For a group of senior citizens in Bengaluru, all the world’s a stage. From expanding their social network to overcoming inhibitions and age-related problems, they are turning to theatre and acting. And helping them in this endeavour are senior citizen clubs in the city.
Parmila Juneja, 63, is one such actor who performed on stage after more than 55 years. “In school, I would participate in group dance and singing. Theatre was a whole new field for me, and it has helped me express myself better and make new friends,” she said.
Ms. Juneja is a member of the Silver Surfers Club that staged its very first theatre production recently with actors aged between 55 and 85 years. “While we have been conducting various activities, including dances and trips, many seniors expressed a desire to act. We conducted a theatre workshop earlier this year and saw the interest it generated among our members, and decided to stage a play with the elderly as the actors,” said Dipti Varma Narain, founder of the club.
While the production, which has three plays and features 18 senior citizens, was scripted and directed by storyteller Kavya Srinivasan and actor Vivek Madan, the stories drew from their personal experiences. “One story was about finding love after 60, another was about coping with technology,” said Ms. Narain, adding that the idea behind staging the play was to send a message of people getting 'older and bolder’.
For mind, body and soul
Other clubs, too, are turning to the stage, and organisers say that theatre can be therapeutic. Silver Talkies, an online magazine, has been conducting multiple activities to promote active ageing, and is offering a workshop for seniors conducted in association with Bangalore Little Theatre.
“The workshops have not only allowed elders to get on the stage, but offer a wholesome experience. Most elements of theatre, such as actions, storytelling and memory building, are covered along with exercises for the vocal cord, breathing, diaphragm use and relaxation,” said Nidhi Chawla, co-founder of Silver Talkies.
The group has conducted three workshops to date, and plans to organise more. “One of our participants was an 83-year-old suffering from Parkinson's Disease. He had mobility issues, but that was not a deterrent. His enthusiasm infused energy into the programme and showed others that despite age and health issues, people can follow their dreams and passion of acting,” Ms. Chawla added.
Rekindling energy
Organizational Theatre, which offers theatre-based activities for corporates, school children, teachers and young parents, recently started conducting a programme called 'Sixty is the new thirty', specifically designed for the elderly.
“We have already conducted three workshops. We use theatrical tools to talk about various issues faced by seniors. Isolation is their biggest worry. When they interact with each other, there is a feeling of togetherness,” said Almas Kotadia, co-founder of Organizational Theatre.
One of the city's oldest theatre groups, Bangalore Little Theatre, has been a pioneer of sorts in bringing seniors into theatre. Vijay Padaki, one of its founding members, said the Elders Theatre programme is an extension of their Summer Project on Theatre programme.
“In India, we tend to write off people as 'aged' once they cross 50. A vicious cycle sets in. Believing they are ageing, people stop doing many things and 'slow down’. That makes them age more rapidly. The biological fact is that the body-mind combination is actually peaking at 50. Theatre helps people rediscover themselves, because it helps integrate body-mind-voice,” said Mr. Padaki, adding that Elders Theatre draws a large repertoire of tools and techniques from theatre.
“We are hoping to tie up with more organisations working in the area of services for the elderly to offer the programme.”
