IF you’d been at The Maltings Arts Theatre on Friday morning you would have had one less worry over the weekend as a group of local older people banished any fears the audience might have had over growing older.

IF you’d been at The Maltings Arts Theatre last Friday morning you would have had one less worry over the weekend as a group of local older people banished any fears the audience might have had over growing older.

The seven actors, ranging in age from 60 to mid 80s, were dynamic, charismatic and ingenious throughout the pacey 45 minutes worth of sketches, mimes, anecdotes and poetry, clearly illustrating that life doesn’t slow down as you age.

Memories of taking shelter under the dining table during the Blitz and stuffing hand-me-down shoes with cardboard were both funny and moving. A slightly-adapted recitation of Philip Larkin’s This Be The Verse was delivered with great stage presence.

A snapshot of life for the elderly from 9pm to 9am was very amusingly delivered in a mime which demonstrated that nature’s calls make for an active night time!

The participants are all members of the local community who had worked alongside St Albans-based organisation Buskin (Hilary Dawson and Sarah Mackay) over a number of weeks to devise an original and entertaining piece of theatre.

To complement the drama, the group had also produced pieces of craft and artwork which were integrated into the set. The project was funded by the Targeting Change Fund.

Congratulations to Esther Connelly, Mavis and Trevor Lightowler, Mary Murphy, Denys Ramsay, Mo Richardson and Mic Rogers for successfully challenging the staid perceptions and stereotypes of old age and presenting us instead with a new role model that is active, exciting and funny!

Clare O’Kane