UK Play Offers Insightful Venture Into Dementia
By: Stephi Wild Oct. 04, 2018
The Purple List ... a gay dementia venture is a 5 star UK theatre production which will have its Australian premiere season in The Arch at Holden Street Theatres, the home of theatre for the 2018 Feast Festival, from 11 - 18 November.
The Purple List opens on the wedding day of Sam and Derek. They did all the things a normal couple did. They argued, they had mates and went on marches. Then....well, things changed. Derek was diagnosed with dementia and their lives turned upside down - but sometimes for the better.
Told from Sam's point of view, the play is a touching, sad, yet often funny, insight into the lives of these two gay men as they navigate their way through the care system and the changes in their personal relationship.
Written by Libby Pearson (UK) and performed by Ian Baxter (UK pictured) with direction by Graeme Brown and a post show Q&A facilitated by Noel Ward, The Purple List is also used as a training tool on a range of issues regarding dementia and diversity for those working in social care and for those caring for, or involved with, people living with dementia. The play raises awareness around the potential issues for those caring for someone with dementia in general, and the barriers to support which members of the gay community may perceive and experience.
The Purple List...a gay dementia venture has been performed since early 2017 in colleges, theatres, care homes, training centres, conference centres and even a football stadium.
Ian Baxter has been an actor and role player since graduating from Bretton Hall College in 1983, when he formed "Split Theatre" which took his coming out story, "Self Abuse ?!?" to "Festival in The Pink" in London. Part of his work now is as an actor/role-player for the Advanced Communication Skills courses, "Connected" for the former National Cancer Network. Ian is delighted to be returning to Adelaide 21 years after being a volunteer at the first FEAST in 1997.
Libby Pearson has an MA in Creative Writing and began writing for the stage in 2014 and has since had five plays professionally produced and performed for touring theatre. Libby was a youth and community worker for 15 years and it is this work that has strongly influenced her writing through which she examines and questions social mores and responsibilities. She also directs for the stage and is a freelance artistic director for special educational needs theatre groups.
Graeme Brown used his long theatre career experience to direct 'The Purple List'. Graeme has been involved in professional theatre as a practitioner and educator and in arts policy development and continues to work in arts education.
Noel Ward is a lifelong advocate and activist for LGBT+ rights, and has worked in a variety of person-centred roles including social care and nursing. Noel has developed and is delivering gender awareness training for local authority staff. Noel is returning to Adelaide where he volunteered on the first FEAST 21 years ago!
Duration: 60 minutes
Dates and Times:
11 November 4pm;
13 - 14 November 8pm;
15 - 17 November 6:30pm and
18 November 4pm
Tickets for The Purple List are $28; Concession $25; Groups (6+) $25;
Holden Street Theatres - 34 Holden Street Hindmarsh
Tickets: feast.org.au holdenstreettheatres.com ph 8225 8888
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