Terence and Grace, two variety actors from 1958, have been set a challenge by a top London producer to put on a full scale Romeo and Juliet with patients, relatives and staff on Ladder to the Moon’s Big Lottery Funded tour of Elderly Mental Health Care units.

As part of a nine-month project, six hospitals across South West London have benefited from our interactive performances, designed to engage patients and re-imagine their environments as well as build their confidence and integration with fellow patients and staff.

As Terence and Grace, the actors perform a play that develops through twice-weekly sessions on each of the four wards for three weeks.

The created characters do not see people’s limitations or acknowledge their surroundings, and are experts at knowing when to involve people and when simply to entertain them.

Through this approach we aim to improve quality of life for patients by helping them form connections and giving them new environments within which to express themselves.

‘Your group do things for our patients that my tablets can never do.’
Sister Ben (Wolfson, RHN)

‘ I saw Terence and Grace come in, so smart, so sociable and friendly, and I was about to go off to my ECT scan and it lifted my spirits so much!’
(Teresa, patient, Poplar Ward, Springfield)

‘We talk about it all the time when you’re not here'
Frances (Receptionist, Cathcart, RHN)

‘Ive been really surprised by some of the reactions of some patients…'
(Sally, OT, Jubilee Day, Springfield)

‘ It was nice to remember I can still laugh, I haven’t laughed in two months’
(Irene, patient, Fox Ward, Sutton)