Abstract
The work was created through a series of experimental performance workshops, which explored the meaning and lived experience of growing older, grappled with the philosophical questions posed by the process of ageing and cultural notions of old age, while also challenging stylistic expectations of elder theatre by engaging in experimental and non-naturalistic theatre practices. The piece used multimedia effects, live video streaming and photographic montage. The ages of the members of Passages – co-researchers in the project – in the early stages ranged from fifty to ninety-two; members were recruited from the community, particularly, though not exclusively, through the University of the Third Age, Sheffield branch (SU3A)
The piece was created over a number of months and different versions of it were performed during this time. The earliest 'scratch' performance took place at the University of Sheffield on 3 December 2012 to postgraduate students and staff and was called ‘Making the Time of our Lives’, a fully developed and technically realised version was given a public performance at the university’s Theatre Workshop on 18 April 2013 as part of the Arts Enterprise festival and the last performance was part of a multidisciplinary conference at the University on 11 June 2013. In the interim, versions of the piece were performed at St Mary’s Community Centre on Bramall Lane, at Roman Ridge Extra Care Centre in Wincobank and at The Winter Garden in Sheffield city centre under the title Life Acts.
The piece was created over a number of months and different versions of it were performed during this time. The earliest 'scratch' performance took place at the University of Sheffield on 3 December 2012 to postgraduate students and staff and was called ‘Making the Time of our Lives’, a fully developed and technically realised version was given a public performance at the university’s Theatre Workshop on 18 April 2013 as part of the Arts Enterprise festival and the last performance was part of a multidisciplinary conference at the University on 11 June 2013. In the interim, versions of the piece were performed at St Mary’s Community Centre on Bramall Lane, at Roman Ridge Extra Care Centre in Wincobank and at The Winter Garden in Sheffield city centre under the title Life Acts.
Original language | English |
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Media of output | Online |
Publication status | Published - 18 Apr 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |