This month, we hosted a brilliant and intimate dementia-friendly performance of Raven Tales at the Festival Theatre.
Storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks entertained our audience with a collection of memorable stories and songs from Scandinavia and Scotland – think Nordic Noir with feathers!
Jan, who also manages the Dementia Meeting Centre at Heart of Newhaven Community, was inspired to create Raven Tales after listening to feedback from members who reviewed Fringe shows last summer. They shared how important it was to have clear storytelling without overlapping music, a space for conversation, and a relaxed café-style atmosphere.
Rooted in Scandinavian sagas and legends, the show explored how classic characters might reflect the experience of dementia. From King Lear to Don Quixote, Raven Tales posed thoughtful questions to our community.
Our audience also had the opportunity to learn about unique stringed instruments including the Hardanger and Shetland fiddle, which enriched the performance with haunting melodies and familiar folk tunes. We love a sing-along at Capital Theatres and a magical shared moment was very much enjoyed as the audience sang along to ‘John Anderson, My Jo’.
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