That Theatre Group is set to bring Christmas magic to residents in care homes living with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia across Merseyside.
Residents of several homes will share their memories of past winter periods in their lives to create the basis of the production.
Peter Ward, producer, said: “We start the conversations by asking what winter conjures up in residents’ minds then we take the lead from then where the conversation goes.”
From the weather and snow to childhood Christmas commemorations, the group wanted to capture both the spirit of winter and the festive season collaboratively.
Peter said: “The inspiration came when I discovered first-hand the experience of a loved one living in a care home, it was an emotional, inspiring period in my life whereby I saw how locked up residents and staff were during lockdown.”
Peter’s partner Graeme was moved into a care home during the height of the pandemic when his Parkinson’s and dementia accelerated.
Both Peter and Graeme have a history of theatre, with Graeme being the artistic director of the Unity Theatre for 33 years, so Peter wanted to use theatre as a meaningful engagement device for his partner and others living with neurological disorders.
Peter said: “I started out in community theatre many years ago so it’s really rewarding to me. Talking to people about their lived experiences and memories before they were in a care home brings value to their lives and reminds them they haven’t been forgotten.”
This is the third show That Theatre Group has produced that has been created with and for people living in care, the first being a summer production commissioned by the city council and the second, a Eurovision production commissioned by Culture Liverpool in 2023 where they saw how much joy residents got out of the experience of watching a show that came to them.
Part of the groups work surrounds meaningful, therapeutic engagement by providing activities related to the shows as well as care packages so carers can continue the creative engagement off the back of the plays.
Emma Hayes, manager at Green Heys Care Home which will be hosting the show says, reminiscing has such a positive effect on residents as it improves their mood and makes them feel confident and capable again.
Peter has hopes that his group will encourage more community theatre. He said: “If the work that were doing through That Theatre Group can inspire other groups to do it that would be brilliant, the more that’s going on the better.”
That Theatre Group has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £5,000 to support the delivery of the tour, which you can view by clicking here.
To hear Peter’s own words on his past productions and his reasonings why he does what he does, listen to our report here:
