Plays Aloud brings dementia-friendly theatre to Derry care home
.jpeg?trim=26,0,28,0&crop=&width=640&quality=70&enable=upscale)
Creative initiative praised for sparking deep social connections and lasting happiness.
Residents and service users at Seven Oaks Day Centre and Care Home in Derry are being treated to an uplifting morning of music, storytelling and laughter as Plays Aloud is back on tour.
The performance at Seven Oaks, a Radius Housing day centre, marked one of the many stops on this year's tour, which will see the company visit 42 care homes, sheltered housing schemes and assisted living communities across Northern Ireland.
Created especially for older audiences Plays Aloud delivers interactive performances that celebrate memories, encourage participation and bring people together through singing, dancing and lots of craic.
Each performance is carefully designed to create meaningful moments of connection, with familiar songs, engaging storytelling and plenty of opportunities for audiences to join in.
Plays Aloud has been visiting Seven Oaks since 2017 and the reaction has always been overwhelmingly positive, with one attendee simply describing the performance as: "Wow, wow, wow!"
Benjamin Gould, Artistic Director of Commedia of Errors, said: "We're delighted to be back visiting Seven Oaks. The warmth and enthusiasm from the audience is always wonderful to experience.
.jpeg?trim=0,82,0,82&width=640&quality=65)
“It’s wonderful to be able to bring high-quality live performance directly into care settings, creating joyful, shared experiences that everyone can enjoy together."
Thelma Moore, Manager for Seven Oaks, Radius, said: ‘‘The service users, staff and residents are delighted to welcome Plays Aloud back to Seven Oaks. Plays Aloud performances bring so much joy, laughter and engagement to our service users and residents, many of whom talk about it for days and weeks after the event has taken place; and they really look forward to every visit.
.jpeg?trim=0,67,0,67&width=640&quality=65)
“The interactive nature of each programme not only encourages participation, but it also stimulates memories and creates meaningful social connections for everyone involved.”
Radius Housing is one of Plays Aloud's key partners, supporting the delivery of the project and helping to make live arts experiences accessible to older people and those living with dementia in communities across Northern Ireland.
Plays Aloud is proudly supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Radius Housing and the Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland. The programme is endorsed by Derry City and Strabane District Council Age Friendly Programme.