Abstract
This article examines the role of actor training, based on the practices of Monika Pagneux and Philippe Gaulier, in the development of older people’s creativity, empowerment and agency, against a backdrop of societal and internalised ageism. Negative stereotypes of older age often depict vulnerability and decline. Older people may internalise these stereotypes and consequently reduce or limit what they do. However, writing about older artists, François Matarasso (2012, p. 70) contends that when an artist creates something that did not previously exist, she ‘makes an event that changes reality, however slightly and gains agency in her own existence’. The article is based on findings from a phenomenological study of 42 older people who participated in theatre-making workshops designed to give them a practical introduction to key elements of Gaulier and Pagneux’s work: Le Jeu (play), complicité (collaboration and rapport) and disponibilité (openness). The study found that a playful, collaborative and improvisatory approach to theatre-making encouraged participants to act and respond creatively, in the moment, without self-judgement. Participants described the work as being new and often taking them out of their comfort zone. At the same time, they reported experiences of greater self-confidence, freedom and empowerment, counteracting negative images of older age.
Published Version
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