THEATR Brycheiniog stages Ageing Creatively, a day of events and activities for older people, as part of the Gwanwyn 2016 Festival on Tuesday, May 17. The month long national festival held across Wales each May celebrates creativity in older age and the theatre has a programme in the main auditorium, the bar, the studio, the gallery and the green room.
The Alan Bennett film The Lady In The Van with Maggie Smith is screened in the auditorium as a ’breakfast movie’ at 11am. Pastries and coffee will be served. The 2015 British comedy-drama film directed by Nicholas Hynter and written by Alan Bennett stars Maggie Smith and Alex Jenkins as the bespectacled northern author. It tells the true story of Mary Shepherd, an elderly woman who lived in a dilapidated van on Bennett’s driveway in London for 15 years.
Felting genius Emma Bevan leads a wet felting workshop in the green room at 10.30am and a needle felting workshop at 12 noon.
For energetic participants Zoe Mathias runs a free zumba class at 1am in the studio. Participants with an artistic urge will want to get involved in the Remember Me: Big Draw event, led by Penny Allen and Becky Lewis. The live drawing event is an all day activity starting at 10am and held in the gallery, ultimately creating one huge communal drawing.
Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery will be on hand in the second floor gallery with reminiscence boxes, prompting memories. The Brecon Jazz Bar, as its name suggests hosts live music until 1.30pm with a live pianist. Conan Daly presents a free Magic Lantern Show in partnership with Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery from 2.30-3pm in the main auditorium.
Other events during the day, yet to confirmed, include a singing for seniors session in the afternoon and a mysterious ’finding your feet’ event. Possibly the most exciting event in the day of ageing creatively is the free Men In Sheds workshop in the green room run by Fred from Mens Sheds Cymru.
There’s full day of free and ticketed events to try out - maybe develop an existing skill, try something new or just turn up and meet new people. The festival’s aim is to offer opportunities for greater participation for older people
For more information call 01874 611622 of check the Gwanwyn website www.gwanwyn.org.uk.