Thirty people, all 60 years or over, arrived at the first ever session of Act Your Age in March 2017 at the Brewery Arts, Kendal. The only advertising for this meeting was a poster.
Over the years the group has changed and morphed. Today a strong company of 20 members continues and thrives.
Tricia Gordon was AYA’s founder and first tutor. She has returned to that role after a short absence.
Tricia sees the group as an opportunity for partnership, enthusing about the ‘phenomenal’ skills within AYA. She sees the way forward as more self-sufficient alongside support.
CEO and Artistic Director, Miriam Randall, who joined the Brewery in June 2019, says that their core mission is the Creative Learning as well as promoting the Arts in the community. And although events are important to bring the community together for culture and entertainment, she is keen to see groups like AYA grow and develop.
Even during lockdown, when people were not allowed to meet, the group explored the potential of Zoom and discovered new and fun ways of being creative. One member spoke of how it was the highlight of their week during that rather bleak period.
Past projects include:
- The curtain-raiser in collaboration with Paines Plough Theatre Company at Abbot Hall.
- Headlong Theatre Project – a national initiative that came about as a response to the divisions within England over Brexit culminating in a performance at Bristol Old Vic. Act Your Age was one of four companies involved from across England.
- ‘Borders’ – a project initiated by Duns Literature Festival – performed at the Brewery and Duns.
- ‘A Different Tune’, in partnership with Dignity in Dementia to raise awareness and toured around South Cumbria.
Partnerships are clearly fundamental to Act Your Age for both its development and opportunities.
More recently, AYA has performed several pieces at the Brewery, some of which were created and written in-house.
A range of reasons have inspired members to join, and they have come with a mix of theatre and acting experience – in some cases – none.
Amateur and community theatre have been the grounding for some. Others have watched with interest from the sidelines most of their lives before taking the plunge once they have reached 60.
A love of performance and indeed of AYA, is clear when speaking to members.
One spoke enthusiastically, “Everyone brings something to the group and there is so much creativity, ranging from writing, acting and ideas for projects”.
Another talked about how they had initially wanted to make a backstage contribution and be involved with costume. They had never performed before. But, on joining AYA, meeting people who could not have been ‘nicer or kinder’ and experiencing the fun of working with others on improvisation, games and scripts, they realised they had found something they loved.
As the advertising information says:
Act Your Age is an open theatre group aimed at those over 60 to develop new skills, stretch their creativity, build their confidence and have lots of fun.
Happily, this appears to be an accurate description and something that has become a fulfilling, joyous and challenging addition to the lives of AYA’s members.
Act Your Age runs on Tuesdays 1-3pm. It is part of the Creative Learning programme, which offers a wide range of activities for all ages and abilities. Find out more and book your space here.
-Written by Jules Boswell, AYA participant
