A NEW acting troupe is touring Huddersfield showing how elderly people can fall victim to abuse.
The actors took part in 14 weeks of acting workshops at the Lawrence Batley Theatre to create the show.
They built up their acting skills using script, improvisation and audience participation.
Playing Safe is staging performances at community venues across Kirklees to raise awareness about the risks of abuse for vulnerable people.
The next performance is tomorrow at 10am at the Sunshine Centre – also known as Fieldhead Community Centre at Lowood Lane, Birstall, and then at 2pm in the function room in Dewsbury Sports Centre.
On Tuesday February 28, the play will be staged at Hoot, inside Bates Mill, Milford Street, near Huddersfield town centre at 10am.
Hoot is a creative arts charity which specialises in supporting vulnerable adults who may have experienced mental health problems.
On the afternoon of Tuesday February 28, at 1.30pm, the play will be in the lounge at Colne Valley Leisure Centre and the final one is on Tuesday, March 6, at The Hub, Riley Lane, Kirkburton.
The performances explore stories about the risks of abuse older people may face.
They aim to help people consider what they could do to prevent or deal with these challenges, while entertaining them with strong and, at times, funny drama.
Clr Molly Walton, Kirklees Council’s joint cabinet member for adult social care, said: “It is an enjoyable yet thought-provoking series of dramatised case studies which give the audience members an opportunity to actively participate in the debate.”
Sofi Lundgren, head of community engagement at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, said: “The tour doesn’t only offer people a fantastic opportunity to attend live performances in their community, but it also empowers people to consider what they could do to prevent some of the hard-hitting and challenging stories presented by the actors. It is a great way of raising awareness of some very important issues.”
The workshops and performances have been helped by York-based Risky Things Theatre Company and its director Cathy Denford.
The company has been running successful safeguarding schemes in Kirklees for some years including live drama and film/DVD projects.
The Playing Safe tour has been working with Kirklees Safeguarding Adults Board and has been funded by Kirklees Council Community Partnerships.
The Board is a partnership between Kirklees Council, NHS and the police.
Anyone who believes that they – or someone they know – is being abused should call Kirklees Council’s Gateway to care on 01484 414933 or for more information visit the website www.kirklees.gov.uk/safeguarding.
