DEMENTIA is not a typically funny subject but that has not stopped one man from creating a musical comedy about the subject.

Steve Cooper is bringing a musical about his mother-in-law's dementia to The Met this month.

Paradise Lodge, is inspired by Mr Cooper's experience caring for Dorothy in the final years of her life.

Mr Cooper and his wife Tracey, cared for Dorothy for four years before she entered a care home.

He said: "Dorothy’s condition became apparent after her husband, Peter died. We wanted her to be able to live at home as long as possible, so Tracey and I became her full-time carers.

"I wanted to try to understand and help others understand how dementia changes the way we see reality and the impact that can have, but to look at it in a light hearted way which celebrates the lives of people with the condition."

Paradise Lodge features Mr Cooper and Sophie Osborne, playing nine roles between them.

The play begins with them as a dysfunctional ukulele music duo, Eric and Kylie, who embark on their first gig together at the Paradise Lodge care home.

Ms Osborne who cared for her grandma for 10 years after she developed dementia, she said: "There’s a lot in Paradise Lodge that will be familiar to anyone who’s been affected by dementia. One in three people will develop the condition and we wanted to encourage people to think about the person behind the dementia, which is why we’ve staged the play so the audience feels that like Vi and Ronnie, they’re a resident in a care home, watching Eric and Kylie perform."

The play uses a series of flashbacks and comic songs from the 1940s to transport Vi, Ronnie and the audience back to a time when they thought they could live forever.

Mr Cooper said: "Dementia is now a bigger killer than heart disease in the UK. What we hope the play will do is encourage people to think about the condition in a different way and talk about how we handle it."

Paradise Lodge is at The Met, Market Street, Bury on Thursday, January 18 as part of a north west and London tour.

Book tickets online through The Met's website or call the box office on 0161 761 2216.