Cracked: new light on dementia is an innovative research-based theatre production and film that challenges the stigma associated with dementia that creates social exclusion for persons living with dementia, and threatens their health, wellbeing, and quality of life. Cracked: new light on dementia inspires alternative ways of thinking about dementia, and encourages everyone to take part in making this a better world for people living with dementia.

Cracked: new light on dementia follows persons living with dementia and their families on their unique journeys with dementia, from diagnosis through to their new lives in a long-term care home. The families grapple with what the diagnosis means, if and how the diagnosis changes their relationships and how they struggle to be with each other in the present.

Cracked: new light on dementia is unique in that it is based on academic research conducted by Drs. Pia Kontos, Sherry Dupuis, Gail Mitchell, and Christine Jonas-Simpson, all of whom are health researchers who specialize in the areas of aging, dementia, and research-based drama. The researchers developed the play collaboratively with director/playwright Dr. Julia Gray, professional actors, persons living with dementia, and their families. Originally developed as a theatre production, a filmed version of live theatre performances was made with support from the Waugh Family Foundation.

Dr. Pia Kontos – Senior Scientist at The Kite Research Institute – is the Executive Producer of the filmed version of Cracked: new light on dementia.

To access the film, click on the link below.