Seven months ago a group of seniors from Rockwood, Eden Mills and Guelph sponsored by the Eramosa Eden Retreat Centre received a New Horizon Grant.
Their project was to provide a social community theatre forum to raise public awareness on the issues facing seniors.
Over the last few months a curious group of seniors met at Eramosa Eden on Indian Trail and became involved. Through laughter and some tears they told their stories. Playwright Catherine Frid listened and took notes. Frid has written other plays: Homegrown, Over the Edge, The Bold Canadian, GuineaPigging and Dead Cat Bounce.
When asked about acting out their stories on stage in front of people, 90 per cent of the participants frowned and shook their heads. However, enthusiasm and confidence grew and they are all now in full rehearsal mode, meeting at the Eden Mills Community Hall for finishing touches on their original play Our Voices: Senior Selfies.
Dale Hamilton, artistic director at Everybody’s Theatre Company will direct. Hamilton is well known for writing and producing the first Canadian Colway-style collaborative community play, The Spirit of Shivaree, performed in the ruins of the old Rockwood Mill in 1990. Ed Langevin, a veteran stage manager, has worked on several local plays, including Jealous River and the Elora Community Theatre’s That Summer.
Eden Mills resident John Cripton, is one of Canada’s leading cultural figures in the performing arts and agreed to be the lighting and projection creator. Rounding out the creative team is Barbara Bryce from Guelph Little Theatre designing costumes and Joe Brenner producing the sound. Scenes range from a comical doctor’s visit, to grieving friends, to a competition for the best adult child. The show even includes a rollicking song the group created with local composer James Gordon.
“I didn’t realize our true-to-life stories could be turned into such a funny play,” says nonagenarian participant Sytske Drijber of Rockwood. Documentary film maker, Alberta Nye has been video taping rehearsals and will also be filming the show.
The play will be performed on Oct. 18 and 19 at 2pm in the Eden Mills Community Hall, 108 York St., Eden Mills and is a fundraiser for the hall.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Bookshelf in Guelph, or reserved by calling 519-856-0380 or online at ourvoicestickets@gmail.com. Only 120 seats are available so book now.
