From 28 Sep – 2 Oct we celebrated EldersFest, a culmination and celebration of ten years of creative ageing here at the Royal Exchange Theatre. To mark the occasion, we hosted an incredible festival of new performances, as well as a range of brilliant artistic outcomes created over the last ten years.

EldersFest included a brand-new show ACTS OF LOVE, by 14 Elders. The show explored love in all its forms and ACTS OF LOVE included both real and imagined stories, based on lived experiences.

Elders Programme Producer Andy Barry said,

I have seen first-hand the impact that taking part has on people. I have witnessed the building of an older artistic community that empowers people to experience a deep sense of belonging, make new friends and connections, and to gain confidence and resilience to manage the challenges and opportunities of later life.  

The festival also offered an opportunity to relive some highly acclaimed past Elders productions such as the DREAM PROJECT CELEBRATION which included a public demonstration of Tai Chi in the Great Hall by participants from the 2023 Dream Project, followed by a celebration outcome in the Studio which included elements of our 2024 Dream Project this summer. As well as a new piece called THE REUNION by the 2022 Dream Project participants, this was directed by Carla Henry. We’re delighted that the 2022 Dream Project Elders have gone on to create their own independent theatre company DOMINOES & DHALIAS (+OWERE!) who we continue to support. Their plan is to tour THE REUNION to other community and arts settings around Greater Manchester.

Amongst these fantastic projects we also hosted: a new installation called THE LAB: ELDERS COMING OF AGE that explored ageing, ageism and the impact of taking part in the Elders, a film screening of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED IN ISOLATION narrated by Julie Hesmondhalgh, a night of ELDERS STAND UP COMEDY led by Natalie Diddams and compered by Dave Williams, an ALL FM LIVE RADIO BROADCAST from the Great Hall, a performance of 10ACITY!, a brand-new afternoon of entertainment from ExEl (Ex Elders Company), a newly formed ELDERS GRADUATE CHOIR and five activity sessions ranging from puppetry to poetry.

A comment from Elders Company member Helen Browne who took part in EldersFest,

Although I did my initial year with the Elders five years ago, there has been a continuation and growth. I’m glad to say that the idea just didn’t fold up and as this is only the 10th Anniversary of the Elders, there is a constant sense of movement and creativity and plenty of options to join in and engage.

Andy Barry continues,

The Elders is about all our futures. We are all getting older. The Elders who take part are fantastic role models for us all. Taking our cue from them, I cannot wait to see what inspired, radical and artistic adventures are yet to come, and what will emerge during the next ten years. Hopefully by our Golden anniversary, current members of our Young Company will be taking part and pioneering their own radical version of creative ageing.