I am a theatre and dementia specialist, working in co-production with people living with dementia to tell hopeful stories.

My Fellowship explored participatory theatre and arts practice connecting people with dementia to their communities, maintaining positive relationships in couples and families experiencing dementia. My Fellowship was inspired by my practice leading accessible and inclusive creative activities at Leeds Playhouse, where I find the arts offer positive, equalising and offering hopeful possibilities to people facing significant challenges.

Since my Fellowship I have authored a guide to producing dementia-friendly theatre shows, supporting the UK theatre sector to welcome audiences with dementia. I directed a major, award-winning theatre festival, Every Third Minute, curated and co-produced by people living with dementia. I commissioned a new play, Maggie May by Frances Poet, involving people with dementia as creative advisers. I have studied for my PhD in Creative Co-production with People with Dementia at Leeds Beckett University and undertaken an Atlantic Fellowship at the Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity College, Dublin and the University of California, San Francisco.