From Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to The Marriage of Figaro: dementia-friendly performances in Edinburgh

The Purpose

The objective was to establish an inclusive and supportive theatre program that would encourage the attendance of audiences living with dementia.

The Challenge

In 2015, the staff at the King’s and Festival Theatres in Edinburgh noticed that individuals who had been enthusiastic theatregoers for many years had stopped attending events and shows. Upon reaching out to these individuals to understand the reasons, they discovered that one person had been diagnosed with dementia and no longer felt confident enough to attend shows.

The project’s leaders aim to foster a cultural shift within the wider Scottish performing arts sector, ensuring that all arts venues have the confidence to integrate dementia-friendly practices into their work.

The Solution

Capital Theatres, the trust responsible for managing these theatres, including the Studio Theatre, explored how the organisation could facilitate people living with dementia to enjoy shows and remain active and valued members of the theatre community.

The Dementia-Friendly Communities Project, previously known as the Forget Me Not program, aimed to create a more accommodating theatre environment for audiences living with dementia. The initiative commenced with an audit of the Festival and Studio Theatres, leading to improvements in lighting and signage for way-finding. Dementia-friendly design principles were also applied to any future alterations planned by the theatres. A focus group comprised of people living with or affected by dementia acted as consultants during these modifications. An “assets-based” approach was adopted, focusing on what the dementia community could contribute to the theatre, rather than solely addressing problems and needs.

Another significant aspect of the project involved programming dementia-friendly events and performances. This included the first dementia-friendly performance of a major touring musical in Scotland, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the UK’s first dementia-friendly opera, The Marriage of Figaro, produced by Scottish Opera. The Studio Theatre hosted the world premiere of Curious Shoes, a bespoke theatre piece developed by artist Magdalena Schamberger in consultation with people living with dementia. The project also collaborated with artists, dancers, theatre makers and storytellers, some living with dementia, to provide a creative outlet for people with dementia.

Three books documenting this part of the project’s work have been published: An Audience With…, Vivid Rebellion, and Beyond Memory: Storytelling and Singing.

The Impact

This project stands out in Edinburgh and Scotland due to the scale and breadth of its work. Supported by the Capital Theatre Trust, it aspires to become a leader in dementia-friendly practices within the Scottish arts industry. All Capital Theatres’ staff will undergo Dementia Friends training, with frontline staff receiving additional training in communication skills.

From 2018 to 2021, the primary objective was to engage with people living with dementia who face additional challenges in engaging with the performing arts. This included individuals with younger onset dementia, LGBTQ+ and BAME communities, disabled communities living with dementia, and people with dementia in deprived areas.

On a broader scale, the project’s leaders aim to foster a cultural shift within the wider Scottish performing arts sector, ensuring that all arts venues have the confidence to integrate dementia-friendly practices into their work.

Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022

Images Courtesy © City of Edinburgh