The Purple List .... a gay dementia venture

Thanks again to The Purple List

Five Stars! The Purple List is powerful.  The actor and the playwright take the audience on an honest and thought provoking journey giving an insight into the challenges and emotions that a same-sex couple come up against when faced with the diagnosis and reality of dementia.  Insightful, honest and uncomfortable the play does more than tell a story, it encourages its audience to question and challenge.  It is a must see piece of theatre and I would encourage anyone regardless of profession or sexuality to go and see it.”

“Just been to watch the Purple List. WOW!”

“The most wonderful piece of theatre I’ve seen in ages. I loved it, I laughed and cried alternatively. Thank you so much, my experiences around dementia are so varied, you did this so well.   

                    

This is a powerful piece of theatre. It's a powerful piece of theatre; just go and see it!”

“Moving.  Thought provoking.  Engaging.  Great Performance”

“My staff came back and were so moved by the experience they are hungry for more” 

“Engaging. Thought provoking. Sensitive”

“We thought the play was brilliant and provided a vital contribution to launching our research. A Powerful and important performance that needs to be seen by a range of audiences”

“The play and the whole event today was simply marvellous! A great combination of emotion, laughter, joy,  pain, struggles and many insightful points to reflect upon.    …….I am still thinking about how wonderful the play was and how fantastic you both are!  Thanks again for what was a truly incredible experience”

“Emotional and hard-hitting view of living with dementia and how much harder it is made by prejudice and lack of understanding”  “A truly fantastic play that touches your heart and soul” “ 30 mins of play – got more than a full days training” “There should be more plays like this as the learning acquired is immense”

 …. What you can pull off with such simple sound equipment and just a table and chair is very impressive! You've created something very clever. …warm and funny… It didn't shy away from uncomfortable subjects….eye-opening and provocative, rather than shocking. Sam welcomed the audience into his life to the extent that, when we began the Q&A, there was a very real sense of trust and a genuine bond between character, creators and audience.….really well constructed and moving.  

    

Long after “The Purple List” was over, it’s message continued to reverberate and leave a lasting impact. I found myself simultaneously laughing and crying as Sam and Derek’s story was powerfully told, by insightful and sometimes painful glimpses into their lives. This play is for everyone, and it’s mix of raw emotion and honest humanity leaves an extended echo ringing out for us all to reflect upon.

It was a privilege to see "The Purple List". I found it very moving, and rather uplifting; although there were obviously some very sad elements, I was touched by the respect and love clearly expressed towards the person with dementia. It made me think about the messages about institutions and their attitudes which can be found both in staff approaches, but also in the environment. It has made me think more about how someone who is gay (or part of any minority group) might experience a setting differently to those who are part of the majority group, and how we can try to ensure that places and people who provide care are more welcoming to minorities as well as the easily seen majority groups.

‘Having an eye-opening experience about the difficulties of a carer is something I will never forget’.