theatre

Scenes from 'Radio Days' - an Age Exchange Youth Theatre production


Still from 'In My Father's Footsteps' - a film made by students from 3 Lewisham schools as part of Age Exchange's 'Apprentice Arts' programme
more about this project >>


Scene from the Youth Theatre's recent June 2006 production    more images >>

Youth Theatre

Free Youth Theatre opportunities at Age Exchange

Age Exchange has started a new exciting project for young people. We are setting up two youth theatre groups to develop theatre by exploring the memories of older people. Age Exchange is the leading UK charity in reminiscence work and values the past memories of all people in the community. It wants to provide reminiscence with an opportunity for wider appreciation and recognition through arts and intergenerational theatre. In recognition of this the Foundation for Sports and the Arts has generously funded two youth theatre groups which will start this summer. The young people will work with older people to learn about their life experiences and devise ways of sharing these experiences with the wider community.

One group will be for ages 7 -11 and the other for 12 - 18. Once the rehearsals begin the youth theatre will work on a series of productions inspired by older peoples first hand reminiscences. The young group will initially select a theme from 'Going to the match', 'Our street' or 'Friends and friendship' while the older participants will chose from 'Women, from suffragettes to Greenham Common', or 'The Great War and how it changed our lives'. The older group would also develop skills in lighting, sound, film and recording to support both groups.

The young people will have the opportunity to work with directors and writers who have long experience of working in professional theatre, with young people and also in reminiscence work.

The group for 7 -11s will meet on Saturdays from April 22nd to June 24th with a performance on June 24th. The older age group will meet soon after. There is no charge but participants will be selected by audition and chosen according to their interest and commitment rather than their theatrical skills, which will be a taught part of the project. They will be expected to attend every week.

images from June 24th 2006 performance >>

If you are interested please contact:
davidsavill@age-exchange.org.uk and we will get back to you to give you details of an open session so you can find out how to take part.

Professional Theatre

Information via davidsavill@age-exchange.org.uk

'Many Happy Retirements'

In this show, professional actors present scenes based on real life experience of coping with retirement. These scenes are performed at pre-retirement courses as a stimulus for discussion. The audience is actively involved in an original and humourous presentation which goes to the heart of the matter.

Information via suzannelockett@age-exchange.org.uk