Newcastle colleagues using art to change thinking

Dr Tash Fothergill-Misbah and Dr Alastair Cole from Newcastle University have teamed up with Dr Mary Bitta from Aga Khan University. Their project – A Canvas for Change – aims to develop and understand how participatory theatre and film interventions can transform community perceptions and healthcare engagement.

Tackling stigma through shared approaches

In Kilifi, coastal Kenya, neurological conditions are frequently misunderstood, leading to severe social isolation, discrimination, and delayed access to biomedical care. Symptoms are sometimes attributed to supernatural causes or spiritual possession.

Dr Tash Fothergill-Misbah is a Senior Research Associate at Newcastle University working in the field of Global Public Health. She comments:

"Against a backdrop of demographic changes and evolving community structures, traditional public health messaging often falls short in addressing these deeply rooted cultural beliefs. Information alone is rarely enough to change behaviour when that behaviour is tied to complex social frameworks."

Recognising that facts alone do not always change attitudes, the research team has focused on creating opportunities for communities to engage with lived experiences through storytelling, dialogue and performance. By placing local voices at the centre of the project, they hope to foster understanding and create more inclusive environments for people living with neurological conditions.

Bringing art into public health

Working with Kenyan creative organisation Jukwaa Arts and people with lived experience of Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, the team co-produced two theatre scripts based on participants' experiences of stigma, healthcare and everyday life. The scripts were developed through a series of workshops and refined through ongoing participant feedback.

Dr Alastair Cole, Reader in Film Practice and documentary filmmaker at Newcastle University added:

"We worked very closely with the Kenyan creative team and members of the community in Kilifi to co-produce the scripts. The experiences of stigma surrounding both neurological conditions were shared across a series of workshops, and the script continued to be developed through script sharing and participant feedback, which shaped the final scripts. The works emerged from this co-production process in early 2026 before being interpreted and rehearsed for the stage."

The resulting productions were performed to over 300 community health staff and volunteers at community venues across Kilifi, before being adapted and filmed for screen, extending the reach of the project beyond live audiences.

From stage to screen

The filmed performances now form the basis of the public awareness campaign Vunja Unyanyapaa (Break the Stigma), which uses film, health information and community dialogue to challenge misconceptions surrounding neurological conditions.

Now available online, the campaign places lived experience at its centre, using drama and storytelling to encourage conversations about conditions that are often misunderstood. Key campaign messages emphasise that epilepsy and Parkinson's disease are treatable medical conditions, not curses or punishment, and that people living with them deserve dignity, inclusion and support.

Alongside this, the team have recently finished a documentary film called Zaidi Ya Imani (Beyond Beliefs), that follows the project’s journey and which will be launched at the International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam (IDFA) in November 2026.

Research with real-world impact

Beyond raising awareness, the project is helping inform wider conversations about neurological healthcare in Kenya. Earlier this year, researchers from Newcastle University, Aga Khan University, policymakers and community stakeholders worked together to help develop a national partnership roadmap aimed at reducing stigma surrounding neurological conditions. The roadmap is undergoing ratification by the Ministry of Health in Kenya.

For the Newcastle team, the project demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration can help address complex global health challenges. By combining academic research with theatre, film and community participation, A Canvas for Change is showing how creative methods can help challenge harmful narratives, amplify lived experience and encourage more inclusive approaches to healthcare.