The groundbreaking play ’Lost Lear’ written and directed by Dan Colley, and produced by Matt Smyth, offers a unique portrayal of dementia through the eyes of Joy, a woman living with the condition. In collaboration with the Dementia Carers Campaign Network (DCCN), an advocacy group supported by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the play explores memory, identity, and care. The story takes place in Joy's mind, where she relives her past as a young actor rehearsing for Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’. Her carers, trying to maintain her reality, cast her estranged son in the play. His resistance disrupts her fragile world, causing a clash of realities. Using projections, green screens, live video, and puppetry, the production powerfully represents Joy’s confusion as past and present collide, reflecting the disorienting effects of dementia. ‘Lost Lear’ raises key questions about caring, the ethics of white lies, and how we understand and communicate with those living with dementia.
Dan Colley, known for his acclaimed theatre work, ensured authenticity in the play by collaborating closely with DCCN members. Through focus groups, carers shared their experiences, shaping Mr Colley’s approach to the play: “It was about building relationships and ensuring the portrayal resonated with those who have lived this reality” he said. Premiering at the Dublin Theatre Festival in 2022, ‘Lost Lear’ has toured Ireland, was presented at the Aotearoa Festival of the Arts in New Zealand in 2024 and will tour in the US in 2025.
Audience members have praised its emotional depth, with post-show discussions cultivating dialogue on dementia and caring. For the DCCN, the project has proven to be a compelling experience: “It was such an inventive way of exploring the dementia journey. It came at a time in my life when my grief for my late husband, Derek, was extremely raw, and yet experiencing and watching the play gave me some solace” said Paddy Crosbie, a member of the DCCN (and a member of the European Dementia Carers Working Group). The play has also provided new opportunities for carers to share their stories, while raising awareness about the challenges they face.