A North East theatre is to stage a unique talent show featuring performers with dementia.

The Dementia’s Got Talent contest – thought to be a world-first – will take place at Darlington Hippodrome on January 21 next year.

The pioneering show, organised by Dementia Friendly Darlington, will feature a variety of acts, all starring people who have been diagnosed with dementia.

Members of the Dementia Friendly Darlington steering group, including some of the performers, met at the theatre to launch the show, which aims to raise £25,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society and dementia groups across Darlington.

“This is going to be a talent show like no other – fun-packed, moving, glitzy and exciting,” said steering group member, Robbie Jones. “As far as we know, nothing like this has happened anywhere in the world, so we’re breaking new ground.”

The show will be based on the Britain’s Got Talent format, with a panel of judges, and support will be provided by Darlington Operatic Society.

Darlington Hippodrome is providing the theatre and staff for free on the day of the show as well as using its ‘A Place For Everyone’ fund to help cover costs.

“We want it to be a celebration of what can be achieved by people living with dementia, while supporting the Alzheimer’s Society, and raising the profile of dementia and the work of support groups across Darlington,” added Robbie.

Darlington Hippodrome is a dementia-friendly organisation and has hosted Dementia Voice for Darlington, a weekly drop-in café for those living with dementia.

Programming & Development Director, Heather Tarran-Jones, said: “We are very proud of the work we do around dementia and this fabulous show is an extension of that.

“We are approached to support a lot of charities, and we can’t always say yes, but the relationship with Dementia Friendly Darlington goes deeper, and this show will be an opportunity to experience the theatre in a new way.”

  • Anyone interested in taking part, either individually or as part of a group of performers, should email joanne.hendry@darlington.homeinstead.co.uk. Application forms are also available via the theatre’s box office.

The emphasis will be on variety, so the organisers are looking for performers with a range of talents, including singing, dancing, comedy, magic, jugglers, and performance poetry. Care company Home Instead is already a sponsor and an appeal is also being made for more.

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Auditions are scheduled to take place at Darlington College in November.

Lorraine Dunn, founder of the drop-in café and a member of the steering group, was diagnosed with dementia nine years ago. She is planning to be among the performers.

“The talent show is a wonderful idea because it’s an opportunity for us to change the standard perception of dementia. It’s about demonstrating that we can do things for ourselves and that a dementia diagnosis doesn’t mean our lives are over.”