While current stories of migration fill our newspapers, we can forget that many older people have fascinating stories to tell about the adventures, challenges and delights of their travels in the earlier decades of their lives. They may have moved from one street to the next, or crossed continents
Discovering Our Histories gives opportunities to remember and share these histories, and a platform on which to show audiences that change and adventure have been part of all our lives.
Montage has experience in recruiting and working with older people. Our current participants are drawn from eight islands in the Caribbean, as well as Turkey, Argentina, and Nigeria.
What we'll deliver:
- Find 25 older people to participate in the project
- Perform the finished piece
- Run workshops to create the project
Why it's a great idea:
Older people are too often ignored and the richness and wisdom they have can benefit future generations immeasurably. This project will document the participants' lives and adventures, both funny and tragic, and share them in uniquely memorable ways through dance and drama. It will challenge ageist stereotypes while entertaining the local community. Older people taking part in the project will build new friendships, discover shared histories and improve physical fitness through movement and dance. Participants will improve cognition, both from remembering life events and remembering sequences of the performance piece. The delight and satisfaction of public performance is great for enhancing self-esteem and confidence. Audiences may have their preconceptions of older age challenged, as well as learning a little about ordinary people's histories, and for some, the experience of dancing alongside the group will be amazing!
Steps to get it done:
- 2 performances at public venues in Lewisham.
- 20 workshop sessions of 2 hours each week to develop the work at a heavily subsidized fee to encourage access to all.
- Recruit participants through our existing relationships with older people's organisations and support networks
- Proven experience of Montage Theatre Arts and Anna Brown as lead facilitator.
We're all getting older - and more invisible. Time to remind all ages that older people have incredible riches to share. And to remind them in ways that will move, delight and stay with you long after the dancing has stopped!
