To celebrate our 21st birthday year in 2027, we’re delighted to announce that we will be retouring our award-winning, full mask production about dementia, Finding Joy, next February and March, followed by international dates. 

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. 

The new production will be performed by four of Vamos Theatre’s best full mask actors and will visit UK venues from February 4th – March 12th 2027, with international dates pencilled in to follow.

Finding Joy was first performed in 2013 after three years of research by Artistic Director, Rachael Savage. Rachael wanted to create a story about dementia that would engage on a personal level, without being too sentimental or too bleak, and ultimately to find a way of connecting the loss of dementia with the finding, looking beyond the dementia to the person.

As part of her research, Rachael contacted Penny Greenland, Artistic Director of movement-play specialists Jabadao, also a family friend. Penny told Rachael about her mother, Audrey, who had been living with dementia for the last eight years – and how, for the last 18 months, Penny’s teenage son, Rowan, had become Audrey’s carer.

Despite his young age and lack of training, Rowan was a natural – he listened to Audrey, danced, played, accepted her utterly as she was. Rowan, Penny and those that cared for her found joy in her wherever they could – they also had truly tough days, were challenged and exhausted, but they believed in acceptance and play and lived their beliefs.

Rowan and Audrey’s story become the basis for Finding Joy. Rachael spent time with the family observing their life and created the show from what she saw and experienced.

We are SO excited to be taking the show out on the road again. It's many people's favourite of all our productions and we secretly love it the best too. 

Tour dates will be finalised and announced in September. In the meanwhile, any confirmed dates will be listed on our Finding Joy show page, so check back when you can. There is also a special 2-hour mask workshop available for schools to pre-book, exploring full mask and physical theatre, using the themes of Finding Joy as a stimulus for devising. You can find more about the workshop here.