{"id":65684,"date":"2025-05-15T09:26:31","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T09:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/?p=65684"},"modified":"2025-05-15T12:28:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T12:28:57","slug":"event-tackling-unequal-aging-held-in-sheffield-city-centre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/05\/15\/event-tackling-unequal-aging-held-in-sheffield-city-centre\/","title":{"rendered":"Event tackling unequal ageing held in Sheffield City Centre\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An event highlighting the challenges that minority groups face in ageing was held as part of Sheffield’s Festival of Debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ethnicity and Unequal Ageing Project and The Festival of Debate collaborated to bring about the interactive seminar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event yesterday consisted of three performances from 40 racially minoritised older people based in Rotherham and Sheffield as well as a question and answer segment after the performances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group from Sheffield performed a musical piece called: \u201cThe Echoes of Time\u201d, while the group from Rotherham performed: \u201cStrangers no more\u201d, which consisted of two scenes and audience interaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pieces tackled themes of discrimination and alienation amongst elderly populations in South Yorkshire and were a product of 12-weeks of art-based workshops that were held by the Utopia theatre in Sheffield and Roar in Rotherham. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artist Lora Krasteva was also involved in the Rotherham production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Rashida Bibi, the research associate for the project said:  \u201cThe intention was thinking about how we can bring people together in terms of collectivizing stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was about bringing different groups together and finding the commonalities and differences in their experiences of growing older. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we got from the workshops was this amazing array of experiences, backgrounds, histories and also a real opportunity to co-produce and for people to learn from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Performers
“The Echoes of Time” Performance <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The research also consists of life history interviews and go-along interviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Bibi says that more attention needs to be placed on a person\u2019s subjective experience and background in elderly-care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne size fits all doesn\u2019t really work when providing services and opportunities for the elderly.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Q and A section of the event, questions were asked to performers about their experiences in rehearsal and what they gained from it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members of the audience and performers also gave their reflections on the issues surrounding old age and discrimination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several participants broached on the topic of interaction and connection between different age groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One participant from the audience felt that there was a \u201cdeliberate attempt\u201d to separate age-groups so that younger people interact less with elderly people. <\/p>\n\n\n

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A post shared by Utopia Theatre (@utopia_theatre)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n