BERTIE BEAR'S BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

Bertie Bear's Birthday Surprise is an interactive blended workshop and performance piece designed for children between the ages of 6-11, across two sessions, and explores intergenerational relationships between grandparents and grandchildren as well as social and communication issues including Dementia and Alzheimer's.

Children get to meet the whole cast of Annie, Milo, Doodle, Bella and Bertie as they get to know Bertie Bear in the run up to his 70th birthday. Bertie tells the children stories of his young bearhood, and how he used to enjoy fishing and climbing before going off on an adventure. Participants are then introduce to Annie and Company who tell the children about Bertie's growing memory problems and encourage the children to help him remember.

Returning for another session, the children are met once again by Annie and Company in order to prepare for Bertie's birthday in which they prepare party games, a birthday cake and a present Bertie - drawing and creating memories for Bertie to remember, as well as learning more about why Bertie cannot remember. Finally, Bertie arrives seemingly to have forgotten it's his birthday before the children jump out in surprise and the whole ensemble enjoys a big birthday surprise together!

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Bertie Bear's Birthday Surprise is a sensitive and compassionate look at dementia with young people, encouraging patience and compassion as well as making connections with the older members of their family so that they can learn all about what the world was like when they were younger.