Musical medicine for dementia
19th September 2025
I’m absolutely delighted to have been announced as the host of an inspiring dementia event ‘Finding hope in creativity - music is medicine’ at the excellent Leeds International Festival of Ideas on Saturday 18th October. If you know me, or have heard me on the radio, you probably know this a subject very close to my heart which makes the invitation extra special: https://leedsinternationalfestival.com/event/finding-hope-in-creativity-music-is-medicine/
I’ll be in conversation with actor Vicky McClure and Dr Nicky Taylor. Vicky you’ll know from ‘Line of Duty’, ‘Trigger Point’, the acclaimed BBC TV documentaries ‘Our Dementia Choir’ and much more. Nicky is a pioneer in accessible theatre and is passionate about the way the arts can offer hope to people living with dementia.
The idea that music is medicine is close to my heart - until the very end my late Mum (who lived with and died from dementia) responded to music. Here’s an edition of my award-winning ‘Mum and Me: The Dementia Diary’ talking about just that: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08rwjd1
The LIFI show will feature Vicky McClure’s fabulous Our Dementia Choir, who’ll give a live performance. As you enter the Quarry Theatre at Leeds Playhouse, you’ll be entertained by a brilliant musician and the most lovely of people, pianist Duncan Goodwin from Harrogate who featured in Channel 4’s ‘The Piano’. As it says on the festival website: “Nearly a million people – and rising – live with dementia in the UK. BAFTA-winning actor Vicky McClure MBE shares the moving story behind Our Dementia Choir and how music is medicine – bringing joy, connection, and a voice to people living with the condition”.
It would be lovely to see you there, particularly if you live with dementia or care, love and worry about someone who does. The evening will be a mix of conversation and music with a comfort break scheduled part way through the event (I know from my experience with Mum how important they are!). Leeds Playhouse is a dementia friendly theatre with experienced, dementia-aware staff and volunteers who’ll support your visit: https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/join-in/older-people/
The Playhouse recently staged the wonderful ‘Through It All Together’ about “… an ordinary Yorkshire couple with an extraordinary passion for Leeds United (who) are navigating living with dementia”: https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/through-it-all-together/
The event starts at 7pm and we should be done and dusted by 8.30. Do come up and say hello. You can buy tickets here: https://leedsinternationalfestival.com/event/finding-hope-in-creativity-music-is-medicine/
If you’d like me to be involved with a dementia event or talk to your organisation or group about my experiences helping to look after my Mum, I’d love to hear from you: https://www.theandrewedwards.com/contact
