Creative arts organisation Vintage Creative Therapies (VCT) is seeking the interest of older community members interested to participate in a new theatre performance piece ‘Aware’.

The performance will debut in the 2023 Adelaide Fringe with a focus on tackling ageism in our community.

According to VCT’s community arts director Alan Hendry, ‘Aware’ has been designed with input from older members of the community.

“A diverse range of individuals and community groups has been consulted to explore current knowledge and attitudes towards ageism and these have helped inform the direction and content of the piece,” says Alan.

“The final look and feel is very much a product of this consultative process.”

The creative team at VCT decided early on that casting for the performance would include a mix of trained theatre mentors (known as ‘stage buddies’) and community members.

“This helps to give the piece an authentic heart and soul,” explains Alan.

“The audience should feel that they are experiencing something that really represents the voice of the older person in the community.”

“Apart for some short verbatim dialogue scenes, which will be performed by the mentors, ‘Aware’ is very much a visual theatre piece so there are no lines to be memorised. This makes it very accessible to performers who have little or no theatre training.”

“If someone is willing to explore their creative side in a safe, supportive and fun environment then they have all the skills needed to participate.”

Alan and his team have been careful to design scenes which support diversity and inclusion for both the audience and performer, allowing for the scenes to be directed in a way that caters to each performer’s stage mobility and access requirements.

“Theatre mentors will be on hand at all rehearsals and performances to ‘buddy’ with community performers as an added support for any stage newcomer nerves.”

“We hope to recruit six community members to the cast. The performers will be encouraged to thrive and create some amazing theatre together.”

“If being a performer is not for you and you would still like to help then backstage, front of house and general volunteers are always needed.”

“My hope is to build an amazing team of both helpers and performers that together will showcase the amazing potential of the older person in society,” says Alan.

For more information on attending one of the information & audition sessions on 31 October 2022 and 2 November 2022, contact Alan at enquiries@vintagecreativetherapies.com.au or register your interest in attending a session here.

This project is supported by Office for Ageing Well.