Spreading Festive Cheer: Capital Theatres’ first-ever Christmas Song, written by people living with dementia 

This festive season, Capital Theatres is proud to unveil Christmas (Like it Was Before), a heartfelt new Christmas song created by members of our dementia-friendly community.

This festive single is a celebration of creativity, connection, and the extraordinary talents of people living with dementia. As the first song ever released by Capital Theatres, it’s a momentous milestone for our award-winning dementia-friendly programme. 

Listen now...

The song was written during our innovative Songwriting Sprint workshops. These dynamic, 45-minute sessions bring together people living with dementia, their families, and our creative team to craft original music. Led by Edinburgh singer-songwriter Gus Harrower, participants draw on personal memories and emotions to co-create the lyrics to Gus’ melody. 

Gus, who is also Capital Theatres’ Creative Engagement Coordinator, performs the single, along with other seasonal tracks like Valentine’s Day, Summer, and Changes. These songs will feature on an upcoming EP available for digital release in January 2024. Physical copies of the EP will also be included in the January issue of DementiArts Magazine. 

Christmas (Like it Was Before) is now available for download on Spotify, Apple Music, and other major platforms. Proceeds from the single will directly support our dementia-friendly programme. 

Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of 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.”  

Amelia, who took part in the Songwriting Sprint, said:  

“It’s very hard to describe to you the pleasure we all had that day. Gus was marvellous at pulling out from us all words and sayings that he could fit into his music and which still sounded good. It was with amazement that we all agreed that the final tune and words sounded so good to sing . The choir sings it out with gusto every time we are asked to perform and we never grow tired doing so.”

We invite you to listen to Christmas (Like it Was Before) and experience the magic of this special song for yourself. By downloading the track, you’ll not only be supporting our dementia-friendly programme but also celebrating the incredible achievements of our community.