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About Brain Odysseys

Brain Odysseys is a journey on which voices are heard, obstacles are overcome and new friends are made.

Working with professional singers, dancers, song-writers and composers, participants are encouraged to share their stories, experiences and feelings through workshops and performances which may be shared with others.

Designed together

We co-design each regional performance project, local partnership is central to our approach. 

  • Our artists work directly with individuals living with the effects of stroke and brain injury, on wards and in workshop sessions to devise new work and place their voice at the heart of each performance. 
  • Partners in the community- local health services, the voluntary sector, social prescribers and arts organisations work with us to reach new audiences, enabling the group to perform and share their work in community settings and on hospital wards. 
  • Collaboration is at the core of our work and essential to support referrals. Together we aim to reach everyone who has been discharged from hospital following a brain injury or stroke, and offer them the opportunity and support to take part, ensuring everyonae has access to participate in a full creative life after a stroke or brain injury. 

Take a look at our Handbook for case studies of local co-design and delivery. 

One of the big problems for people who have had a stroke is that they may develop significant anxiety, particularly around the risk of developing further strokes as well as low self esteem and confidence. There are relatively few interventions that we have for people living with stroke to address some of the psychological complications that arise and it would seem to be that this is potentially an intervention that could potentially be developed and used widely at relatively low cost and potentially great benefit.

Tony Rudd CBE, Professor of Stroke Medicine, King’s College London, Consultant Stroke Physician GSTT NHS Foundation Trust, National Clinical Director for Stroke NHS England, London Stroke Clinical Director.

Our journey

Rosetta Life is a group of artists who work with those living with life-limiting illness to shape and share stories that matter through movement, song, image, film and writing.

Impact & evidence

A selection of Independent evaluation, articles and academic papers that measure and summarise the Odysseys program.

Film archive

A collection of films made with people living with stroke and brain injury, documenting the process of making performance work together.