A brand new play challenging perceptions of people living with dementia will tour Wales in May and June this year arriving at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, on May 19 and 20.

Re-Live, a Welsh-based theatre company whose ethos it is to create theatre and ‘life story work’ with people at the margins of society, will perform a production entitled Belonging that promises to be an inspiring and moving look at a subject rarely covered by the arts in Wales.

The play is influenced by writer Karin Diamond’s Winston Churchill travel fellowship to Japan where she experienced first-hand their creative and reciprocal philosophy of care for people living with dementia.

On returning to Wales, Karin conducted a year-long programme of research and interviews with people living with dementia, families and professional carers and with support from Arts Council of Wales wrote Belonging inspired by the voices of people living with dementia in Wales today.

“When I was in Japan a few years ago I was blown away with how they used creativity in dementia care, as a matter of course, with amazing outcomes.” said Diamond. “People living with dementia need to feel like they still belong to their communities, their homes, their families and ultimately, themselves.

“We hope Belonging goes some way in removing the stigma of dementia, builds confidence in our communities and awareness that a person with dementia can lead a life of purpose and meaning if we can respond with love and understanding. We hope the people of Wales come and see Belonging to gain insight into dementia through the magic of theatre.”

This production aims to bring these positive messages to Wales, claiming love and laughter don’t have to stop because of dementia. Karin and her theatre company will take the play and their message throughout Wales performing to theatre audiences and working with the health and social care sector to offer Belonging as experiential dementia training through high quality theatre.

The play will be directed by Peter Doran who has enjoyed huge success in the last year with Grav, a one-man show about the life of Ray Gravell.

Tickets are only £10 and £8 concessions. To book, call the Torch Theatre on 01646 695267 or go to the website www.torchtheatre.co.uk.