Journeys Through Rhyme

Journeys Through Rhyme is at the Festival Theatre on Wednesday 4 November, a morning session led by Xa Shaw Stewart. It's part of Capital Theatres' dementia-friendly programme, which opens the theatre to people living with dementia alongside their families, friends and carers in a safe and supportive space.

The session itself blends chosen poems, old and new, with sensory items and gentle stretches of poetry, storytelling and music. There's always room for light conversation, and no pressure to speak if you'd rather just listen. It runs for an hour, and it's held in the Founders Room, at 13-29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9FT.

It sits within a wider programme of dementia-friendly activities at the theatre. There's Tea and 'Jam' for creative music-making, Together In Song with the dementia-inclusive Forget Me Notes choir, and Brew and Blether. Beyond the sessions, the theatre publishes a dementia-friendly magazine, DementiArts, runs a focus group and a podcast, offers Care Home Tours, and produces the graphic novel My Wonky Brain. All Front of House staff undergo disability awareness and Dementia Friend Training, and the theatre was recognised with an 'Excellence in Inclusivity' award at the UK Theatre Awards.

Journeys Through Rhyme is free but ticketed, so you'll need to book your place in advance. It's on Wednesday 4 November, running for an hour in the morning at the Festival Theatre.