The last mermaid was created and produced for a traditional audience, but it is only 40 minutes long, making it small in size. The music was composed by Lambert, with lyrics by Norman Welch, under the direction of Jenny Weston. The dementia-friendly aspects of performance we focused on were safety and comfort. We reassured audiences that it was okay to make noise or move around, that quiet spaces were available outside the theater for those who needed them and that refreshments were provided. Our reception staff are experienced in engaging with people living with dementia and have been selected from volunteers on the MSc in Dementia Studies offered by the University of West London.
Before the show, Lambert, alongside the director and two singers, a soprano (Louise Fuller) and a mezzo-soprano (Arlene Belli), led a workshop. It provided context to the history and events of the opera, and also gave the audience the opportunity to try their hand at singing and the musicians to explain their roles.
The opera was performed in the round and, once the music started, bold images from the story were projected onto a screen behind the performers. When the powerful singing began, the audience was enraptured, mesmerized by the performance, with no one moving from their seats from start to finish. “It takes you away, it takes you somewhere,” said Maria, attending the show alongside her partner Roy. “It’s very hard to (live) with someone with dementia, and when you hear the music it’s incredible, you suddenly feel alive.” Another audience member said: “Coming here today has been so nice, because the music revives your brain and gives a rush of new energy,” while another added: “I’m so impressed. The more, the merrier.
Our takeaway is that this is an audience that can laugh, sing and smile as new memories are made for them and their loved ones, and that there needs to be more opportunities for them to do so. Our next step at the Geller Institute of Aging and Memory is to produce a plan so that dementia-friendly opera, or anything dementia-friendly, can be performed anywhere. We hope this will inspire and encourage other artists and productions to make their performances dementia-friendly, whether by opening rehearsals, traveling to underserved locations, or hosting events like ours. There is an impatient audience waiting for exciting musical performances and with it the vital opportunity to
destigmatize dementia.
Dr Andy Northcott is a senior lecturer in the sociology of medicine at the Geller Institute of Aging and Memory (GIAM) at the University of West London. Claire Jackson is a writer and editor.
Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share on this subject? We want to hear from you. Contact us and tell us more.
This article is taken from The Big Issue magazine published this week. Support your local supplier by purchasing today! If you can’t reach your local supplieryou can always click HERE to subscribe to The Big Issue today or give a gift subscription to a friend or family member. You can also purchase unique numbers from The Big Problems Shop or The Big Issue app, available now on the App store Or Google game
