A brief background
Losing It is a play about dementia, love and loss. The play is short, dramatic, interactive and highly engaging.
How did the play begin?
This creative presentation began over a cup of coffee after a Riverlea Theatre Drama class. Sandra Shearer and Ceridwyn Parr shared their separate experiences of family members with dementia and said, ‘Let’s write a play!’
How many performances?
To date, it has been performed at twelve separate events and locations in the Waikato and in Auckland, from a large RSA meeting, to retirement villages, a church, a golf club, a theatre, and private sitting rooms. Audiences numbers range from 15 to 85 and usually consist of carers and family of those with dementia, as well as professional staff, and others from the community who are seeing with concern the increase of dementia in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
The writers now have an exciting new development. With sponsorship funding from Waipa Networks they are planning to take the play to other centres in Waipa.
What is the purpose of the play?
The purpose of Losing It is to highlight the growing number of people with dementia in the community, and the way in which the life of the carer/s is deeply impacted.
The intention is to address the isolation often experienced by families of people with dementia, to name and open up the issue, to bring together people interested and affected, and most importantly, to build community and support among those people and communities.
What is special about the play?
Losing It tackles the difficult aspects of dementia, with authentic voices of real experience. It includes sorrow, laughter, music and hope.
and finally
Losing It was written by two local women who are surprised and delighted that they have become travelling performers in their Gold Card years, with a beautiful story to help and inspire others.