Residents at our Malvern-based Davenham, Perrins House and Bradbury Court, the residential, nursing and dementia care homes which are collectively known as Friends of the Elderly Malvern, and clients from Malvern Day Care ,were transported back to the 1940s and 1950s by Vamos Theatre’s vibrant ‘Sharing Joy’ show.
Worcester-based Vamos Theatre is the UK’s leading full mask theatre company, which has been taking its unique mask, wordless theatre performances across the country since 2006. “The theatre’s renowned and trademark full masks, coupled with their amazing visual designs and catchy soundtracks really deliver accessible, fun, interactive and humorous story performances,” said Shirley Bradley, Friends of the Elderly’s Head of Day Care Services who worked with the theatre group to deliver the show in The Chapel at Davenham.
“The care home and day care teams at Friends of the Elderly Malvern and Malvern Day Care work tirelessly to ensure all the residents and clients they support are kept motivated, engaged and linked to their local community – it is at the heart of what they deliver every day. They are always looking for new, meaningful activities for the clients and residents to enjoy and The Vamos Theatre performance was a perfect fit,” continued Shirley. “All the residents and clients thoroughly adored the interactive show. Whilst ‘Sharing Joy’ is aimed primarily for people who are living with dementia, it was enjoyed by everyone and the hour-long extravaganza flew by.”
“In total, we had 45 people in the audience for the show which included Malvern Day Care clients and residents from Davenham, Bradbury Court and Perrins House,” added Shirley. “We also welcomed visiting family members and a few of the care team too. “Sharing Joy’ was a lively, colourful interactive performance which has been carefully created for people living with dementia, learning disabilities or other neurological conditions, which 
was perfect for our day care clients and residents. “Everyone who watched the show smiled and laughed throughout the performance. It was so inclusive and audience members were gently encouraged to participate which kept everyone engaged with the actors and also involved – and invested – in what was happening on stage.”
‘Sharing Joy’ is set in the 1940s and 1950s with music from the decades which proved to be a wonderful reminiscing experience. “The audience was encouraged to join in with the dancing and express themselves,” continued Shirley. “The masked actors were dressed in stylish swing dresses and sharp suits from the era which added marvellously to setting the scene and atmosphere. “The show was excellent and received fantastic reviews from the clients and residents. One day care client told me ‘It was joyful, I feel so happy – it was so funny and it was fantastic’. A resident also said that ‘The costumes were colourful and it was really interactive; I particularly enjoyed the parachutes and giant balloons section.’
“The show also included audience participation and interactions with scarves and covered batons with long colourful ribbons which the day care clients and residents used to wave in the air or copy what the actors were doing, they all had a really fantastic time, and the care team members enjoyed it too.”
Vamos Theatre performs at national and international festivals and events, gives performances in schools, with NHS staff, in care homes, hospitals, community centres, with teachers, actors, carers, social workers, to the deaf community and business leaders.
“One of the team said that they hadn’t seen a particular resident smile and laugh like he did whilst enjoying the performance. We couldn’t ask for better reactions or comments, it’s wonderful,” concluded Shirley.
Find out more about Friends of the Elderly Malvern by calling 01905 388 720 or emailing enquiries@fote.org.uk.