The death of a loved one can be the hardest topic of all to openly talk about with other people.

With that in mind, the team at St Mary's Hospice in Ulverston are once again trying to find ways to get people to open up and to remove the stigma around death.

Their community hub will be hosting a 'Love, Life and Death' event at the Forum in Barrow to mark Dying Matters Awareness Week.

Read more: Ulverston hospice organises special Barrow performance | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)

On Thursday, May 9, the team will welcome Pluto Productions, who will be performing the play ‘Blue Skies’ written by Brian Daniels to shed light on the work hospices do across the country.

The Mail: The hospice will be hoping that their return to The Forum will be as big of a hit as their choir performance in MarchThe hospice will be hoping that their return to The Forum will be as big of a hit as their choir performance in March (Image: St Mary's Hospice)

Lynsey Lawson, team leader at St Mary’s Hospice Community Hub, said: “We are delighted to be holding this event at part of Dying Matters Week, welcoming Pluto Productions to the forum in Barrow.

"The event will not only give attendees the chance to watch the fantastic performance of the play ‘Blue Skies’, but also the opportunity to find out all about the work of St Mary’s Hospice and begin to open the important conversations of death, dying and bereavement.”

Every year, people around the UK use Dying Matters Awareness Week as a moment to encourage all communities to get talking in whatever way, shape or form works for them.

The theme this year is ‘The way we talk about Dying Matters’ and will focus on the language people use and conversations they have around death and dying, specifically between healthcare professionals and patients, as well as their carers and family.

The play focuses on the importance of hospice care and open dialogue through the eyes of a young man confronted with the prospect of losing his mum.

The Mail: The hospice has a long legacy of marking Death Matters Awareness Week, including a series of community cafes back in 2018The hospice has a long legacy of marking Death Matters Awareness Week, including a series of community cafes back in 2018 (Image: St Mary's Hospice)

Following the performance, hospice staff will be encouraging conversations around this subject in a relaxed and supportive space as well as showcasing the work of St Mary’s Hospice.

This event is open to everyone and is free - if you would like to book a place, you can visit the website here.