Theatre’s silver lining

SINGAPORE — I hold Theatre For Seniors close to my heart.

I had been wanting to start a theatre training programme for seniors long before funding was available. As we all know, theatre is a sure way to develop community bonding and social cohesion. Moreover, I was looking forward to tap on the wealth of the seniors’ history and life experiences, generating material to make meaningful theatre.

Sure enough, when we started the three-year Theatre For Seniors programme in 2008, we became inspired by their determination, stamina, willingness to give and their resourcefulness. They looked forward eagerly to the once-a-week lessons, 10 weeks-per-term, four terms-per-year programme. They miss each other during the two-week breaks at the end of each term. Most of them showed a hunger for lessons, looking forward to the end of the year Encore showcase, when friends, family members, relatives and others from the community would come to support their graduation efforts.

The challenge came at the end of the three-year journey. How do we continue the experience, how are we going to make their existence sustainable?

TEETHING CHALLENGES

Theatre For Seniors split into two entities as the leaders wanted different objectives: Theatre For Seniors Interest Group (parked at The Necessary Stage) and Ageless Theatre (independent), with some actors working with both groups. That way, the energies will spread faster and wider.

However, more needs to be done. There are still huge segments of seniors that have not been reached. We also need more facilitators. So we started training some senior facilitators. They underwent a 10-session facilitator course and are now equipped to carry out basic acting workshops to orientate more seniors to acting, to enjoy theatre’s benefits and to hopefully contribute to the repertoire of community arts in the near future.

One wonders why community arts remains the poor cousin to mainstream productions. As we trace its gradual development, I cannot but mention the prejudices this genre face. However, like all marginalised sectors, one can either collapse under pressure or rise to the challenges. With a community that brings so much energy to rehearsals, I am constantly inspired to envision the various ways these seniors are going to break new ground if only they are able to continue and be nurtured in their practice.

A SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE

I did not have an audition when we started the three-year theatre training for these seniors. Instead, I had an interview, explaining to them what the course entails — actual training and learning of acting skills, and not just for leisure purposes.

Most of the women shared that they dabbled in acting when they were in school. Then they had to work, become a wife and a mother. Now semi-retired, with their children all grown up, they wanted to explore and rekindle their past love. Most of them are dedicated. They arrive half an hour before rehearsal time and eventually, they formed groups to watch plays, went for picnics and organised karaoke sessions outside of training time. A community had formed.

When they graduated in 2011, funding had stopped, and activities ceased. The Necessary Stage started to source for fresh funds. The climate was for seniors to become an interest group, working on the spirit of volunteerism, so they would remain as “low maintenance”. In other words, it became challenging to secure funds, but still not impossible.

One of the seniors challenged a funder: Why do you need a five-year plan from us? We have just graduated from a three-year training course. We are currently trying to find our feet on the ground. We are touring to moral homes with our short skits. Can you sponsor us this interim year so at the end of it we will be able to have a five-year plan? You want community, we are community. You want seniors, we are seniors. We don’t have very much time left you know?

What’s amazing with this special group of seniors is that they pushed on. A few of them insisted they will give all they have to ensure that Theatre For Seniors will not go easy into oblivion. And so they continued for a year without funding. The climate changed and funding became available.

Now, the seniors are up and about preoccupied with training, bringing theatre to the community, getting involved in professional productions, in school shows, in training programmes at hospitals and in other cultural productions. Some are soon going to train other seniors — new to the theatre. And some have already signed up for a forum theatre workshop planned for November this year. Exciting times for the seniors, but this would not have happened if not for their endurance and stamina. Their political will to exist, enjoy themselves, continue learning and yearning to spread the joy of theatre to other seniors.

And that is why I will continue to hold Theatre For Seniors close to my heart.

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Alvin Tan is the founder and artistic director of The Necessary Stage. This essay was first published in Urban Kulit (http://urbankulit.org/), a Singapore theatre blog.

Encore IV: Love, Life, which features The Necessary Stage’s Theatre For Seniors, runs from June 20 to 23, 8pm, Marine Parade Community Building Theatrette. With 3pm weekend matinees. Tickets at S$17 from http://www.ticketmash.sg.