A Box of Memories: When Music Makes the Conversation About Dementia Impossible to Ignore

AJ Aledron

3 minutes ago

4 min read

Reflections from AJ Aledron, President of NZSDRT Inc

Last night, I had the privilege of attending the preview of A Box of Memories at Q Theatre in Auckland, alongside our NZSDRT Treasurer Kristine and fellow Society members Nikki and Laura.

We managed to capture a few photos from last night's performance of A Box of Memories. They are simply snapshots from my phone, but they carry moments from a production that deserves to be seen, heard and talked about.

Before sharing them, I want to acknowledge Dr Duncan McKellar, who generously encouraged us to take photos and, more importantly, to help spread the word about the production and the conversations it hopes to inspire.

And that is exactly what we intend to do.

A special hat tip to Fiona and Anna of Inicio Health Care Trust, for their efforts in bringing this award-winning music theatre production to Aotearoa New Zealand. Their commitment to creating opportunities for awareness, understanding and meaningful conversations deserves recognition.

When Music Makes the Reality Clearer

Before the performance began, Dr Duncan McKellar spoke about the realities of dementia - its growing impact on individuals, families and communities, and the difficult conversations that often remain unspoken. For many people, dementia continues to carry fear, uncertainty, grief and stigma. Sometimes, even within families, finding the words to talk about it can be incredibly difficult.

He raised an interesting thought: perhaps if we could sing about dementia, we could find a way to talk about it. And then the performance began...

I expected the music might somehow soften the difficult realities of dementia or make the conversation easier. But it did something far more powerful.

The music did not make the conversation easier. It made the reality harder to ignore.

Through melody, dialogue and emotion, the experiences became clearer, closer and deeply human. The music seemed to magnify the feelings that words alone sometimes struggle to express.

Three Characters, Three Perspectives, One Shared Experience

What made the production particularly powerful was its simplicity. Three performers carried an extraordinary weight of stories, emotions and perspectives. There was Lizzy, the mother living with dementia, navigating changes in memory, identity and independence. There was Sonia, her daughter, experiencing the emotional complexity of loving, supporting and making decisions for someone whose needs are changing. And there was Jeremy, the doctor, representing the healthcare system - a system that is expected to provide answers, treatment and reassurance while also facing its own pressures, limitations and uncertainties.

Each character carried a different reality. As someone working in health and Therapeutic Recreation, I found myself reflecting on how easily we can become focused on one perspective. We might concentrate on the person's diagnosis, the family's responsibilities or the clinical decisions that need to be made. Yet every perspective deserves to be heard. And at the centre of it all must remain the person living with dementia - their voice, dignity, identity, relationships and right to participate in decisions affecting their life.

The Questions We Take Home

I left the theatre with many questions.

I cannot say that I left the theatre with all the answers.

But I left convinced that we need to keep talking about dementia.

We need conversations that acknowledge the difficult realities while continuing to recognise the person, their life story, their strengths and the possibilities that remain.

Where Therapeutic Recreation Comes In

This production also reminded me why our work in Diversional and Recreational Therapy matters.

As practitioners, we often meet people and families at different stages of their dementia journey. We witness moments of uncertainty and frustration, but also moments of connection, recognition, laughter, creativity and joy.

We cannot remove every challenge that dementia brings. But through our craft we can help create environments where people feel valued, connected and included. And this responsibility extends beyond our profession. Families, healthcare professionals, educators, community organisations and the wider public all have a role in creating a more understanding and dementia-inclusive Aotearoa.

Perhaps theatre is another powerful way to begin. Sometimes a story performed on stage opens a conversation we have been avoiding around our own dinner tables.

A Conversation Worth Having This Long Weekend

On behalf of NZSDRT, I extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr Duncan McKellar, Dr Erin McKellar, the talented cast and creative team, and especially Fiona, Anna and everyone at Inicio Health Care Trust for bringing this important production to Auckland.

Thank you for trusting audiences with a story that challenges us, moves us and invites us to think more deeply about dementia and the people affected by it. And to Duncan, thank you for encouraging us to share what we experienced.

We have heard your invitation to spread the word, and NZSDRT is proud to help carry that conversation forward.

So whānau in Auckland... A Box of Memories, an amazing experience this long weekend.

Bring your family, your colleagues or someone you care about. Experience the performance together. And afterwards, perhaps over a coffee or a meal, talk about what you saw, what challenged you and what it made you feel. You may leave with more questions than answers. And that is okay.

Because sometimes the most important outcome of a performance is the conversation that begins after the curtain falls.