This November, the UK’s leading full mask theatre company, Vamos Theatre will bring their award-winning show, Finding Joy to the Corn Exchange in Newbury.
Joy is 83 today: she’s funny, loves to dance, and is losing her memory. Her grandson, Danny is rebellious, bright and always getting into trouble. When Danny decides to look after Joy, they discover a shared playfulness and growing love. But is that enough to face the challenges ahead?
Finding Joy is the heartwarming true story of Danny, an 18-year-old boy, who looked after his grandmother, Joy, as she made her way through middle and late stage dementia. His methods were unorthodox, but he was a natural carer and looked after her with an inspiring freshness and positivity. Finding Joy caringly recreates their relationship, in a life-affirming performance that has been received around the globe to critical acclaim.
Vamos Theatre make accessible, humorous and fearless work, based on real life stories, and rooted strongly in social research. Their trademark style marries full mask performance, with strong visual design and an original soundtrack, to bring their stories to life on stage.
Approaching the subject of dementia with humour and humanity, Finding Joy has been performed to audiences across Europe and the UK, including a highly successful run at Assembly for the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016. The show is designed to speak to anyone, from carers, family members and people who have seen the effects of dementia first hand, to those who have no knowledge of the disease, but are interested in seeing a touching, five-star awarded, original piece of theatre.
The Corn Exchange are so sure that you’ll enjoy the show, that they will refund you the price of your ticket if you don’t! (Terms and conditions apply).
The wordless nature of Finding Joy also makes the show fully accessible to d/Deaf audiences without the need of a signer.
Laugh, cry, and find joy at the Corn Exchange, Newbury on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 November, 7.45pm. Age guide 12+. Running Time 1 hour 15 mins (plus interval). A post show talk with the cast is available on Tuesday 14 November. Tickets £15 (£13 concessions, £8 carers and under-25s). To book tickets, please visit the Corn Exchange website, www.cornexchangenew.com or call the Box Office on 0845 5218 218 (calls cost 2p per minute plus your telephone company’s standard access charge).
