IntroducingArmchair Adventures
Armchair Adventures is a podcast and activity pack that takes you on a journey of the imagination. Each adventure is inspired by people’s experience, knowledge and passions and expressed through drama, music, movement and song.
We believe your imagination can set you free. We also believe that creativity can help improve wellbeing – helping people stay happy and healthy. It is our mission to build connections between generations, and through Armchair Adventures help people listen to, make and perform original musical theatre and share it with children.
Armchair Adventures is for children, teachers, imaginative older people, carers and activity co-ordinators. It has been created during lockdown, in collaboration with our over 55s theatre group, Hearts & Minds.
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listens to our Armchair Adventures podcast so far!
Armchair Adventures
The Podcast
15-year-old Connie lives with her mum and dad in a flat above their family run travel agents in Ashton. As a result of Covid-19, the business was in MAJOR trouble and on the brink of going bust, but when Connie reached out to their ‘lovely customers’, together they came up with an alternative approach to a traditional vacation…
Join Connie and her lovely customers as they take you on a series of Armchair Adventures. You’ll visit magical places, meet extraordinary people and understand the world a little better as you embark on a journey of the imagination.
Before you listen can you help us by filling in this very short survey? It helps us with funding our work and sharing it with communities…
We’re back!!
Series 2 of Armchair Adventures is back for Autumn 2021
Episode 2 (Series 2 )
Join Connie & the gang for an under the sea adventure!
“Don’t forget your flippers!”
It’s Connie’s turn to choose the adventure this time and she just wants to get away from it all! So the gang suggest a trip to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef!
Remember your swimming costume for this adventure, as you deep dive under the waves to learn all about coral reefs and how they’re being regenerated. You’ll swim along with jellyfish, glide with stingrays and dodge sharks!
But will Connie feel better after her underwater adventure with you? You’ll have to listen to find out!
Episode 1 (Series 2)
“We have to sing together in one voice before real change can happen.”
You’re on a quest to find the true meaning of equality in the first Adventure of Series 2! You zip back in time with Connie and the explorers to visit a bunch of awesome humans who stood up for people’s rights. Like Dr Martin Luther King Jnr, Nelson Madela and ladies from the 1961 space race.
You’re also joined by Britain’s Got Talent finalists, the B-Positive Choir and brilliant songwriters from the African and Caribbean community – wowsers!
Will Connie believe that she can make a difference? You’ll have to listen to find out!
View Armchair Adventure Series 1 podcasts here
Bonus Episode 1
While we’re busy creating the next series of Armchair Adventures, we thought we’d release some bonus episodes for you to enjoy over the summer!
First up, we’re rewinding back to the start, to Linda’s Treetop Adventure in episode 1. If you remember, while exploring the world from up high, we meet a beautiful bird. This was represented by the flute and in this bonus episode we meet the wonderful musician behind it – Amina!
“The music in Armchair Adventures is so important. It really helps set your imagination free!”
You’ll learn how Amina became a professional musician, how she made the music to represent the bird and some top tips for any young musicians out there!
Bonus Episode 2
For this episode, we’ve revisited Jean’s Artistic Adventure, where we also launched our drawing competition!
The episode featured a wonderful seaside landscape, until Connie and the gang got into some tricky waters! The clarinet represented the sound of the Jean and the rest of the customers drawing their adventure, played by the wonderful Hannah!
In this bonus episode, you’ll learn a bit more about the clarinet, how to play it, and how Hannah made the music for this Armchair Adventure.
Episode 8
Join Connie & her armed forces veterans gang on an Adventure to royal garden party with the Queen!
“…up ahead is Buckingham Palace”
With a bunch of armed forces veterans, Connie takes you on an adventure through air, land and sea to try and make it to a royal garden party! But the gang haven’t got tickets – can they sneak in? Will the Queen find out?
Episode 7
Connie isn’t thrilled that one of her explorers Ronny wants to visit a football match. How BORING! But after a few chants and a pep talk, it all ends in a trip to one of the most famous football stadiums in the world! Join Ronny and his favourite club Ashton United on an Armchair Adventure to Wembley!
Episode 6
Go on a music festival adventure with Connie and the gang.
“This is amazing! I can’t wait to see it all!”
If we said live music, food trucks, flower headbands and face paints what’s the first thing you’d think of? That’s right, in this episode you’re going to a music festival with Connie and the gang on a music-filled Armchair Adventure!
Episode 5
Connie loves the thought of appearing on stage, her name in lights, dancing and singing to loads of adoring fans. So in this episode, after dreaming of Broadway, the West End, Paris, and Las Vegas, Connie whisks you and her fellow explorers away on a journey you’ll never forget to A Showbiz Wonderland. It’s a magical place where everyone can be the star of the show, including you!
Episode 4
Jean tells us all about her favourite hobby – drawing! She really misses her whole family, but lockdown has helped her reignite her passion for art. But when Jean suggests that the next adventure should be drawing themed, Connie is a little sceptical. She’s a little worried because she’s not the best artist, but being the good sport she is, she agrees to give it a try.
Episode 3
It’s a new year and Carla’s after a change of scenery. She’s always fancied seeing the beautiful northern lights. So she turns to Connie and her gang to help her to float away on an adventure of the imagination!
Join Carla, Connie and her lovely customers on a bubble-filled Armchair Adventure to one of the world’s most stunning wonders. Just be careful not to pop your bubble!
Episode 2
Lynda (with a y!) is a caregiver and has been helping older people during lockdown. Connie reckons she’s a hero, but Lynda isn’t convinced. So Connie takes Lynda and the rest of her lovely customers on an Armchair Adventure to an underground superhero hideout to find out what really being a hero is all about.
Episode 1
Linda loves walking and exploring the great outdoors. However, due to lockdown restrictions and shielding her husband Linda’s not been able to get out as much recently. Join Linda as she takes Connie and her ‘lovely customers’ on an Armchair Adventure to magical treetop walk.
Trailer
15-year-old Connie lives with her mum and dad in a flat above their family run travel agents in Ashton. As a result of Covid-19, the business was in MAJOR trouble and on the brink of going bust, but when Connie reached out to their ‘amazing customers’, together they came up with an alternative approach to a traditional vacation…
“We were supposed to be in Benidorm, but we ended up taking everyone on a safari in Africa!”
Carlain her 70s, community arts volunteer 
"For our 50th wedding anniversary, we took a cruise in a barrel over the niagara falls!”
Johnin his 80s, carer for his disabled son
“It sets our imaginations wild and free!”
Lilyin her 70s, living with dementia
“I just couldn’t help singing along!”
Cyrilin his 70s, loves a good sing-song!
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Armchair Adventures
The Activity Pack
This activity pack combines written and audio instructions that guide you through a step-by-step process to create your own Armchair Adventure. It is for imaginative older people, carers and activity co-ordinators.
The activity pack includes drama, movement and music-making activities for you to enjoy and experiment with as you create your own Armchair Adventure. There is also a collection of professionally recorded music to assist and inspire you along the way.
Below you will find a preview of the activity pack and a FREE download link of the full document. The accompanying audio for the pack can be accessed for free by clicking the ‘Activity Pack Audio’ link below.
We are also able to offer training workshops on how to deliver the activities in the pack, for carers and activity co-ordinators who work with older people. These workshops can be delivered remotely using zoom, or in person adhering to social distancing guidelines. If you would like more information, please get in touch.
Made By Mortals are looking for partners to help resource and distribute physical copies of our activity pack for digitally excluded people. These physical copies come with CDs and/or personal MP3 players pre-loaded with all of the activity pack audio. For more information, please get in touch.
“Get your brain and pen going and it’ll just flow out of ya.”
Rosin her 70s, loves spending time with her grandkids
“You don’t know what you can do until you give it a go!”
Patin her 70s, line dancer
“It’s something fun to do together.”
Jean and Barryin their 70s, married for 31 years, always smiling
Have a bit of confidence in yourself, what’s the worst that can happen?!”
Ritain her 70s, loves dressing up
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Armchair Adventures
The Workshop
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Made By Mortals are committed to providing opportunities for older and younger people to share their creativity together. The workshop presents an opportunity for the people you work with to take part in an inter-generational music and drama workshop based on the themes in one of our Armchair Adventures podcast episodes.
During this 2 hour workshop, you and your group will work with an actor and/or musician and representatives from our over 55s group Hearts & Minds, as you act, move, sing and share your imaginations together!
The Armchair Adventures workshop is for schools, care homes and community groups who work with children and/or older people. We can deliver these workshops remotely (using zoom or other video conferring technology) and/or in person adhering to social distancing guidelines.
For more information please get in touch at: admin@madebymortals.org and to book a workshop, please get in touch at: admin@madebymortals.org
“I can’t think of a better way to teach empathy, understanding and community responsibility.”
Mr FellHeadteacher, Flowery Fields Primary School, Tameside
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Armchair Adventures
The Project
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Made By Mortals bring people’s experience to life. Inspired by the passions, knowledge and experience of the people you work with, Made By Mortals will bring their team of collaborators to help you create your very own Armchair Adventure podcast. Where will you take Connie and her ‘lovely customers’…?
Over the course of 10 weeks you will work with a professional actor, composer, theatre director, producer, orchestral musician and a community of older people. You will gain skills in creative writing, composing music and lyrics, acting, movement and singing. You will experiment, collaborate and have fun as you share your imagination!
The Armchair Adventures project is aimed at schools, care homes and community groups who work with children and/or older people. We can deliver this project remotely (using zoom or other video conferring technology) and/or in person adhering to social distancing guidelines.
For more information please get in touch at: admin@madebymortals.org
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Interested? Want to know more?
Say hello & get in touch