Please Act Out: Telok Blangah’s Community Theatre
Seniors in Telok Blangah are ageing actively through acting. More than just an activity to pass time, this community theatre helps seniors contribute back to the community.
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A Rojak Appetiser
A group of seniors stand in a circle, and they are doing something strange.
They are tossing rojak. In a theatre. Or at least, they are pretending to be. The instructor asks the next participant, “We’re making rojak today, and what is the next thing you want to add?”
“Mango…,” 81-year-old Mdm Audrey Chin begins, and she adds, “Green mango!”
“Okay, how do you want to prepare this mango?”
Mdm Chin mimes the action of chopping the mango, before tossing it in with a loud “Haiya!” to illustrate how tiring it was to dice the mango.
It’s the warmup activity for the community theatre classes at Goodlife Studio (Telok Blangah Towers), as the seniors prepare for their upcoming theatre performance in two weeks.
And Mdm Chin is getting right into the thick of things.
Living a Goodlife
Goodlife Studio (Telok Blangah Towers) started in November 2024. Each Goodlife Studio has a theme. In our previous issue we covered how the studio at Bukit Purmei offered spaces to learn and practice woodworking as a way for older men to find purpose and social connections.
Here in Telok Blangah, they decided to embark on the theme of community theatre, anchored by the belief that the theatre and the arts are not reserved for the affluent or educated, but something that could be enjoyed and experienced by all.
But when it first started, the seniors were not very keen. Acting? They were already so old, how could they act? How would they remember that many lines? But they were game to try.
Over the months, they tried over and over again, and eventually came to perform three skits for their friends and family. It was no mean feat. The Centre Lead, Ang Ying Xuan, remembers that one of the uncles used to be quiet and reserved. “But he later became more expressive over the months. Even after his stroke, he was willing to come back and try again.” It is certainly a testament to how one can rebuild one’s confidence in a supportive community.
Showtime in Telok Blangah
But make no mistake, it is hard work.
After the warmup, it is time for them to practise their play.
The seniors take their scripts, and bring the chairs to the side. They have their game faces on. They know it’s showtime.
The play starts with a quick introduction of who they are.
But in the fictional story written in the play, the mood suddenly turns.
The seniors are due to perform in a short while, but one of their members, Hilda, is missing! Half decide to start the show, to play for time, whilst the other half decide to go and find the missing Hilda.
Mdm Chin quickly brings out her cheeky self, as she introduces her friend, Mdm Safiah Bt Daud, who’d like to teach some dance moves. “Dance along!” She instructs, “Stop shooting!” She adds playfully.
As they practise, some forget their lines. It’s hard not to feel a pinch for them, as they pause mid-sentence, trying to remember what to say next, whilst coping with the pressure of having dozens of eyes on them.
The show must go on
The instructor reminds them,
“Make a show, don’t just recall the script. The show is live, the script is dead. Make a show!”
It’s a call to these seniors to improvise, and to think quickly on their feet. It’s not an exercise in memory, but an encouragement to be willing to get things wrong, improvise, and continue to improve.
It’s certainly a good metaphor for ageing. There is no ready formula for how to age well. Indeed, it can be a real challenge to deal with all the usual issues that come with age: getting tired more easily, having less mobility, struggling with memory and more. Every individual’s circumstance is unique and they each have to find their own way to make ageing work best for them.
Ah, you forgot…
But even within the difficulties of ageing well, it’s clear that this community has got some things working.
In the play, Mdm Mary Siow finally finds Hilda. She asks Hilda why she’s not coming. Hilda replies, “Ah, I don’t feel too well today.” The audience waits in anticipation, as it builds towards an emotional crescendo. Mdm Siow looks intently at Hilda, and pauses.
After three seconds, Hilda reminds Mdm Siow, “And you were supposed to say…”
Mdm Siow breaks out in a laugh, “Sorry, I forgot!”
“Okay let’s go back to that part.” The instructor gently guides them back.
Through the occasional bloopers, these seniors continue to help each other, guiding one another back to the right point. They are working together, recognising that no one is perfect, and that everyone is still learning, even at this age. More importantly, they are being open to each other’s learning process, rather than faulting each other for forgetting their lines.
Future-proofing services for our seniors
Indeed, what’s being done at Goodlife Studio is a desire to future-proof senior services, and to make it more relevant to the young seniors that are coming through. As Singapore’s young seniors are increasingly educated, what may traditionally have appealed to previous generations may not be as engaging. That is why Goodlife Studio has consistently tried to come up with more innovative senior services.
It’s a recognition that senior services such as the Active Ageing Centres are not just places for our seniors to occupy their time, but also a place where they can also contribute to the community in meaningful ways.
The theatre productions they put up for the community is one such example. It is no mean feat to see this happen, especially when it involves months of hard work and preparation, culminating in an hour’s show that the public watch, and through it, find a cathartic release of their own emotions.
For example, this production is not just about ageing, but also about what it means to have an identity, and dignity, even when one is no longer in the workforce.
That afternoon, as these seniors chopped mangoes for the rojak, wiggled their bottoms to the sound of upbeat music, and laughed at each other’s jokes, one realises that even in the twilight of life, there is still much levity to be found.
And it is a firm reminder that there is always light, if we dare look for it.
Want to join the community theatre? It’s open to those above 60, at 80B Telok Blangah Street 31, #01-115, Singapore 102080, from Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 5pm.
