The musical mixes music from from folk and indie to ballads and was inspired by Joe Carnall Jnr’s own experiences of his granddad’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease
How Could I Forget? will come to Hull Truck Theatre on October 13(Image: Submitted)
Dementia is probably not the topic you’d expect someone to write a musical about, but Sheffield musician Joe Carnall Jnr enjoyed sold-out debut performances in 2025 of his musical play How Could I Forget? . The show, which explores heartfelt storytelling, sharp Northern humour and original songs, will be coming to Hull Truck theatre for one night only later this month as part of its Yorkshire-wide tour.
The story centres on Northern lad Billy, a young man navigating life as his grandfather Jack faces dementia. As Jack’s memories begin to fade, the narrative jumps between past and present, with different decades colliding around the family living room piano. Genres in the show range from folk and indie to ballads, reflecting a lifetime of memories, relationships and songs.
How Could I Forget? explores living with dementia while simultaneously bringing a sense of joy and lightness. Both moving and uplifting, the show is a love letter to grandparents, showing how songs can unlock memories, bridge generations and keep alive the people who shape us, even as time slips away.
The musical was shaped by Carnall’s own family experiences. It grew from his experiences of his grandfather’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease. “My Glaswegian-born grandad passed away with Alzheimer’s disease over 10 years ago.,” he said. “It was witnessing its impact not only on grandad but on the rest of the family that stuck with me.”
It was watching a documentary on the late country star Glen Campbell that inspired him to finally put pen to paper: “I was amazed by Campbell’s ability to carry on performing in spite of his own dementia diagnosis and blown away by the power of music as memory. It gets to places where other things can’t. It’s like magic, really.”
Carnall, who has been part of bands Milburn and Reverend & The Makers, describes the show as “intimate”, exploring memory, family and connection through live music. The tour kicks off in Sheffield, with both dates at The Playhouse on October 9 and 10 already sold out. It will then come to Hull Truck on Tuesday, October 13 before moving onto Leeds and Barnsley. It will return to Sheffield for the Festival of the Mind on November 8.
Tickets are available via Hull Truck Theatre’s website.
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