Actress urges arts venues to be more dementia friendly

Actress Gemma Jones, who famously played the mother of fictional character Bridget Jones, is calling on arts venues to be more dementia friendly.

The star of stage and screen’s own mother had dementia and her call for action is aimed at publicising a new dementia guide for the arts, which shows how small changes at venues such as clear signage and quiet areas can make a big difference to those with dementia.

The guide ‘Becoming a dementia friendly arts venue: A practical guide’ for use by theatres, concert halls, galleries, museums and cinemas has been created with input from arts organisations and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Gemma Jones, who starred as Pamela in the films ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ and ‘The Edge of Reason’, and is currently awaiting the third instalment of the Bridget Jones movie series, said: “It’s really encouraging to see those people behind the scenes at our theatres, museums, cinemas and art galleries joining forces with Alzheimer’s Society to make those places accessible and welcoming to those affected by the condition.”

The actress’ sentiments echoes the feelings of those with dementia who love the arts but want venues to be more dementia friendly.

Ken Payne, aged 62, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011. He said: “Just because I have dementia doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy experiences like going to the theatre.

"For me, theatre and music are perfect because they keep me active and they are fantastic fun.”

The West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds is among the 50 arts venues that have introduced dementia friendly changes. It won the best Dementia Friendly Project Award at Alzheimer’s Society’s 2015 Dementia Friendly Awards.

Describing her efforts to create a dementia-friendly performance, Nicky Taylor, the community development manager at West Yorkshire Playhouse, said: “We started to explore what a performance of this nature might entail, consulting with people living with dementia and those who support them.

“How might individual experiences of dementia challenge us to re-think sound and lighting cues, or the actors’ performances? And how could we convince people to leave the house if they haven’t attempted to in months?”

A year later, the venue staged its first dementia-friendly performance with more than 400 people coming to see it.

Staff and volunteers met and greeted people, helped them to their seats and manned a designated quiet space. She said: “In this, my role as a Dementia Friends champion was key. I led four Dementia Friends sessions in advance of this event, for staff and volunteers, for students from a local college and a local primary school.

"Sessions enhanced people’s understanding of dementia and impacted directly on how they approached their roles on the day.”

‘Becoming a dementia friendly arts venue: A practical guide’ can be downloaded at alzheimers.org.uk/arts