Perth Theatre and Concert Hall developed "Here & Now", an innovative pilot programme designed to deliver high-quality, weekly creative workshops for 16–20 participants, comprised of individuals living with Alzheimer’s alongside their carers.
Breaking away from rigid, pre-planned frameworks, the project adopted an agile, participant-led methodology:
Co-Designed Creative Explorations: Workshops were dynamically guided by the group's real-time interests rather than fixed artist scripts. Activities pushed creative boundaries through stop-motion filmmaking, original poetry writing, and imaginative storytelling games.
Relationship & Trust Building: The lead artist and an integrated filmmaker embedded themselves directly within the group sessions as active participants. Immersive pre-project visits were conducted to build strong foundational bonds, alleviating participant anxiety.
Workforce Upskilling: In tandem with the workshops, front-facing staff across Perth Theatre and Concert Hall underwent specialised dementia awareness training delivered by Alzheimer Scotland to structurally embed inclusive practices within the venue.
The pilot successfully challenged traditional stereotypes of dementia care, creating an environment focused entirely on contemporary expression, dignity, and laughter.
Enhanced Creative Expression: Participants actively broke through personal comfort zones, acquiring complex new artistic skills. The collaborative atmosphere culminated in a shared theatre outing to a live performance of Restless Natives.
Reversing Isolation: The project established a crucial, reliable routine that kept minds active, forged meaningful peer support networks, and effectively acted as a comprehensive "safety net" for the families involved.
Systemic Venue Adaptation: Front-of-house and public-facing teams achieved significantly higher baseline confidence and awareness, successfully establishing Perth Theatre and Concert Hall as a certified, safe, and visibly dementia-friendly regional hub.
"I really enjoy it. Something completely different from anything I've done before. The activities make me think out of the box. Not so easy sometimes! We all have a good laugh and I've made new friends." — Anonymous Project Participant
"Thank you for everything. I never realised my brain was capable of absorbing so much information. I have learned a lot. It takes me out of my comfort zone and helps with my confidence." — Anonymous Project Participant
Lessons Learned & Best Practice
Moving Beyond Reminiscence: Early consultation with Alzheimer Scotland revealed that centering activities purely on memory can be counter-productive. Focusing on the “here and now” validated the participants’ current capabilities and boosted self-esteem.
The Power of Adaptive Delivery: Balancing the administrative need for advanced planning with an artist’s need for creative fluidity was a key learning curve. PTCH successfully managed this by issuing highly detailed, iterative weekly session plans after the artist could properly gauge group dynamics and energy levels.
Trust Facilitates Documentation: By participating in the actual exercises instead of remaining behind a lens, the project’s filmmaker built deep communal trust. This directly resulted in participants feeling entirely comfortable and confident when the time came to record individual interviews and formal poetry readings.
