Don’t Leave
Me Now
An insight into the impact of early onset dementia on two very different families
Inspired by two real stories, the play explores with humour and insight the impact of early onset dementia on two very different families – a journey of love, loss and duty.
Don’t Leave Me Now has been endorsed by major Dementia Charities including Dementia UK, The Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia Pathfinders and by Cruse Bereavement Care and Hospice UK (formerly the National Council for Palliative Care).
The play has been performed more than 150 times throughout the UK and Northern Ireland in theatres, hospitals, hospices, community centres, libraries, care homes, churches, mosques, synagogues, universities and schools and in the UK Parliament.
‘Don’t Leave Me Now’ is a valuable educational tool and resource for in-house staff awareness training.
“...the play is subtly powerful, sympathetic and sharp, sad and funny……. Where dementia is the villain, words are priceless”
The cast of ‘Don’t Leave Me Now’ with Dr James Levine in Paris at Foundation IPSEN .
BACKGROUND TO THE PLAY
In 1997, Brian Daniels attended the 50th birthday party of his friends Irene Heron and Rachael Dixey, and remembers it as a joyful and exuberant event. Nobody then could have guessed that ten years later the vivacious and theatrical Irene would be developing early onset dementia and fifteen years later she would have lost her functioning powers, be in a care home and she would die aged 66 in 2013.
Her partner of 25 years, Professor Rachael Dixey wrote in her journal every day about the challenges of living with a partner who had dementia. She asked Brian to read the journal and he was then inspired to write a play about family life and early onset dementia.
Irene was cared for in a nursing home in Yorkshire. In the same nursing home was Chris Toulman who had been married to wife Cindy for over 40 years and were a devoted couple. Chris had never had a good memory but warning bells sounded when he started getting into a muddle while doing the accounts of his garage business. He would sometimes do the MOT twice on a car, forgetting he had already done the work. Eventually he was diagnosed with dementia and in time went into full time care. His wife visited him every day, and all day, talking to him, feeding him and loving him. Chris died in his early 60s.
With the support of both families Brian embarked on writing these very personal stories. He wanted to explore through a play the way in which dementia impacts on the wider family and whether love ever becomes a duty.
The first ‘shared’ performances of the play were at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds and it has also been filmed by Birmingham NHS Trust to help educate around the complexities of the Mental Capacity Act.
