It's official! Here are confirmed tour dates and cast for our retour of Finding Joy early next year, with tickets on sale at many venues.
The show will tour to venues from Feb 4th – Mar 12th 2027, visiting Arena Theatre Wolverhampton (4th-6th Feb), Theatre Severn Shrewsbury (9th-10th Feb), Roses Theatre Tewkesbury (11th Feb), Tacchi Morris Theatre Taunton (12th-13th Feb), The Old Town Hall Hemel Hempstead (22nd Feb), New Wolsey Ipswich (23rd-24th Feb), Belgrade Theatre Coventry (25h-26th Feb), Courtyard Theatre Hereford (1st Mar), Lichfield Garrick Theatre (2nd Mar), 1435 Theatre Chesterfield (3rd Mar), Lakeside Arts Nottingham (4th-5th Mar), Tobacco Factory Bristol (8th Mar), Corn Exchange Newbury (10th Mar), Cornerstone Arts Didcot (11th Mar) and finishing at Vamos Theatre’s home at The Swan Theatre Worcester (12th Mar).
The show’s cast is also confirmed and features four of our very favourite mask actors: Danny will be played by Aron De Casmaker (Cirque du Soleil, Slava’s Snowshow, Bob in Dead Good, Albert in Boy on the Roof + more); Emilie Largier (Heartstopper, The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself – Netflix, Liam in Boy on the Roof 2025) returns to play Joy's daughter; Angela Laverick (Mum in Boy on the Roof, Susan in The Best Thing, Marie in Dead Good + more) will play Joy; and Danny’s mate Billy/Joy’s husband Walter will be played by Joshua Patel (Ravi in A Brave Face, Sharing Joy + more).
Based on the true experiences of one family and (like all our productions) told entirely without spoken words, Finding Joy explores dementia through the eyes of 17-year-old Danny and his gran, Joy. It’s a funny, deeply touching, and life-affirming show that’s gained multiple five-star reviews over its touring life. Whilst originally created for a mainstream audience, the removal of a language barrier means audiences often excluded from the performing arts — such as with learning disabilities, the Deaf community, people living with dementia, and those with SEND needs - can engage fully and authentically with the performance. We welcomes everyone to see Finding Joy, including people who may need a more accepting auditorium environment. The company invites all its audiences to join in supporting this inclusivity, so that everyone feels welcome.
Alongside the tour, our award-winning Learning department is running show-related workshops in mask, physical theatre and devising for teachers, schools and colleges; as well as CPD training and performances for the health and care sectors themed around empathetic dementia care and non-verbal communication. For more information, contact learning@vamostheatre.co.uk
We will also be celebrating our 21st birthday by fundraising across the tour so that audiences can directly support the creation of a new interactive, accessible show for care homes, Love Me Do. Set in the 1960s and 1970s, the performance will share music, laughter, dancing, colour and joy with people living with dementia, their carers, families and supporters.
We can't wait to see you at Finding Joy!