La Madre: A Theatrical Journey Into Alzheimer’s Disease

In this perspective, Atlantic Fellow Armagan Uysal reflects on creating the theatrical production of "La Madre," an adaptation that brings the Alzheimer’s experience into vivid and empathetic focus.

^{Armagan Uysal is the director of La Madre," adapted from the original play titled, "The Father," written by French author Florian Zeller. Photo courtesy of Armagan Uysal.}

A Unique Theatrical Experience

Unlike traditional artistic and medical approaches, which often depict Alzheimer's disease from an outsider’s viewpoint, "La Madre" immerses the audience in the patient's internal world. This approach profoundly impacts viewers, allowing them to experience symptoms such as forgetfulness, apathy, depression, sleep disorders, eating problems, and hallucinations through the eyes of the patient. The play, originally penned by Florian Zeller in 2012 and translated into English by Christopher Hampton in 2014, has garnered numerous awards, including a Tony Award and two Oscars for its film adaptation.

As a neurologist, actor and director, I take great pride to see art and medicine merge to help people understand brain health. In adapting "The Father" into "La Madre," I explored how the narrative would unfold if the central character were a mother, rather than a father. This perspective shift, coupled with multiple native Spanish-speaking actors, allowed us to set the story against the rich backdrop of two continents' shared stories. 

Unlike traditional artistic and medical approaches, which often depict Alzheimer's disease from an outsider’s viewpoint, 'La Madre' immerses the audience in the patient's internal world.

—Armagan Uysal, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health

A Collaborative Effort

The dedicated team of GBHI staff and Atlantic Fellows collaborated closely to bring this vision to life. As both director and actor, I began by providing acting lessons to the team members, who had no prior acting experience. Over six months, we progressed from acting training to rehearsals, culminating in a powerful and moving production. The team’s versatility extended beyond acting, as we also took on technical roles in set design, costumes, music, and lighting.

The play’s debut on June 26, 2024 was met with tremendous acclaim, and we eagerly anticipate the next performance on August 21, 2024. The profound reflections and dialogue within the play resonated deeply with the audience, highlighting the essence of Alzheimer's and the strength of empathy and understanding.

The journey with "La Madre" has been a testament to the transformative power of art in understanding and communicating complex medical conditions. I look forward to continuing to share this impactful work with more audiences, fostering empathy and awareness through this unique blend of performance and narrative.

^{Left: Alessandra Khodaverdi, Mindy Matice, and Dani Marci perform in "La Madre"; Right: the cast and friends of the play after a June 2024 performance at UCSF. Photos courtesy of Gloria Aguirre and the performers.}

Reflective Excerpts from "La Madre"

Below are several excerpts from the play to give the audience a sense of what the material looks and feels like:

• What if we were completely detached from the familiar world, the familiar faces, and the moments we've lived? What if this separation occurred without anyone telling us, without saying, "This is the end, there's nothing beyond this point"?

• What if our home, the place we've called ours, no longer belonged to us, yet we still believed it to be our home? And what if we didn't even realize how long we've been there, until someone said, "You're somewhere else now, this living room isn't yours"?

• What if we noticed that something was amiss but couldn't find the right way to intervene? What if we didn't know which path was the right one, without hearing from anyone, "Don't worry, you're in a labyrinth, the way out is this way"?