A bitter-sweet play about living with the condition of dementia, is to take place at The Public in West Bromwich this June.
An Evening with Dementia
‘An Evening with Dementia’, a heart warming and touching production by ex-Royal Shakespeare Company actor, Trevor T. Smith, dares to deal in depth with an issue theatre often ignores.
Taking its audience on an illuminating and at times very funny adventure into the mind of an old actor who has been cut loose from society by a fading memory, the poignant play brings to life the rarely seen struggle the little understood condition bestows. As the nameless man sits, he tells the audience his secrets on how to avoid the true extent of his confusion being discovered, how he has fooled his social workers and his irritation at being constantly asked questions.
The causes of dementia remain a mystery. Science seeks a cure for it with research into its physicality, but Trevor T. Smith achieves in his play a different understanding to the heart-rending problem which affects almost a million people in the UK. Respected amongst the medical profession; doctors, nurses and carers have all applauded the award-winning show.
When it was reviewed in The British Medical Journal, Lawrence C. Kaplan. a consultant in neurodisabilities at Great Ormond Street Hospital wrote, “An Evening with Dementia is able to teach both clinicians and non-clinicians alike about dementia in ways I have rarely seen achieved in the classroom or in the clinical setting, let alone the professional theatre. More than a play, it is a powerful lesson. It enlightens, inspires, and most important, teaches what the individual with advanced dementia might want others to understand if he could be the teacher. Here is a theatrical production that takes on a compelling subject in a ways that are both informative and thoroughly entertaining at the same time.
The play will be followed by a short Q&A session.
Linda Saunders, Managing Director of The Public said, “An Evening with Dementia allows us to empathise with the constant problems of a condition that so many of us are touched by. After receiving rave reviews since debuting in 2010, the engaging and thought provoking play is filled with humour, yet also allows the audience to pause for thought and reflect.”
‘An Evening with Dementia’ takes place at The Public on Saturday 16 June at 7.45pm.
Tickets are £10 (£8 concession) and are available by calling 0121 533 7161 or visiting www.thepublic.com.
