Fifty - Something Theatre Company
Burnley Lancashire
Your story
Members gain confidence learning to sing, act and perform, and to enjoy entertaining.
Group introduction
The ‘Fifty-Something Theatre Group’ was formed in 1996 under a Management Committee comprising 8 members to, ‘ensure access for older people to participate in all aspects of the performing arts’ and also ‘to promote awareness of issues relating to age and society’. These being the main Principles of our Constitution.
Currently, we have 25 members aged between 60 and 95. The majority of those who join our group have no previous experience but learn quickly in the warm and friendly atmosphere engendered by the group.
We rehearse every Thursday and find that members enjoy learning new skills and quickly grow in self-assurance realizing that being over retirement age does not mean being over the hill!
Over the years we have evolved a Concert format which includes songs, sketches, and poems. We perform regularly in Community Centres and Church Halls and other meeting places for organized community groups in the NE Lancashire area.
Our commitment to our second principle regarding ‘age’ takes us to all types of Care Homes to entertain those with disabilities including dementia and Alzheimer’s. The reaction to our songs and music by even the most seriously afflicted convinces us of the beneficial effect it has on our audiences and this, in turn, gives us confidence in our own ability to provide their entertainment as members of the Fifty-Something Theatre Club.
How would this funding have an impact on your community?
Our props and ancillary equipment such as our portable piano and sound equipment are in need of constant repair and renewal to enable us maintain our present level of commitment to the aims of our theatre company with regard to the community. £500 would not only help to cover these necessary expenses, but also ensure our ability to do so for the foreseeable future.
"The response from a severely disabled resident in a Care Home we visited recently was, ‘How wonderful for us who can’t get to a live show. You’ve brought one to us!’ This is something we, The Fifty -Something Theatre Company want to continue to do and expand upon.
Sandria Burkinshaw (chairperson)"