Senior Social Club – Sep 22 Term

Our Social Club is an opportunity for anyone aged 55 and over to connect with other members of our community, learn new skills and take part in fun activities.

This is an opportunity for participants to get involved creatively and is a safe inclusive space to forge new friendships.

The Social Club meets every Thursday from 12 ‘til 2 and the activities rotate on a monthly basis so the first session of each month will be the Meet Up, the second the Dance Group and so on… You can participate in as many of the activities as you wish – oh and the best part – brews and biscuits are included in the price!

Monthly Meet Ups:
Join us for tea and an audience with one of our in-house or visiting artists talking about their latest projects and career highlights.

Dance Group:
Perfect for dancers of any ability, this class is designed to enable attendees to explore different dance styles in a fun and supportive environment. Guaranteed to improve self-confidence, body strength, balance and general wellbeing.

Play Readers:
Come and explore the greatest plays ever written in our good-humoured and sociable group. We’ll be looking at famous scenes, examining the lives of characters and exploring how writers create moments of dramatic genius.

Creative Writing:
Explore the craft of writing for live performance in a friendly, supportive environment. Learn about story, structure, dialogue, character and style. No previous experience of writing is necessary just come along and have a go!

Schedule:

Thu 15 September 2022 – Meet Up – Creative Director Ryan McBryde & watch rehearsal of Lost Souls Club – Currently in workshop and being developed by Ryan. 
Thu 22 September 2022 – Dance
Thu 29 September 2022 – Playreaders – Good Luck, Studio – Mischief Theatre
Thu 6 October 2022 – Creative Writing – ‘Writing Farcical Theatre, Inspired by Good Luck, Studio – Mischief Theatre
Thu 13 October 2022 – Meet Up – Stage Make-Up & Q& A with Antony Stuart-Hicks
Thu 20 October 2022 – Dance
Thu 27 October 2022 – Playreaders – Crimes on Centre Court
Thu 3 November 2022 – Creative writing – Writing a Solo Show, inspired by ‘Destiny’
Thu 10 November 2022 – Meet-Up – Bring Back Chainmail writer Tom Campe & Director Ollie Harrington
Thu 17 November 2022 – Dance
Thu 24 November 2022 – Playreaders – Panto
Thu 1 December 2022 – Creative Writing – Writing your own panto
Thu 8 December 2022 – Meet-up – Social Club Christmas Party

Practitioners leading the sessions: 

Ollie Harrington – Playreading, Creative Writing and Meet-Up sessions 
Ollie is a theatre director from Colchester. A co-founder of locally based theatre company Found In Translation, Ollie was selected as a Mercury Director in 2021. Ollie has been delivering community projects for the Mercury since 2019 and currently leads the Meet Up, Play Readers and Creativity Writing sessions for Senior Social Club. Ollie enjoys exploring different genres and aspects of theatre through fun, accessible and (sometimes) thoughtful discussions & activities with the group. Ollie believes in encouraging everyone to explore their creativity, but always stresses the ‘social’ side of Social Club.

Sarah Shepherd – Dance Sessions
Sarah Shepherd A.I.S.T.D is a musical theatre diploma graduate of Laine Theatre Arts who has since gained 22 years experience as a performing arts practitioner specialising in dance. Sarah absolutely loves leading the Mercury Theatre Senior Social dance sessions and would love to welcome you to these low intensity, high spirited monthly get togethers where attendees are led through simple dance based warm up sequences, stretching and strengthening exercises and choreographed routines from popular musicals.

Accessibility
All of our activities are accessible and inclusive and you are able to inform us of any additional requirements you have when booking or by becoming a member of our Access for All scheme here.