Abstract
In this chapter Prue Wales and Alvin Tan reflect on Theatre for Seniors, an innovative theatre programme designed for members of Singapore’s ageing population. The Theatre for Seniors programme not only aimed to encourage seniors to stay active and keep learning, but also to explore potential late-life career prospects in the dramatic arts. The authors begin the chapter by contextualizing and tracing how The Necessary Stage, one of Singapore’s preeminent theatre companies, initiated and implemented the programme. This is followed by a presentation of the descriptive narratives of three of the participants who successfully developed late-life semi-professional performing-arts careers. In these narrative case studies the seniors express their subjectivities about the Theatre for Seniors programme as they highlight their varied experiences. Finally, Wales and Tan identify the challenges and rewards the programme elicited for both the participants and facilitators, and discuss the continuing evolution of Theatre for Seniors.
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Notes
- 1.
Otah (also known as otak-otak) are parcels of steamed fish wrapped in coconut leaves that are grilled over a flame.
- 2.
Bazhang (also known as bacang, bakcang, zongzi) are sticky rice dumplings.
- 3.
A Malay term for child’s play.
- 4.
Generic Anglicised names have been used to ensure ethnic and personal anonymity.
- 5.
Grassroots leaders are volunteers appointed by the People’s Association to serve their community.
- 6.
A Singapore term for suburban towns that are filled with HDB (housing development board) apartments where the majority of Singaporeans live as opposed to condos and landed properties housing the elite classes.
- 7.
The Silver Arts festival is an annual celebration that aims to foster local making by, for and about seniors.
- 8.
Organised by the Esplanade Theatre.
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Wales, P., Tan, A. (2019). Acting Beyond Retirement: The Necessary Stage’s Theatre for Seniors Programme. In: Finneran, M., Anderson, M. (eds) Education and Theatres. Landscapes: the Arts, Aesthetics, and Education, vol 27. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22223-9_17
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