Debut musical by Joe Carnall Jnr blending folk and indie music, exploring family, memory and dementia.
How Could I Forget? opens at The Carriageworks Theatre on Friday 16 October, running through to Friday 23 October. It's the debut musical from Sheffield musician Joe Carnall Jnr, and this is one of five venues across the North hosting the show following its sold-out premiere back in 2025.
The story is set in Sheffield and follows Billy, a young man balancing student life and family while his grandfather, Jack, lives with dementia. As Jack's memories slip, the narrative jumps between past and present, with moments from different decades colliding around a living-room piano. It's described as a joyful, funny and moving exploration of family, memory and change, and a love letter to grandparents.
Musically, it blends folk and indie styles, and the whole thing is built around that piano. The way the story moves between time periods means you'll see different eras of the same family playing out on stage at once, with the music tying the different decades together. It's a Sheffield story, so if you've got any connection to the city, that'll likely ring true.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Leeds and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
The Carriageworks Theatre is in the heart of Leeds, at The Electric Press, 3 Millennium Square, LS2 3AD. It's a venue that brings theatre, comedy, dance and live performance right into the city centre, and it also runs the Carriageworks Young Theatre Makers for people aged 11-18, as well as hosting the Leeds Community Arts Network (LeedsCAN), an association of amateur drama, music and opera companies. How Could I Forget? runs from Friday 16 October to Friday 23 October.
