3 incredible films speak of autobiography, Rochdale and creative ageing. A project in partnership with the University of Manchester.
During 2023 and 2024, the Royal Exchange Theatre has partnered with the University of Manchester to conduct research exploring creative ageing to really understand what ageism is.
The research is being co-conducted by Dr. MaoHui Deng (Lecturer in Film Studies) and Dr. Sophie Everest (Lecturer in Film Practice) with Andy Hardman (Lecturer in Creative Practice and Cultural Industries) and older participants. The older participants have been making films using phones or camera equipment about a subject of their choosing. In this way we are getting to understand the point of view of the participants.
The first phase of the project involved Elders Leaders (including Gill Bassam, Tony Cocker, Jackie Corr, Paul Green. Bernard Leach, Jacquie Long, Christine Ovens, Lorraine Reynolds, Ann Sarge Glyn Treharne and David Weston) creating their own short films. The second phase of the project involved the Elders Leaders as peer mentors working with three new filmmakers from Rochdale, as well as professional filmmaker Kieran Hanson from Kenawa Films.
Rochdale filmmakers Shahnaz Abbas, Slamet Khan (known as Khan) and Anne Taylor created original documentary films about unique aspects of their lives and their relationship with Rochdale.
Dr. Deng and Dr. Everest will use the films as a starting point to present findings on creative ageing, which we will be published later this year.
