Exploring consent as an aesthetic experience through applied theatre with people living with dementia

Abstract

The process of giving or obtaining consent is typically seen as a series of language-based actions, either documented on a written form or communicated verbally. However, both methods can present challenges when engaging with individuals living with dementia. This paper explores how to understand consent as an aesthetic experience through applied theatre practices.

We draw on data from 12 applied theatre sessions in a residential care home in Northern Norway (2019–2021). The study design was practice led and situated in everyday-life practices at the care home. Through writing field stories collectively, based on a mixture of notes, video recordings, and embodied experiences, we analysed how people gave their consent to engaging in creative activities beyond using spoken and written language.

We find consent in four key elements that play a major role when we work co-creatively with people living with dementia: 1) trust; 2) attunement; 3) sensibility; and 4) mutuality. Consent as an aesthetic experience is thus highly embodied, processual, and relational.

Our paper is written within an emerging discourse of relational perspectives in dementia research. It promotes the perception of people living with dementia as creative citizens who can equally contribute to art and research.