Our Voices Were Heard

How can we be a more age-friendly society?

Our Voices Were Heard engaged older residents in the Newcastle areas of Kenton and Fawdon in a piece of community theatre that aimed to help to create a more age-friendly society.

Inspired by our previous project Celebrating Age, and delivered in partnership with The Elders Council of Newcastle, we took the themes, ideas, and priorities outlined in the age-friendly manifesto developed by our team of co-creators and used them to inspire a new production.

Recognising that the punk generation of the 1970s is now in their 60s and within the Elders Council's remit, we used the spirit of punk as a key engagement tool. This approach added a dynamic and rebellious edge to our creative process.

A steering group of older people, including members from the Elders Council's Active Voice group, co-designed the creative process. They shaped community engagement plans, designed activities, and contributed their ideas through weekly sessions, ensuring that the project was genuinely led by and for older people.

The Our Voices Were Heard performance – delivered as part of The International Day of Older People - encouraged audiences to rethink how society perceives and treats older people, exploring experiences of ageism through a creative and rebellious lens.

Creative Team

Director
Annie Rigby

Producer
Midge Ryall

Graphic Design
Wayne Gamble

Marketing Manager
Victoria Sanderson