Theatre makes dementia less of a drama When a partner or family member has dementia, it doesn't take much to turn a day out into a ghastly experience. On a recent trip to a local theatre, Daphne and Roy Willett, from Ledbury, Herefordshire, were asked by a steward to move seats to make room for a wheelchair user. Roy, who is 82, refused. No one could make him give up his seat. "You could have heard a pin drop," says Daphne, who is 69. The atmosphere was awful. I was mortified. Roy, a former art lecturer, has always been a theatregoer, but was diagnosed with dementia a year ago. Symptoms of this disease, which claims 800,000 sufferers in the UK, include memory loss, mood changes, communication and reasoning difficulties. These problems aren't always understood by strangers, which is why Dementia Awareness Week, which runs until May 25, is crucial. Like many other families in their position, the Willetts were at risk of crossing social and cultural events off their calendar simply because of the stress they caused. In a theatre especially, anything from intolerant stewards to multiple exits, from large open spaces to noisy crowds, can confuse and distress someone with dementia. Now a theatre near the Willetts" home has taken up the challenge. The Courtyard Centre for the Arts in Hereford is the first theatre in the UK to sign up to the Dementia Action Alliance, a national scheme hosted by the Alzheimer's Society and involving more than 100 organisations (from banks to bus companies) committed to transforming the quality of life for people living with dementia. Crucial to this commitment is staff training, says Alice Saunders, the arts co-ordinator leading the project at the Courtyard, where 100 front-of-house staff and stewards are being taught about living with dementia. "We want staff to understand the frustration people with dementia feel and how easily they feel patronised," she says. In particular, staff are being taught how to recognise and manage signs of confusion and distress: for example, those with dementia and their carers will be offered pre-performance auditorium entry, so visitors can see where they'll be sitting before crowds pour in, or help to secure quieter, less crowded areas to enjoy a drink during the interval. The theatre is also organising drama in residential homes and day-care centres to bring together families and friends who can no longer get to the theatre. "We know there is so much we can do, but at the heart of any decision we make is our partnership with carers," says Alice. One proposal from family carers being considered is a business-style card that reads "Carer of someone with dementia." It could be flashed at the box office or barman or steward to indicate quietly why a partner, parent or friend is confused or needs support. It's so simple, but could make a massive difference. "Living well with dementia requires actions that reach beyond health and social care," says George McNamara, head of policy at the Alzheimer's Society. Two thirds of people with dementia live at home and we know one of the hardest things after diagnosis is the isolation and inability to do the things they enjoy. By supporting families, you can reduce the risk of people being admitted to full-time care prematurely. Instead, they stay in familiar places, doing things they enjoy with the people they love. The Willetts recently paid a visit to the Courtyard for a Les Misérables matinée. "We've always shared a love of theatre and it is wonderful to continue," says Daphne. The special bond between husband and wife can get lost in day-to-day care at home, but sharing cultural events brings it back. You can't imagine what dementia is like - the sense of loss is terrifying. This could make a world of difference to us. dementiaaction.org.uk