Big Telly Spring Chickens

Engaging older people in theatre.

Spring Chickens is an innovative creative arts project which focuses on increasing creative expression

‘Spring Chickens’ is our pioneering older people’s programme, supporting older people to participate and engage in the theatre arts.
Our experience demonstrates there are both enormous personal and social benefits to be gained by older people by taking part in Big Telly’s ‘Spring Chickens’ programme.

Workshops:
- ‘Strengthening Voices’ - one off taster drama /storytelling workshop for new groups.
- Cultural Envoys – young people (16 + ) learn to communicate with immobile older people.
- Intergenerational – tailored drama workshops in the classroom or community venues.

Performance:
Spring Chickens - The Shows – Celebrating Ageing Artfully. Planned, written and performed by a cast of older people (60 + ), professionally directed and produced by Big Telly in performance venues and in a wide range of public locations throughout Northern Ireland.
Cameo Tour – Cameo tour of a Big Telly Theatre Company’s professional production to residential & care homes, sheltered housing accommodation, community & theatre venues.
The TOM Tour – Big Telly’s Theatre on the Move with professional actors supporting community groups and individuals, especially older men, to perform their own moment of theatre in towns, villages, schools, libraries, pubs, clubs or wherever they would like.

Leadership:
Golden Gangs – older people train as workshop leaders in primary schools.
Golden Gangs Business – employees (50 + ) train as volunteer workshop leaders.
Family fun days – older people in residential homes organise their own party for their family, friends and locals supported by students, Spring Boards and Big Telly.
Spring Boards - think tanks for older people helping us achieve their creative vision.
CPD (Continuing Professional Development) – experienced & emerging facilitators, or performing arts students, have the opportunity to shadow or observe Spring Chickens.


"The Spring Chickens Programme has been a very successful one. It has managed to achieve two quite distinct objectives. . . bringing interest and quality to the lives of older people, particularly isolated older people, and raising awareness about society’s often misguided perceptions about older people, and their role. ”
External Evaluation Report, Spring Chickens Programme ’07 – ’09.