Act Your Age: History I

Site Design: Rogan Brown

Webmaster: Philip Crouch

Historically, Act Your Age has enjoyed significant growth in its community theatre journey.

Beginning in 2006 a small theatre troupe was formed. In 2012 this non-profit organisation comprises totally of volunteers and continues to progress theatrically.

Following is a brief outline of the AYA journey from 2006 to the present.

2006 – Act Your (R)Age (AYRA)

In response to Clarence City Council’s (CCC) positive ageing community consultation process the Seniors Action Group Eastern Shore (SAGES) headed by Jennifer Line and Cecily Geilson formed a small theatre-in-the-round acting group. Included in the troupe were Jan Colville, Peter Stevenson and Philip Crouch.

Impromptu theatre-in-the-round was developed which reflected a central theme of “raising the voices of older persons” by applying a humorous narrative drawn from the CCC reports.

Professional theatre practitioners Leigh Tesch and Juliet Chapman provided theatre skills workshops for the players. This encouraged the growth and confidence of AYRA members. The same impromptu theatre format was used in a presentation provided for Kingborough Council community consultation report forums at Bruny Island and Woodbridge.

2008 – Act Your (R) Age, AYRA

With the exception of Philip Crouch all original players had found other interests and SAGES as a

community action group had completed its life. Formal rehearsals began at the 50 and Better Centre in Hobart, a Hobart City Council venue.

New players joined AYRA including David Beard, a former actor, playwright and producer. David was significantly instrumental in providing a more practical, structured and creative format in which performers at various levels of experience could best perform.

One of the original production characters was “Judy Teapot”. Under David’s direction the beginnings of a series of humorous, melodramatic one-act plays was developed which continued the theme of raising the voices of older persons. Hence the “Judy Teapot Reality TV Show” was born. Theatrically, this production format continued to be developed, although David had returned to NSW. In November 2010 the group decided creatively that “Judy Teapot” should be discarded, although improvised theatre remains an integral part of performance work in 2012.

2009-2010 – Act Your Age (AYA)

Act Your (R) Age dropped the (R) from its public performance name, a new website was also launched and a community newsletter distributed. Formal registration of the ABN was finalised. AYA also received a One Act Play festival Community Theatre Encouragement award. A generous donation from a Hobart businessman and a private citizen enabled the players to purchase black T-Shirts with a logo, along with three microphones, speaker and stands.