Paul Mayhew-Archer, writer of the film Onwards and Sideways, has been living with Parkinson’s disease since 2011. Diagnosed in his late 50s, Mayhew-Archer has found ways to cope with the condition by looking for humour in everyday situations. His film, starring Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney, tells the story of two people diagnosed with Parkinson’s on the same day and their journey to find humour and resilience in the face of adversity.
Mayhew-Archer believes that Parkinson’s is often misunderstood, with many people thinking that a tremor is a primary symptom. However, he notes that only 30% of people with Parkinson’s experience a tremor. The condition has 46 symptoms, and people are affected in different ways. Mayhew-Archer hopes that his film can raise awareness about the various aspects of Parkinson’s and encourage people to understand the disease better.
The film Onwards and Sideways follows the story of Tony and Emma, two people with Parkinson’s who meet and form a connection. Mayhew-Archer, who also has a role in the film, says that it is about human resilience and finding humour and possibilities despite having Parkinson’s. He believes that people do extraordinary things to combat illness and hopes to encourage viewers to understand the disease and its various manifestations.
When Mayhew-Archer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he was told he could expect five good years. However, he has now had 15 years living with the condition. He says that he has been fortunate and that his experience has been different from what he was told to expect. Mayhew-Archer’s positive attitude towards Parkinson’s is reflected in his writing and his approach to life.
Mayhew-Archer’s approach to coping with Parkinson’s is to find ways to combat it through humour and creativity. He believes that people with Parkinson’s should not give up and should continue to engage with society. The writer says that Parkinson’s will try to cut people off and take away their forms of communication, but he encourages those affected to keep going out and staying connected.
The film Onwards and Sideways is released in cinemas from November 6 and will be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC One later in the year. Mayhew-Archer is grateful for the experience of making the film and hopes that it will raise awareness about Parkinson’s and encourage people to understand the condition better.
Mayhew-Archer’s experience of making the film has been sustaining him during difficult times. He says that memories of the filmmaking experience have been helping him cope with the challenges of living with Parkinson’s. The writer is determined to remain positive and encourages others with the condition to do the same.
Key points
- Paul Mayhew-Archer finds humour in everyday situations to cope with Parkinson’s.
- The film Onwards and Sideways aims to raise awareness about Parkinson’s and its various manifestations.
- Mayhew-Archer encourages people with Parkinson’s to stay connected and engaged with society.
