Rethinking Dementia through Theatre and Drama

Dementia, of which the most common form is Alzheimer's disease, has moved increasingly to centre stage in public discourse. It increasingly features in narratives of literature, film, and theatre. The relative novelty of this prominence is accompanied by a range of perceptions, often unduly negative. This workshop aims to guide theatre and arts practitioners in how to unlock the multiple narratives of dementia, and to find means of empowering those living with dementia to find expression of their creativity, experiences, and relationships.

The intended participation of this event is among theatre practitioners, leaders in arts and health activities, clinicians and researchers involved in dementia and related neurological conditions.

The featured invited guest is Maureen Towey. As an ensemble member with Sojourn Theatre, Towey directs radical community-based arts events. She directed Finding Penelope , a site-specific play written by Anne Basting and featuring a chorus of older adults. The project inspired a documentary, The Penelope Project, which played nationwide on PBS. The project also grew into a book, co-edited by Towey, entitled The Penelope Project: An Arts-Based Odyssey to Change Elder Care. Her full bio is here.

Coffee from 9:00 AM / Workshop begins at 9:30 AM

Lunch 12:00 - 12:50 (included)

Finish by 4 PM

This initiative is co-organised by the Medical and Health Humanities research group at the Trinity Long Room Hub and the Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund for the Neurohumanities.