Note to the Geritol set. You are never too old to act your age. At least that’s the ongoing message coming from GeriActors and Friends as they unleash new workshops for theatrically inclined seniors.
The silver-haired crowd has a pick of three fun-filled workshops that will be offered across Edmonton in co-operation with local theatres, seniors’ organizations and the University of Alberta.
Comedy Improv is designed to bring out the next Jay Leno or Lily Tomlin, while Clown is a joyful rediscovery of the inner child and the inner fool. And for young-at-heart rockers, much like Mick Jagger, 67, and Paul McCartney, 68, there’s Rock and Roll.
“Something magic happens when you get a group of older people telling and acting a story of their lives. It’s a shining example that is touching and poignant,” says GeriActor founder David Barnet, also a University of Alberta drama department professor.
Ten years ago, Barnett was invited to the Society of Retired and Semi-Retired to establish a theatre troupe that could be used as a mechanism to tell seniors’ stories and raise problems they face — not only the ones that are obvious, but those rarely spoken about and brushed aside such as elder abuse.
“I felt at home working with old people. I felt very inspired and very encouraged,” Barnet adds.
Looking at the past decade, the troupe has become intergenerational and developed extensive outreach programs. “We’ve taken theatre to a serious level that was not done before.”
Barnet says that every work is original. And whether it is drama, comedy or melodrama, it is usually started through improvisation and then put to paper. “We talk a lot and have long, elegant coffee breaks.”
GeriActors is also responsible for the Creative Age Festival normally held in June. This year the seniors’ company has obtained additional research money for workshops.
“The idea is to involve people in theatre in all its aesthetics,” says Barnet, who hopes to one day have a seniors’ theatre troupe in every community.
While some seniors may be concerned that the physical rigours of the stage or declining memory makes it difficult to remember lines, Barnet cites a study by the late Dr. Gene Cohen of Washington University that the opposite is true.
For Barnet, it’s a win-win situation and he’s passionate about encouraging seniors to come out.
Comedy Improv, led by Amy Shostak, runs Fridays from Feb. 25 to Mar. 25 and focuses on creating characters, stories and scenes through improvisation. “Amy is artistic director of Rapid Fire Theatre and a leading improviser in the world.”
Clowning, led by Jan Henderson, runs Tuesdays from March 29 to April 19, and is more than just putting on a red nose. “Jan is one of Canada’s leading clown teachers and she is fantastic at allowing the inner child to emerge.”
Rock and Roll, led by Paul Morgan Donald, runs Wednesdays from May 18 to June 8, and is the genesis of a rock choir. “They’ll be singing heavy duty rock and roll and it ends with a recording.”
Cost is $25 per workshop. Call 780-420-1757 or purchase online at: www.tixonthesquare.ca.
