Reminiscence theatre is a creative art form that incorporates drama, storytelling and music which trigger memories.  It has great potential in enhancing the quality of life for older participants. It is also beneficial to audiences suffering with dementia or acquired brain injuries.

memories workshop poster

Intergenerational memories

Inclusive arts practices and intergenerational working have both shown to benefit older adults. This type of working improves wellbeing, social interactions, communication and collaboration skills. It also stimulates creative thinking. Forget-Me-Not regularly combines reminiscence and education projects in order to bridge the gap between generations and cultures, further promoting inclusion.

40s in 49 Minutes poster

This usually involves young people working alongside older people with dementia to make theatre from their personal experiences. They also use their experiences  as a source of therapeutic creativity. For example, they might use photographs, newspaper articles or verbatim memories as inspiration for stories or scripts set in an era significant to older person in question.

Through the Decades poster

The following review is from Ward East 18 at Llandough Hospital:

“Forget-Me-Not recently took patients on Ward East 18 at University Hospital Llandough on a trip down the 1940s memory lane. 
The theme of the performance was the 1940’s, and the two performers took the patients through a whirlwind reminiscence journey of that era.  The production was full of songs which the patients and their families absolutely loved.
Projects such as this, which bring joy and entertainment into the wards at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board are made possible with funding from Cardiff & Vale Health Charity’s Staff Lottery fund.”