Elders Company

Theatre companies for anyone aged 65 and over.

Through free weekly workshops led by professional directors and facilitators, our two Elders Companies take part in workshop activities and devise and rehearse their own productions for performance on stage at Southwark Playhouse and in the community.

“I always found a welcome at the Elders Company and enjoyed the creative activity. I also found a sense of belonging & pride in what we have achieved together. Last but not least I have made some new friends!”

To find out more please contact David Workman, Head of Participation, on 0207 407 0234 or david.workman@southwarkplayhouse.co.uk.

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The Southwark Players
Through exploring new and existing plays, the Southwark Players are a theatrical ensemble aiming to comprehend the contemporary world and the human condition through drama, gaining a knowledge of theatre through the process. The Southwark Players are open to all, but would be of particular interest to those with some previous experience of performing.

The Southwark Improvisers
Taking the blank page as their starting point, the Southwark Improvisers develop new work through ensemble building and skills development, to explore themes and topics of interest to them in unique and original ways. The Southwark Improvisers serves as a good way in for anyone taking part in drama activities for the first time or for the first time in a significant period of time.

Our Elders Companies are free to attend for anyone aged 65 or over. Participants will only be able to be a member of one of our Companies, although collaborations and meetings between both will take place on occasion.

No previous experience is necessary, just a willingness to get involved, take part and have fun. Participants must be able to make their own way to and from sessions.

A waiting list is in operation at certain times – please contact us to find out more.

SUPPORTED BY
The WG Edwards Charitable Foundation
When?
The Southwark Players: Monday, 10.30am – 12.30pm.
The Southwark Improvisers: Wednesday, 10.15am – 12.15pm

Where?
Our workshops are currently being held both at our current venue on Newington Causeway and our new venue on Newington Butts, both in Elephant and Castle. Full details will be provided.
Previous productions include:

Attempts on her Life by Martin Crimp (March 2022)

Homecoming written and performed by the Company (September 2020)

Monkey Bars by Chris Goode (December 2019)

Henry V (July 2019 at Southwark Playhouse and the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse)

King Lear (February 2019)

Edwina’s Christmas Carol (December 2018)

They Sailed Away (August 2018)

Re:Union (September 2017)

The Elders Company Cabaret (December 2016)

Be The Change (May 2016)
“A company of untrained older performers is showing the professionals how to do put work on during Covid-19. Just don’t call them amateurs.”
The pioneering theatre company that’s challenging ageism by Claire Alfree for The Telegraph

“The entire company, who had obviously worked hard, threw themselves into the production with gusto. …this project is a significant contribution to show older performers that not only do they matter, but also that they can collaborate to create work of a standard that both deserves -and rewards- an audience”
Unrestricted Theatre on our production of Monkey Bars.

So lovely to see Monkey Bars in the brilliantly capable hands of @SwkPlayEldersCo this evening. They were fresh & funny & fabulous, &
@TobyClarkee’s production was brimming with new insights — I heard all kinds of things in the text I hadn’t heard before. Thanks all! An honour.
Playwright Chris Goode on our production of Monkey Bars

They Sailed Away by @SwkPlayEldersCo @swkplay should be compulsory viewing for politicians & policymakers.
Roslyn Byfield on They Sailed Away
Elders Company Projects:

Southwark Playhouse Elders Company regularly develop new bespoke projects to create performances and opportunities that connect with our local community.

We are always seeking opportunities to develop new work with other theatre companies and artists, arts organisations and charities. If you have an idea, or are interested in developing a project you think the Elders Company could contribute to, please email david.workman@southwarkplayhouse.co.uk.

Plays For Today

At the start of 2020, Southwark Playhouse commissioned playwrights Abraham Adeyemi, Georgia Green, Sophie Ellerby, Stewart Melton and Justina Kehinde to pen brand new short plays for performance by the Elders Company, its weekly drama group for anyone aged 65 and over.

Once lockdown hit, the theatre worked with the writers to adapt their plays for audio, and last summer members of the Elders Company gathered in small, socially distanced numbers at Southwark Playhouse to rehearse and record them.

You can listen to all the plays for free right here.

Past Projects

Mind the Gap

In both 2017 and, we have collaborated with the department of Drama at London South Bank University and New York Theatre Workshop on “Mind the Gap.”

Across a week, practitioners from New York Theatre Workshop work with an intergenerational group to explore shared stories and experiences between the generations, leading to a devised performance. Mind the Gap’s primary goal is to use theatre as a creative tool to increase empathy and communication between generations, and this has proven to be a hugely significant project for the group. More information on the programme can be found here: https://www.nytw.org/education/mind-the-gap/