Who Are Crooked Sixpence?

Crooked Sixpence have been in existence since 1999, working with senior citizens, the active-retired, over 50's and the elderly. They make dramas, play games, tell stories and have fun in relaxed and interesting workshops with all who attend.

Crooked Sixpence is Kate Connaughton and Sarah Kearney, who decided to go into this line of work after they graduated from Newbridge VTOS Theatre Studies. Between them they have over twenty years experience in theatre, working with different groups and companies, teaching and acting. They are trained in many aspects of theatre and facilitation, including NCVA Level 2 Awards in Theatre Performance; County Kildare VEC Certificate in Groupwork & Facilitations Skills; and Personal Development Training certificates. Since 1998 they have worked extensively around the country developing reminiscence theatre (particularly in holiday homes like Kerdiffstown House near Naas, and also in hospitals like Peamount in Dublin).

What is Reminiscence Theatre? Reminiscence is the natural process of recalling our lives and sharing our memories: appreciating the lives we have lived, sharing the experiences we have had, talking about yesterday, thinking about today and looking forward to tomorrow.

Reminiscence Theatre uses this material as the basis for drama games, role plays, gentle exercises in relaxation, improvisation and fun. During the many games and exercises participants are encouraged to express their creativity in a safe and light-hearted manner, drawing upon their memories and sharing their hopes and expectations for the future.

In many cases, participants will move on from here to explore how to deal with problems they may be encountering in their community and in their environment. Often, the work created is political in nature, in that it advocates a fairer society for all of those who live in it. With more active and able groups, the drama can move on to spirited public performances. During the Bealtaine Arts Festival in Newbridge, for example, there were two lunchtime shows which featured people telling us stories about their courting days, reading their favourite poems, showing the children of today the kind of games that were played long ago, and singing some songs from times gone by. These shows were very popular with the community.

Reminiscence Theatre is recognised globally as an invaluable method of helping our older generation to come to terms with the many changes and challenges in today's fast moving world. It is strongly developed in Britain and in the U.S. but so far, there are very few companies exploring it in Ireland. To our knowledge, there is a group in Bray, County Wicklow who perform similar work, and of course, the National Theatre Society is active in developing this area.

Crooked Sixpence is one of the first Irish groups specially dedicated to this area of theatre. Should anyone reading this know of other organisations in Ireland who do similar work we would be delighted to make contact and to share resources.

Typical Workshop Content

All workshops are tailored to suit the needs of a particular group. While the sessions can be enjoyed by people regardless of their mobility, if specific needs are expressed, the facilitators will meet with the group and design a programme which addresses those needs. Activities in a programme are influenced by the methods of Augusto Boal, the Brazilian theatre activist, and can include: games and exercises, miming, story-telling, writing, improvisation, rhythms and music, character creation, and performances if desired.

Contact Kate Connaughton on 045 879703 or Sarah Kearney on 045 879781. Alternatively, write to Kate at Alasty, An Chill, County Kildare, Ireland.

The Kildare Reminiscence Theatre Project 2001-2002

Kildare VEC's Community Education section has kindly decided to fund a project for 2001-2002. This project will consist of a weekly session in drama and creativity in the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge. It will involve gentle exercises in confidence boosting, storytelling, drama and role-play, making short scenarios based on memories, and performing some sketches and dramas for the public later in the year.

Sessions take place in Riverbank every Wednesday morning between 11am and 1pm. There is a café in Riverbank where participants can relax for lunch after the session if they wish.

Programme Content
Activities will involve the following:

• Gentle relaxation exercises which help to relieve stress and break down barriers caused by shyness or lack of confidence
  
  
• Issues which affect older people are explored by making up scenarios, sketches and role-plays
  
  
• Games and exercises are played which help train people to act, become confident on stage, and to express oneself
  
  
• Tales, memories and stories from our lives are shared
  
  
• Drama exercises like miming and creating characters are performed
  
  
• Rhythms and music are explored
  
  
• Plays are created based on our own experiences and memories
  
  
• Small plays and sketches which were written by older people are rehearsed and performed.

Two performances are staged-one on the last morning before Christmas (19th December 2001) for friends and family, and the other one in May 2002 during the Newbridge Bealtaine Arts Festival. You don't have to act or do anything you wouldn't like to do-there is also plenty of interesting work to be done getting ready for the performances (costumes, props, etc).

There is no fee for the project and everybody is welcome to come along. Spread the word!

Dates

The Reminiscence Theatre project begins on Wednesday 3rd October 2001 when anyone who is interested can come along and be registered for the year (If you are reading this and have missed the first session, don't worry - you can join at any time during the programme). Thereafter, all sessions will be on Wednesday mornings, finishing for Christmas on 19th December and resuming in mid January.