Recently I had cause to pull together my work on Ageing as opposed to other projects, so I reproduce this below.
My script for 'The Benefit' is a welcome break from this and am glad to report that an extract was well received at a Bristol Old Vic Scratch Night last month.
MY WORK AND ACTIVISM ON AGEING AND THE LIFECOURSE
I began my blog in 2019: New Wave Ageing: (Ageing, Cultural
Diversity and the Performing Arts).
An early post sums up where I stand:-
As a Londoner, but resident in Bristol for the last 11 years, I have an
inherent and professional interest in this city’s multicultural arts
communities and environments. Even if I had not taught drama
in Hackney for many years, and performed in various, curious settings, these
would always be my comfort zones. Some 15 years ago I took a not
unrelated shift towards sociology, ultimately gaining a PhD with the University
of Bristol. So I have grown older myself sheltering under these
complimentary umbrellas. My desire now is to connect with
individuals and organizations, creative and otherwise, who want to
see positive changes, for now and for future generations, in the way we
experience our later lives. Consistent with public policy
in Bristol, these are to:-
· Promote
the cultural diversity of older men and women through the performing arts and
beyond.
· Challenge
traditional representations of later life and the ageism they perpetuate.
· Re-present
later life through the lens of authenticity and autonomy.
Further Age-Relevant Professional
Activity:-
2010 Advisor on Qualia Theatre’s
production at Bristol Old Vic Theatre In Her Shoes All about older women
and their clothing.
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/activities/advisor-on-production-in-her-shoes-performed-at-the-bristol-old-v Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council
(ESRC).
2012
Older and….? A collaboration with
photographer Deborah Weinreb. Older and... (dwphotoart.wixsite.com) An exhibition and workshop at Bristol’s
MShed. A project challenging perceptions
of older people in society. Funded by
the ESRC.
2015 Awarded my PhD from the
University of Bristol! Truth to the
Materiality of Later Life: the
Significance of the Aesthetic to the Support Needs of Older People.
2019 NEW WAVE
AGEING[1] (A discussion document, available on request)
‘If we are to successfully move to a new cultural environment – one that
accepts age diversity and eschews age prejudice – we must consider a wide range
of ways in which older adults can make a contribution.’ (Biggs, S. Kimberley, H. Carr, S. 2015:7) [3]
I
was grateful to those who took it
seriously, eg. Acta Theatre, Diverse Artists Network, Theatre Bristol and Sarah
Smith (former Board Chair of Tobacco Factory Theatre).
2019: Ageing and
Identity Workshop (I am
not who you think I am) at
Bristol’s Trinity Centre. (described on my blog) Ageing, Cultural Diversity
and the Performing Arts: 2019 (newwaveageing.com)
2019: I was a Theatre Bristol Agent at ‘Age Against the Machine Festival of
Creativity in Ageing’ London Borough of
Lewisham. About Age Against the
Machine | Age Against the Machine
2021
– 2: My play script Age
Queer afforded dramaturgical
support by Theatre West under their Arts Council funded Zooming Ahead Scheme for Women Writers. This
followed up by a Zoom performance and a rehearsed reading at Bristol’s Trinity
Centre.
2022:
Presented
at a Theatre Bristol Assembly: Emergent
at any Age. My presentation entitled ‘Lifecourse, Legacy and
Multigenerational Approaches to the Arts’ (powerpoint available on request).
2022: Extracts from Age
Queer performed in the Galleries
Broadmead Shopping Centre as part of the Artivist
in a Box / Altered Festival highlighting
the strong relationship between local artivists and political activism.
(described in my blog). I wrote on a
jacket to underscore this.
[1]
New Wave definition :
: 1. a fashion in something, such as art, music, cinema, or
politics, that is intentionally different from traditional ideas in that
subject or activity: 2. people who are doing activities in a new and different way: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/new-wave
f art
on people’s lives.
[3]
Carr. A., Bigg, S. Kimberley, H. (2015) Ageing, Diversity and the Meaning(s) of
Later Life. Cultural, Social and
Historical Models to Age By in Readings in Law and Social Justice V11/2015
Issue pp 7 - 60
