Discovering Dementia

19/07/2025

✨ We wish the best of luck to the cast and company of INDIGO for their final performances today at Curve! 🎨

There's still time to see this brand-new musical that audiences are describing as "A must see" and "different, clever, moving, colourful, brilliant night out".

Today's performances -
🕝 2.30pm (Audio Described)
🕝 7.45pm

🎫Book tickets 👉 https://bit.ly/4m1zinV
📸: Manuel Harlan

18/07/2025

Kindly invited by CURVE theatre, Leicester, I went to see a dementia friendly performance of a new musical with real heart, Indigo. I was joined by three Trustees from Dementia Sings Out to discover how a theatre experience can be adapted to ensure audience members living with dementia feel comfortable throughout.

The show itself follows three generations of women, including one character living with Alzheimer’s, and how they come together after a long time apart.

When her mother, Elaine, is diagnosed with dementia, Beverley and her husband Rick open their home to care for her. While adjusting to their new circumstances, Beverley’s daughter, Emma, a non-speaking autistic teenager with synaesthesia, unexpectedly comes back into her life.

The story is told so creatively and sensitively, with strong musical numbers and a multilayered set that really leans in to the idea of the intense spectrum of colour experienced by Emma.

Brilliantly performed, it gives a real glimpse into the world of Alzheimer’s too, highlighting some of the difficulties in adjusting to a new diagnosis and the symptoms experienced, all very familiar to me. But it also shows that there are still many things to be enjoyed.

Thanks to Lisa, Izzy and the team for putting in place the adaptions to tailor the performance and to help make it dementia friendly, including adjustments to lighting and sound, clear signage and allowing the audience to move freely through the performance. A full pack of information was available beforehand full of useful details about what to expect and the help on offer.

14/07/2025

There’s a dementia friendly performance of this on Thursday 17 July at 230pm. Tickets available. Ask me for more information or go to https://tinyurl.com/3xte6dyd CURVE theatre, Leicester

Still not bought your tickets for the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ new musical INDIGO?

There's just one week left to come and see this show audiences are calling "absolutely incredible", "AMAZING doesn't quite cut it" and "one of the most beautiful, engaging productions I have seen in years".

What are you waiting for?

📅 Must end Sat 19 Jul
🎟️ https://bit.ly/4nCRCFG

02/07/2025

Invited to be a guest on Dementia UK’s podcast ‘My life with dementia’ to highlight some of the issues faced when caring for someone living with . This is the first time I’ve felt able to share publicly a little more about what life has been like for Mum and I in recent times. There are so many others going through the same thing and, although every experience is unique, the emotions of guilt and grief for carers seem to come up a lot.

There is a companion podcast to this one, with Admiral nurses Vic and Hilda talking through some of the themes around the interview. They discuss when is the right time to find a care home and what you should consider when looking. You’ll find it right next to this one on your podcast feed.

Do listen and share with anyone you think might benefit
https://pod.fo/e/2eea8b

The specialist Admiral Nurses can offer support to anyone affected by and are there for the whole family. You can contact the helpline by calling 0800 888 6678 or emailing [email protected]

You can also book a virtual appointment with a nurse at a time that suits you www.dementiauk.org

11/06/2025

A lovely reminder of winning Gold at British Podcast Awards and now in the Hall of Fame 💛🙏

23/05/2025

New series of Dementia UK’s podcast My Life With Dementia is out now

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/my-life-with-dementia-a-dementia-uk-podcast/id1767430075

17/05/2025

We are delighted to be attending the Dementia Open Day next week as part of Dementia Action Week.

The event is full of information and support on local services to support those living with dementia and their carers and families.

We’d love to see you and share what happens at our sessions and how it supports so many people sharing joy, music and friendship every week 🫶

02/05/2025

02/05/2025

25/04/2025

Very much enjoyed meeting residents, visitors and staff at Brampton View Care Home. Thank you for having me!

31/03/2025

A very emotional watch for me. Happy memories of growing up with a wonderful mum, who then became an equally wonderful Grannie. Thanks to Dementia UK for putting this film together so sensitively 💛