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A Box of Memories: Documentary Music Theatre as a Catalyst for Person-Centred Dementia Care [PCC081] Passed

Thursday May 7, 2026 09:45 - 10:05 G1

Presenters: Duncan McKellar, Erin McKellar

Track: Art, Media, and Performance

This presentation explores the development and presentation of A Box of Memories, an original documentary musical that uses story, music, and theatre to promote person-centred care for people living with dementia. Co-created by a daughter-father creative team, the work draws on lived experience and clinical insight to illuminate emotional, relational and systemic dimensions of dementia care. The musical follows three characters: Lizzy, a woman navigating the challenges of diagnosis and change; Sonia, her daughter grappling with caregiving and grief; and Jeremy, a medical specialist rediscovering empathy through his engagement with Lizzy’s story and experience. Through these intersecting narratives, the show invites audiences to reflect on their own relationships with dementia, whether personal, professional, or societal. Using performance video extracts and behind-the-scenes reflections, the presentation will illustrate how the show’s autoethnographic practice fosters emotional resonance and audience identification to promote attitudinal transformation. The presentation will also provide insights from audience evaluations demonstrating the show’s efficacy in shifting perspectives on dementia, personhood and care. By integrating artistic practice with clinical and community engagement, A Box of Memories demonstrates how documentary musical theatre can be a powerful tool for raising awareness, challenging stigma, and cultivating empathy, promoting greater person-centredness in care for people vulnerable to marginalisation. This session will be of interest to creative and health practitioners, researchers, and advocates seeking innovative approaches to person-centred practice. It will offer insights into the potential of the arts to transform attitudes and deepen understanding of complex human needs, leading to greater application of person-centred philosophy and practice.

Language

English

Conference

GCPCC

GCPCC Seminar type

Art/media/performance

GCPCC Code

PCC081

Lecturers

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Duncan McKellar Presenter

Director, Staff Wellbeing
Central Adelaide Local Health Network

Psychiatrist, writer and person-centred practitioner-scholar, living and working in Adelaide, South Australia.

Profile image for Erin McKellar

Erin McKellar Presenter

Creative Entrepreneur
The University of Sydney

Dr Erin McKellar is a composer, music theatre maker, and academic specialising in documentary musical theatre and the role of music as a dramaturgical and affective force in storytelling. Her practice-led research explores how musical composition can shape audience perception, deepen emotional engagement, and challenge social narratives, with a particular focus on marginalised voices and lived experience. Erin’s work spans theatre, screen, and live performance, and has been presented internationally, alongside collaborations with major broadcast platforms including The Voice Australia and Eurovision: Australia Decides. She holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Theatre Writing, and her interdisciplinary practice bridges creative, academic, and community contexts to develop innovative approaches to storytelling and audience impact.