Today was our first day together working on our development project for NTW's Waleslab. As mentioned before we have had a working title for a piece based on older people for some time, entitled 'The Old Man' but have struggled with the time to develop this much further.
As a starting block for our research we all decided that we would take ourselves away separately and gather as much information, experience and elderly sustenance as possible. Antonio visited the 'University of the 3rd Age' a group that meet regularly to debate, share and learn new things. Justin had some lengthy telephone conversations and I had previously taken some home visits with my mum, who is a home carer.
Once we had arrived at Barnabus Art House this morning and began compiling all of our gatherings, it was only then it began to dawn on us how vast the subject matter of old age really is. We had so many questions that remain unanswered and assumptions that couldn't be generalised to even make a start on finding a common theme or through line. A few things discussed in no particular order were needs, wants, regrets, love, relationships, cognitive thought, technology, government, learning, inspiring, listening, change and of course the inevitable.....death.
I found personally that my experience talking, listening and interacting with the older people I visited actually made me feel almost depressed. To think of people at the end of their lives, having lived (as they all expressed) fulfilling and fruitful existences with no regrets, somehow couldn't shake for me that one day, I too would be old, with the capacity only to reminisce about the 'good old days'. A good friend once said to me, something that has always stuck ' Nostalgia is like a drug for the elderly', to be able to share a story with a total stranger of how you first met your husband, the birth of your first child, where you grew up, your parents, your experiences, your life. When you are the listener in this interchange of story telling it encourages you to think of your own life in that way.
It seemed that in the 100-odd year span we were looking at that ranged from when (according to the Guinness book of records) the oldest living woman was born to today, quiet a lot happened... (understatement!) to give you a clue there have been 2 world wars, 2 queens, 1 king, the invention of the television, public transport, computer, mobile telephones, commercial airline, moon landing and Harry Potter!
We'll be posting a blog every day this week just to keep you up to speed on all we're doing.
And of course, once again, if you are interested in the project then you can email us at : tinshedtheatre@gmx.com to come along to a sharing/show back this Friday 6th June at 6.30 Barnabas House.
Georgina
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