Senior Moments: Creatively Thriving Through Theatre

Photos by Marc J. Chalifoux

Over twenty years ago, ARTA member David Barnet, a now-retired drama professor from the University of Alberta, sat down with a group of retirees in a seniors’ centre.

They wanted to start a theatre company, and David suggested a creative twist: perform original, authentic theatre that would speak directly to their lived experiences and perspectives on aging. A community of senior actors, the GeriActors, was born. Since then, the GeriActors have written dozens of plays that they perform at community centres, libraries, and residences for theatre lovers of all ages.

Six years later, the group became GeriActors & Friends when they welcomed university students to join — a way to bring even more energy to their group. David also started a class at the University of Alberta called Intergenerational Theatre. The goal was for the students to collaborate with the GeriActors through a playful and creative process to produce unique stories. The energy in the group did change: “It’s almost as if a light went on,” David recalls. “The youth were learning freedom, and risk, and adventure, and joyfulness.”

In pursuit of more initiatives to spread theatre, the GeriActors started an outreach program that has grown over the past two years. The program helps local senior and intergenerational groups to develop storytelling, writing, and improvisation skills. “It’s this great opportunity and group of like-minded people that we can collaborate with,” says Becca Barrington, the GeriActors’ administrator. Members come in with varying levels of experience, but they are all on an equal playing field at the GeriActors. The goal of their theatre is not to be impressive but rather to be creative and enjoy learning. “We use a lot of laughter, and we use a lot of play,” Becca emphasizes, sharing how the GeriActors break down barriers, dispel worries, and build a safe space to try new skills.

For newcomers to the outreach program, nerves are normal, but David emphasizes that there is acting ability within everyone. When we think of hobbies in retirement, we might first think of gardening, painting, knitting, or yoga. The GeriActors challenge seniors through unique creative outlets. “They need to overcome obstacles, to reach for new things, to do movement, to do comedy, to learn timing,” David says. He thinks that older people have so much to add to the theatre world, and their performances are a testament to the stories they have lived through and want others to understand. “Seniors have so much world experience and can tap into something that is so true,” says David. “They can create absolutely meaningful and clear theatre.”

When writing their plays, the GeriActors don’t make it about age, instead focusing on the experience of aging. One of their shows, Now That We’re Older, is about all the things that we leave behind as we age, but also the things we gain. One of the jokes they make is “having a senior moment.” Forgetting your keys, losing your glasses, and needing directions are often portrayed as mistakes that seniors make; however, the younger actors point out that everyone forgets or misplaces items. “This might be something that we think is happening because we get older,” Becca says, “but we just think about it differently when it happens to us when we’re younger.” David, Becca, and their writing team avoid stereotypes about seniors by drawing inspiration from their members’ experiences and highlighting the good, the new, and the difficult parts of aging.

Through their performances, the GeriActors hope to share stories that are recognizable by their audience. David says, “We’re striving for the audience to say, ‘I know that! I know that to be true!’” Community with the audience is important; it’s not just about performing for spectators who sit and watch, but it’s also about sharing ideas, demonstrating the rehearsal process, and experiencing the shows as one. Becca hopes their performances resonate with other seniors in the audience and inspires them to take up something new and challenging. As for the younger generation attending their shows: “I hope they come away seeing how diverse seniors are,” Becca says, “and seeing what older people are capable of.”

Theatre lovers in the Greater Edmonton Area can register in the GeriActors’ outreach workshops or find out more information about their performances at geriactors.ca.

Jennelle Lew
Communications Coordinator, ARTA