Play gives powerful insight into dementia
A SUCCESSFUL twowoman theatre show, which has impressed audiences all over the UK, is coming to Macclesfield next week.
The production, Over the Garden Fence, is described as being ‘fast paced, comical and uplifting’ and next week’s event is being organised by East Cheshire Hospice to highlight how dementia affects the person living with the condition and those closest to them.
Dementia project leader at the hospice, Jacqueline Crowther, has seen the production several times and said the play helps to drive the message home that people need to see beyond the disease.
The play follows Annabelle and her grandmother Dolly, retracing memories and moments in Dolly’s life up to the present day and outlining the onset of her dementia.
“It’s a really, really, powerful play highlighting the fact that people with dementia have led happy and fulfilled lives before the illness,” said Jacqueline.
“It’s very emotional which makes people sit up and think about dementia in a different way.”
The play was written by two University of Chester graduates, Hayley Riley and Louise Evans, who met while working for an educational theatre company in the city and is based on their own personal experiences.
“I helped to look after my partner’s father who had dementia and we wrote all that heartache, love and laughter into the play” said 28-year-old Hayley.
“Performing the play is almost like therapy for us. We really get caught up in the emotions.”
The play has been shown in theatres, schools, care homes and at several conferences around the UK and the duo, who perform as the Haylo Theatre Company, are particularly excited about an invite to perform at the International Alzheimer’s Conference in Budapest next month.
The Macclesfield show takes place at the Methodist Church on Westminster Road next Tuesday, March 22.
Admission is free with a suggested £5 donation per person attending and cakes and refreshments, provided by the hospice volunteers, will be provided.
No tickets are required but you can book a place from the hospice website www. east cheshire hospice.org.uk/ overthegardenfence or by contacting Jacqueline on 01625 610364.