The Blind Bay senior’s theatre began as a simple idea, but is now changing lives.
Peter Blacklock began the senior’s theatre club after someone expressed their interest in his other theatre projects, but was unable to drive at night to get to them.
The senior’s theatre isn’t about putting on large-scale productions. In fact, if you are nervous about acting in front of a crowd, you never need to.
Blacklock’s creation is more about the social side of things.
“There have been many studies that show as people get older they become more isolated,” Blacklock said, adding that this often results in a decreased quality of health.
Senior’s theatre provides a safe environment to learn new skills, exercise the brain, meet new friends, build social networks and find solutions for everyday problems.
Blacklock has found a way to interlace problem-solving and preparation with simple improv exercises.
He addresses common scenarios, which may appear at some point in a seniors life, and helps participants find ways to deal with them.
Even when the topics are heavier, the group ensures that fun is always the focus.
Recently, the group explored the issue of a senior being confronted by a child about their decreasing ability to safely drive a vehicle.
This is a conversation many will have, Blacklock said, but the group helped lighten the topic and they were able to work through a number of scenarios.
They were able to understand the child’s point of view, as well as find ways to cope with the information in a productive manner.
Blacklock takes suggestions for group topics, and has great feedback.
The group also participates in “brain gym,” a series of exercises meant to help keep the brain running in top shape. These include storytelling games which help improve memory, and others which require quick thinking.
“It is mostly about getting out and laughing,” Blacklock said.
It is this laughter that has made the senior’s theatre a huge success at the Cedar Heights Hall in Blind Bay, attracting a number of members each week, between age 40 to 80, as well as some special-needs students.
There is no limit on who can attend, as long as they are willing to have fun.
The group has been able to obtain federal grants, which have allowed them to create a handbook and instructional video so other areas can start their own seniors theatre as well.
Blacklock also received funding to begin a program in Salmon Arm, which has been very well-received, and another in Sorrento.
Blacklock has not had luck getting the Sorrento branch up and running in the past due to small turn outs.
However, he is giving it one more shot with the hope that residents in Sorrento and surrounding areas will come out and give it a shot.
Salmon Arm’s group meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Shuswap Theatre. In Sorrento it will be Tuesdays at 1 p.m. at Sorrento Hall, and the Blind Bay group meets Wednesdays at 1 p.m. at Cedar Heights Hall.
New members are always welcome.
“I have had many people who say that they would never do anything like this when they were younger, and then come in and love it,” Blacklock said.
