Theatre & Dementia Research Associate, West Yorkshire Playhouse / Doctoral Researcher, Leeds Beckett University
Nicky is a pioneer in accessible theatre, working with West Yorkshire Playhouse since 2005. She devised and produced the UK’s first Relaxed Performance for young people with learning disabilities in 2009, the model of which has been adopted as industry standard. In 2014 she conceived and produced the world’s first Dementia Friendly theatre performance, authoring an accompanying best-practice guide to staging dementia-friendly productions. Most recently she initiated and led the ground-breaking Every Third Minute festival, the first theatre festival to be curated by people living with dementia. The festival’s creative co-production process forms the basis of her doctoral research.
Nicky is a Churchill Fellow, researching and sharing accessible arts practice internationally. Her work has been recognised with major awards from The Alzheimer’s Society, Arts & Business and the National Dementia Care Awards.
She regularly provides consultation and training to theatres and arts venues, with an overriding philosophy of valuing and involving people living with dementia.
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