It's so important for senior citizens to be involved in the arts.
One option is having staged readings and reader's theatre events. As we get older, memorization becomes difficult. This is not an option with reader's theatre, and this is a very important element in the arts. Here at the Senior Theatre Guild, beginning this Fall, we'll have different theatre events every month, and begin with a reader's theatre event in September.
What is reader's theatre? If you're not familiar with this form of art, it's a form of drama where actors read from scripts. They have no costumes, special lighting or sets. The focus is on reading the scripts to the audience, where voice and interpretation makes an impact to engage the audience, and help the audience visualize things. This is also known as 'theatre of the mind'.
It's a very dynamic activity that has little use, and is very important for many reasons. Along with engaging the audience in a different artistic way, it enhances reading skills, and creates an innovative experience for the audience. The focus is on voice and interpretation. Scenes are not acted out. Actors use their voices, gestures and facial expressions to bring the words on the page to life. In creative staged readings, some places even include a Q&A/discussion event afterwards, where the audience can give feedback to help the actors in the future.
Reader's Theatre provides a fun way for people to engage with a script. It's very interactive, helps with reading skills, and can be used in a variety of ways. This includes scripts, poems, even stories from books. This innovative, interactive form of art can be instrumental in helping with confidence and performance. There are many ways to implement this in the community, and can be a great learning experience!
You're never too old to learn.
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