shows include Bacon Knees and Sausage Fingers, Wilfred,
Walter, Floorboards, Sucking Eggs and Rocket Girl.

Tree:  Dates Tuesday 25th January – Saturday 12th February
Captioned Performance: Wednesday 2nd February
Audio Described Performance: Wednesday 9th February
Relaxed Performance: all Saturday Matinees

Location Alphabetti Theatre, St James’ Blvd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4HP

Box Office Booking essential. Tickets are Pay What You Feel and are available from
https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/tree

Facebook @AlphabettiTheatre
Instagram @alphabetti_theatre
Twitter @alphabetti

Running time 60 minutes   Notes 12+, discussion of mental health and sexual references.

Writers Gary Kitching and Steve Byron
Director Rachel Glover
Stage Manager Andrea Scrimshaw
Producers Esther Fearn
Matt Jamie
Ali Pritchard

Cast Judi Earl
Jacqueline Phillips

Last time I shared one of my all time favourite self-care rituals – meditating in the bath.

But self-care doesn’t always have to take a long time. Some of the best self-care tools are little techniques that you can turn to when you are triggered, stressed, overwhelmed. You discover them on your journey, play around with them & realize they work & you pop them in your self-care tool kit, knowing you can turn to them whenever you need them.

Having little tricks that you can pull out of your self-care tool kit when you need them is as important to creating a practice of self-care as taking time to meditate & do yoga, spend time in nature, garden, whatever it is that you like doing that is all about nurturing your mind, body & soul.

Self-care is also about having a tool kit, an arsenal of coping mechanisms. These are little tricks, techniques, conscious moments which help us to thrive even if times are stressful!

These little techniques are brilliant because when you notice that you’re triggered, stressed, anxious, overwhelmed you don’t have to disappear to meditate for 10 minutes or get on your yoga mat. Instead you can turn to these tips right when you need them. Perfect for when the festivities get a bit overwhelming & you need to reset.

Today I’m going to share 2 little breath techniques which really help to calm the mind, relieving stress, anxiety & overwhelm.

I have been using the longer exhalation for years.

The exhalation activates the vegas nerve which in turn stimulates the relaxation response, calming the mind. It’s a brilliant technique to know because you can use it anywhere.

Since our brain doesn’t know the difference between real & perceived threats it’s a really useful tool for dealing with the emotional & mental stress the holidays can sometimes present.

Simply breathe in smoothly for 3 & breathe out for 5. Keep doing this until you feel a shift. A smile, a sigh, a yawn are all good signs of a shift. Feeling lighter in the shoulders or more grounded are also a promising sign that there has been a subtle shift. These subtle shifts all mount up to create something quite profound.

The second technique I’d like to share with you is finding the pause.

We have a tiny pause between the in breath & the out breath & again between the out breath & the in breath.

With this breath technique we simply exaggerate this pause.

When we find the pause in our breath it helps us to find the pause in our life.

This is especially useful during the menopause when plummeting hormones mean we can be more susceptible to over-reacting.

But let’s face it festive commitments can also make us feel over-whelmed & more likely to over-react.

But it’s also important to find the pause when things are going well to acknowledge these magical moments, savour them, give thanks for them – no better time to start fining the pause than in the holidays!

If you would like to find out more self-care tips to thrive in the festivities check out Alex’s FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessyoga4selfcare

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/

Short yoga sequences including yoga for stress are available on her YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.