Karori seniors serving DRAMA

On Tuesdays at 10am till 11:30, a small group gathers in the Karori Community Centre. They’re there to do what lots of us haven’t done since we were at school: play.

Karori Seniors Social Drama Class

Theatre pro Jacqueline (Jacqui) Coats is the teacher, director, guide and guru. With Jacqui, the group is in safe, professional hands.

There are no lines to learn, no stages to stand on and definitely no audiences. Instead, this class aims to build your confidence as a story-teller, supporting you to share your stories in your voice.

We’re delighted to provide sponsorship to help keep the classes running sustainably and at a low cost for participants. Just $8 per class, including a cuppa.

The classes began under the umbrella of Voice Arts Trust. Although the Trust has since closed, the classes continue. Hear more about the benefits of the classes in this episode of Standing Room Only back in 2021.

Okay but what’s that got to do with funerals?

Well, two things really.

One is that we love to see people living well. The funeral director’s motto (or mine, at least) is: you’ve got to live while you’re alive. Like one KSSD player says: life’s too short not to have fun!

The other thing is that I’m an improv nerd myself. Improv has been central to many of the fundamental positives in my life. When I first moved to Wellington, I needed to meet new people and make new friends, and signing up for evening classes seemed like the thing to do. (It sounds so analogue now! This was only 16 years ago.) I’d done some improv in high school and enjoyed it, so when I saw the “Introduction to improv” classes offered by WIT (Wellington Improv Troupe) at the Community Education Centre, I polished up my social anxiety and enrolled.

Out of that first nervous evening, I met my partner, formed a group of vital friends (my “emotional zorb”, as I refer to them) and found a creative channel that lights me up and lets me fly.

The emotional zorb and I perform truth-based spontaneous theatre as Best on Tap. Rather than Whose Line Is It Anyway-style games (which are also great!), we aim to provide a theatre experience that’s more like a play. Except we’re all discovering together what will happen next.

The thrill of performing like this is second to none. When we’re “in the pocket” (as my jazz muso partner would say), it’s like magic. We create something exciting, unique and fleeting, born of our connection with each other on stage. It’s like life: spontaneous, surprising, delightful, moving, energising, bonding, rewarding.

I want to share that feeling with as many people as I can!

Grey hair, grey matter

Remember when you’d get let out for playtime at primary school and the whole playground would be vibrating with energy? There would be running and jumping and panting and hilarity which didn’t feel like exercise because it was so much fun. My teacher friends would remind me that as well as physical and social development, this kind of play is key to mental development as well. We learn through play.

As the years roll by, many of us find that there isn’t time for silly fun any more. It’s all too often disapproved of. Or there isn’t time, space or energy spare after family and work commitments. We have to grow up at some point.

Through play, with a good team and a good teacher, you can still feel that playground energy. And in retirement there’s an opportunity to choose to have silly fun again.

More than that – it’s practically mandated by your GP. International (and local) research shows that engagement in the arts can slow the biological aging process and contributes to healthy aging (read more here on Arts Access Aotearoa).

The Karori Seniors’ Social Drama classes use improv games along with other drama and storytelling techniques that are proven to be particularly beneficial to people in their third age.

We gently stretch the grey matter and keep the mind active and creative.
Our classes are full of play, laughter, and connection.

There’s nothing to be scared of

They say that some people fear public speaking more than death. With this class you can rest assured that there’s no pressure. It’s about having fun, not putting anyone on the spot or in the spotlight.

Tell your Mum

Hold on a blimmin minute, Mary, why do you say “tell Mum?” What about my Uncle Harold?

Well, the crowd in a retirement community tends to be female-heavy. Women generally live longer than men, and it’s also usually women who are more inclined to get involved in social activities. So the people who’re likely to have a go on a social drama class are possibly more likely to be women.

That said, it’s also often older men who’d benefit most from this kind of activity. And, happily, some men buck the trend. I wish more would. There are blokes in the Karori class, and I’m sure they’d love to welcome some more.

If you’ve got a Mum, an Uncle, friend, relative, neighbour or anyone – if they’re in older age and fair proximity, do tell them about the Karori Senior Social Drama classes. I’ve told mine.