Guildford Shakespeare Company’s latest outreach programme brings a love of the Bard to young and old...
Back in 2017, Channel 4 documentary Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds became the breakout TV hit of the year. The BAFTA-nominated show focused on a group of Bristol-based care home residents who were paired with a set of nursery aged children. And the result was nothing short of life-affirming, as the octogenarians sprang from their chairs to become ‘sleeping lions’, wildlife instructors and nursery rhyme singers.
Among the many viewers moved by the intergenerational experiment was Sarah Gobran, co-founder of Guildford Shakespeare Company, who began racking her brains to see just how GSC could replicate the exercise.
“It got me thinking about the many skills that we have as theatre practitioners, and how we should be constantly developing them so as to reach out beyond what we are trained to do – to try new things, to extend our community reach and to help more people get involved and feel less isolated,” she explains.
Her solution? A Shakespearean production featuring a cast of schoolchildren and elderly people that could be staged in a care home setting. Entitled Spirit of Youth, the project made its debut at Queen Elizabeth Park Care Home in Guildford – and, to everyone’s delight, it was a tremendous success.
“To be honest, we were absolutely blown away,” enthuses GSC head of education, Ant Stones. “We approached Weyfield Primary Academy in Guildford and were amazed at just how quickly both the children and the residents got stuck in. There were a few nerves on either side initially, but after a few minutes it was clear that it was going to work.”
With the plot of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as an outline, the children were encouraged to tell the story in their own words. The older people were on hand to explain and encourage, while the children’s energy and evident enthusiasm clearly lifted the spirits of the residents at Queen Elizabeth Park.
According to a subsequent study, the impact on both generations was almost instantly apparent. Among residents aged between 69 and 97, nearly 50% of those who took part displayed greater confidence, with 26% experiencing a positive change in mood and wellbeing. Over a third said they felt their mobility and physical strength had improved, while more than a quarter enjoyed the increased social interaction.
Teachers, meanwhile, reported a series of pupil positives. The children, all aged seven or eight, were twice as likely to listen to instructions in class, more likely to work well with others (91%) and better motivated to learn independently (71%).
According to Ant, Shakespeare’s plays constitute the perfect foundation for a love of theatre, enabling the group to interpret and consider the characters in a variety of ways. The children frequently found that their initial, often negative views were challenged, giving them a greater understanding and appreciation of the Bard.
“Everyone has to study Shakespeare at secondary school,” says Ant. “Hopefully this project gives children, who may not get to see his work performed, an insight into the plays and a love of the stories that will stay with them.”
Unsurprisingly the scheme, funded by the Community Foundation for Surrey, is currently enjoying a second run at the care home, this time with Shakespeare’s final play, The Tempest, centre stage.
“We liked the themes of the passing on of wisdom and the promise of youth that the play explores,” explains Ant.
The GSC has no doubt that both residents and pupils will get as much out of the experience as last year’s cohort and Ant is already looking forward to the grand finale performance.
“The fun and enthusiasm is infectious,” he says. “Children and older people often feel like no one is listening, but with this project, they are the only voices we hear. It’s brilliant.”
To find out more about GSC’s current productions and outreach programme visit: guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk
