Today, Capital Theatres releases Christmas (Like it Was Before), a heartfelt new Christmas song written by people living with dementia. This festive single, the first song ever released by Capital Theatres, celebrates the creativity and passion of the dementia-friendly community.

The track will also be featured on an upcoming EP set for digital release in January alongside other seasonal tracks such as Valentines Day, Summer and Changes, all performed by Edinburgh singer-songwriter Gus Harrower, who is also the Creative Engagement Coordinator for Capital Theatre’s award-winning dementia friendly programme.

Christmas (Like it Was Before) is available for download on platforms including Spotify and Apple Music, with all proceeds supporting Capital Theatre’s dementia friendly programme. Physical copies of the EP will be distributed in the January issue of DementiArts Magazine.

All of these original songs were written as part of the Songwriting Sprint programme; a dynamic and interactive 45-minute workshop where participants work alongside Gus Harrower and the Capital Theatres team to craft an original song. These sessions offer people living with dementia a platform to connect with others through music, whilst drawing inspiration from childhood stories, memories and feelings. The resulting songs capture the unique perspective of the community and are performed by Edinburgh’s dementia inclusive Forget Me Notes choir at the monthly Together in Song concerts at the Festival Theatre.

Gus Harrower is a versatile Scottish musician, acclaimed for his work as a pianist, guitarist, bassist and vocalist. Since his debut EP in 2015, he has become a key figure in Edinburgh’s music scene and is also deeply committed to community arts.

The single artwork for Christmas (Like It Was Before) was designed by Willy Gilder, a former BBC journalist, writer and illustrator who was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease in 2021. Since being diagnosed, Willy has been a very active member of the dementia community, promoting the importance of creative and occupational therapy, and presents Capital Theatre’s dementia friendly podcast, All The World’s A Stage.

Capital Theatres offers an impressive range of dementia friendly activity all year round, including accessible performances, in-house produced DementiArts Magazine and regular free participatory events such as a monthly rock and roll tea party Tea and Jam and Comfy Ceilidh, which offers live music, poetry and seated ceilidh dancing. Capital Theatres won the 2023 UK Theatre Award for Excellence in Inclusivity for its extensive work with people living with dementia.

Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive at Capital Theatres said:
“Songwriting Sprint is a truly innovative project bringing much enjoyment and connection with and for our dementia friendly community. We are so excited to share this extraordinary experience with you over the festive season.

“At Capital Theatres, we firmly believe that creativity should be celebrated and participated in across all stages of life and this brilliant Christmas song is a lovely demonstration of the joy the arts can bring to everyone.”

Gus Harrower, singer-songwriter and Creative Engagement Coordinator at Capital Theatres said:
“I am delighted to be sharing this song, and I’m honoured to have been involved in the writing of it. The openness and honesty of our dementia friendly community here at Capital Theatres never ceases to amaze me and this song (alongside our upcoming EP) are examples of what amazing, creative things people living with dementia can do when given the right opportunities.”

Ian Laurence (whose late wife lived with dementia) said:
“To participate in some of Gus’s Songwriting Sprints was to enjoy the energy, passion and hidden creativity which people had. It was enlightening, humorous and certainly fulfilling for myself and, I would think, for all those who participated and contributed in the lyric writing.”

Willy Gilder, artist and podcast host living with dementia, said:
“Songwriting Sprint is both very good fun and stretches the brain. It’s always amazing how Gus manages to come up with new tunes and involves everyone in creating new songs.”

For further information about Capital Theatre’s dementia friendly activity, visit https://www.capitaltheatres.com/take-part/dementia-friendly-work.