Dementia Friendly: Carousel
U
Dir: Henry King
Cast: Gordon Macrae, Shirley Jones, Cameron Mitchell, Barbara Ruick, Claramae Turner, Robert Rounseville
123 mins
A much-loved stage and film musical, Henry King’s 1956 classic Carousel stars Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones. Based on the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical of the same name, it contains what many critics consider to be some of the pair’s most beautiful songs – no small feat, as they wrote a string of hits from Oklahoma! to The King and I.
The story revolves around Billy Bigelow (Macrae), a rough-talking macho carousel barker, and Julie Jordan (Jones), a young mill worker living in a small town in Maine. They fall in love, but after they are both fired from their jobs, struggle to remain afloat. Years later, following a tragic accident, Billy is given a chance to redeem himself.
An unusually serious and exploratory musical, Carousel juxtaposes elements of realism with pure fantasy alongside its lovely songs, and is led by newcomer Shirley Jones and singer-actor Gordon MacRae with wonderful chemistry and charisma.
Our Dementia Friendly Screenings Dementia Friendly Screenings are open to all, but aim to make cinema more accessible to local dementia communities by providing a fun, friendly and inclusive experience for people living with dementia. The lights are left on low, there are no adverts or trailers and the audience is allowed to move around, or sing along to any musical numbers, should they wish to. Free tea, coffee and biscuits are served for half an hour before the film to give people the chance to meet and socialise with others, and to familiarise themselves with the cinema space and there is extra signage put up to help you navigate the building.Tickets are at the Off-Peak price of £7.50 per person, with a free place for accompanying carers.
Please read our Cinema FAQs page detailing our safety guidance and refunds policy.