Sharing Joy is a theatre show created for people living with life-shortening conditions such as dementia, cancers, heart disease and other neurological conditions, plus their families and carers. It’s a huge celebration of life and all its joys, using music, dance, masks, nostalgia and laughter to bring pleasure and meaning to everyone involved. The show is set between the 1940s and 1960s, with courting couples, wartime nurses, a singing dog and even Elvis himself. There’s music to bring back memories, dancing to enjoy or join in with, swinging dresses and best suits. It’s a playful and joyous show that encourages everyone to take part and to express themselves. Sharing Joy can be performed in a variety of venues, including theatres, care homes, hospices, hospitals and community centres.

Benefits and learning outcomes
•  Encourages a re-engagement with culture
•  Involves high levels of participation, proven to improve mental and physical health
•  Encourages confidence, attention and communication, improving well-being and contentment
•  Gives people living with dementia the opportunity to connect in alternative ways
•  Promotes knowledge, training and skill-building in carers, supporting the delivery of excellent care
•  Provides meaningful engagement, an Essential Skills cluster for pre-registration nurses (NMC) and a Social Care Institute Marker of Excellence.
•  Links to Care Certificate Standards 4,5,6, 7 and 9 (HSC training).

For more information and to book
Contact Hazel Ratcliffe on 01905 312921 or email hazel[at]vamostheatre.co.uk
If you're interested in booking Sharing Joy, you might like to read the blog written by Paul Stokes, Assistant Clinical Practitioner at Princess of Wales Community Hospital, Bromsgrove, about his experience of hosting the show. You can read it here.

Our funders
Sharing Joy has been created with the support of Arts Council England, Worcestershire County Council and the Elmley Foundation, and formed part of our ACE funded Strategic Touring Project, The show was originally developed in partnership with The Hereford Courtyard, with inspiration from movement-play specialists JABADAO. and has been generously supported by Sir Barry Jackson Trust and Gary Wiltshire. A special commission of the show has toured as part of Sanctuary Care's Shine project. The 2020 tour of Sharing Joy has been generously supported by Creative Scotland