West Yorkshire Queer Stories presents a special performance of The Purple List... A Gay Dementia Venture, supported by Leeds Inspired. This short play, by actor Ian Baxter and writer Libby Pearson, will be followed by a discussion and story-sharing session and signed by a BSL interpreter.

The theatre piece explores the issues around the life of a gay person living with dementia, and how relationships change as dementia progresses. The audience see the couple’s experiences of at-home and residential care, showing positive and negative examples of how being part of the LGBTIQ+ community can impact the overall experience. A Q&A session invites the audience to ask questions of the actor (in and out of character) and writer, and there will also be an opportunity for audience members to record personal reflections as part of the Heritage Lottery-funded archiving project, West Yorkshire Queer Stories.

The Purple List has been performed as part of a dementia-awareness festival at the Leeds Playhouse as well as the FEAST festival in Adelaide, Australia, and is scored by the award-winning musician Finn Henderson.

Stand-out points:
• 35 minute one-man play followed by Q&A session and story-sharing
• Explores LGBTIQ+ experiences of living with dementia
• Suitable for ages 16+ (strong language)
• BSL signed

The event is free to attend with an opportunity for audience members to make donations on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis.

Supported with funding from Leeds Inspired, part of Leeds City Council. Leeds Inspired is part of the city’s cultural programme that celebrates arts events and projects throughout the year, supporting high quality, accessible cultural experiences for Leeds’ residents and visitors. Founded in 2012, Leeds Inspired supports culture in the city through grants schemes, commissions and a ‘What’s On’ events website. Leeds Inspired is part of Leeds City Council.

Full event details