Dementia The Musical is a radical new musical theatre production by Ron Coleman, Scottish poet and writer living with dementia, in collaboration with one of Britain’s top jazz musicians Sophie Bancroft as composer & musical director. Directed by Magdalena Schamberger. Produced by Deepness Dementia Media Ltd
Written for and with those living with dementia this brand-new musical is based on the campaigning work of James McKillop, Nancy McAdam and Agnes Houston, three of Scotland’s longest serving dementia activists, and the fight they have led to ensure people with dementia have a voice in what happens in their lives.
Set in the not-too-distant future where the ‘British Bill of Rights’ has replaced the ‘European Convention on Human Rights’ and is being used by organisations and care-home owners to control what individuals with dementia can do, where they live, who can visit and when they can visit. The musical sees the three activists brought to a care home in Dundee to face a tribunal, led by the allegorical character ‘Rigid System’ that is accusing them of both not having mental capacity and of being troublemakers. At the end of the performance the audience is asked to reach a verdict, either supporting the dementia activists in their struggle or to confine them indefinitely to a care home until their demise.
Dementia the Musical is a funny but moving production telling the story of these pioneering dementia activists and the birth of Scottish Dementia Activism.
Following his diagnosis with dementia in 2017, Ron Coleman established Deepness Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation based on the Isle of Lewis, run by, and for, people living with dementia and cognitive impairment. He has made a new life writing poetry, plays, music, and books as he thrives living with dementia.
“A quietly tremendous celebration of activism…All elements are beautifully and forcefully co-ordinated by director Magdalena Schamberger… overwhelmingly moving.”
“Whilst the word inspiring can often be cliched and patronizing in discussions of illness and disability in theatre, there can be no doubt that the work done by Coleman and the paired direction of Magdalena Schamberger deserves to be described as inspiring in the best sense of the word!”
“Ron Coleman’s play, brought to life by director Magdalena Schamberger in a mix of agit-prop, Kafkaesque absurdism and a jazzy set of songs by Sophie Bancroft.”
“…. perfectly paced and expertly executed.”
Dementia The Musical was supported by Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund and in-kind support from Capital Theatres, Edinburgh. It had its premiere at The Studio at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh and toured widely across Scotland in October & November 2024. Other venues included: An Lanntair, Stornoway; Dundee Rep; The Byre Theatre; Lemon Tree, Aberdeen; Mareel, Shetland; Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, Cumbernauld Theatre; The Barn, Banchory; Eden Court, Inverness; Universal Hall, Findhorn and Paisley Arts Centre.
CAST
Ross Allan, Pauline Lockhart, Kirsty Malone, Fiona Wood and Willy Gilder as The Reporter
CREATIVES
Ron Coleman – Writer
Magdalena Schamberger – Director
Sophie Bancroft – Composer / Musical Director
Karen Tennent – Set / Costume Design
Colin Grenfell – Lighting Design
Michael Duke – Dramaturg
Tom Lyne – Sound Design
Andrew Eaton-Lewis – Additional music
Kelman Greig-Kicks – Film / Videography
Suzie Normand – Production Manager
Gemma Greig-Kicks – Producer
Shirley Monteith – Marketing / PR
Images: Kelman Greig-Kicks @ NeonEight Ltd.
