Memory Generation: Theatre show captures real-life experiences of dementia caregiving

Being Patient recently profiled a unique theatre show that highlights the complex dynamics of the dementia caregiving experience.

“Memory Generation” is the creation of Sara Zatz and Sherrine Azab. The interactive theater production is set in a memory cafe.

The concept for the show was sparked by one of the creator’s family members. Her father had dementia and his partner, who was dealing with her own physical condition, expressed how people don’t understand how relationship dynamics change after a dementia diagnosis. She suggested creating a show around that theme. The actors involved in the show also have a personal connection with caregiving. To capture the diversity of the dementia caregiving experience, interviews with those in the dementia care community were conducted across the country.

It had a premiere this year in 2026 and there are plans to bring the show to Detroit. The hope is that “Memory Generation” inspires more community-based art projects about dementia caregiving. The takeaways for audiences is to think more about what does it mean to live in a dementia-friendly society and the show’s creators hope to spark a conversation on how artists can help facilitate the growth of care-centered communities.

I’m a big believer in raising awareness for dementia through art. Through real-life story collections like Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias, which I’m fortunate to be a part of, to the best-selling novel Still Alice (and subsequent film adaption) and independent projects like Wine, Women, and Dementia, the experience of living with dementia is no longer invisible. We still have a long ways to go in supporting dementia caregivers as a government and society, but the first step is to be seen and heard. Every artistic project that keeps dementia care in the spotlight is valuable.

That spirit also powers The Memories Project blog and my personal essay collection, The Reluctant Caregiver.

To learn more about “Memory Generation” and watch the interview with the show’s creators, visit Being Patient.