b'ABBEY THEATREJacinta Dixon has lived in Dublin all her life and attendedexperience.TheTheatreteamwasinterestedinour A SAFE PLACEmany performances at the Abbey Theatre over the years.production of things. Because of that, it didnt feel like an Jacinta was diagnosed with Alzheimers after working inexercise. the disability sector for 15 years. Today, she is an activeDuring the development week, theatre company Bow memberoftheIrishDementiaWorkingGroup,oneofProductions worked with members of the Irish Dementia those selected to participate in the 5x5 initiative in 2019.Working Group to explore issues of dementia and Alzhei-InIreland,dementiahasbeensomethingthatwasmers which resulted in a piece representing the voice of kind of pushed to the side, says Jacinta. It was a stigmathose living with the conditions. and was considered something wrong in the family. Peo- There was camaraderie and a safe place for what ple with dementia were told to sit down and have a cup ofwe were doing, explains Jacinta. Knowing that nothing tea and be quiet, more or lessbut theres only so muchwas going to go out of the room was important. It was tea.truly a safe space. But for me, this theatre is also an ComingtotheAbbeyTheatre,Jacintawashardlyalmost-holy place. It is personal. Even talking about it sitting in the corner having tea. She and other membersnow, I feel goosepimply that I was there.began to work. The first day of walking into the Abbey, just the feeling of walking onto the stage, it was a great Jacintaconnect 202040'