Residents at Guildford care home take centre stage in Shakespeare production with local school

Queen Elizabeth Park, on Hallowes Close, linked up with Guildford Shakespeare Company and Weyfield Primary School with the aim of bridging generations through theatre and building stronger ties with the community.

Residents at the 77-bed home, which offers personalised residential, nursing, respite, dementia and end-of-life care, acted alongside the children to entertain their fellow residents, their loved ones and the home’s team members.

The home’s lifestyle coordinator, Jackie Avenell, said: “We really wanted to stage something unique for the residents, many of whom have a real love of theatre and knowledge of Shakespeare.

“There has been so much positivity around hosting this workshop and performance at our home and bringing the two generations together. They have so much to offer each other and we could really see how much the children and our residents gained and learnt from sharing the experience together.

“Everyone who took part and watched had a fantastic time and we hope to be able to continue working with the Guildford Shakespeare Company to stage more unique plays.”

The initiative came about when the Guildford Shakespeare Company contacted the home to see if they were interested in working together. The home has recently received a ‘Highly Commended’ at the Great British Care Awards for ‘Putting People First’ so it was no surprise that they were delighted to get involved.

Resident, Sonia Williams, is no stranger to performing having once shared the stage with wartime singing legend Dame Vera Lynn.

“I did try a talent show when I was 17 in our youth club,” Sonia remembers. “I volunteered to sing a song, but when I was on stage I lost my voice!

“But I had the opportunity to get up on stage with Vera Lynn when I was just 20 so it was great to be involved in performing again.”

Another resident, Janice Farmer added: “It’s a very good experience and the children are very sweet. The instructors are brilliant and they are very professional”.

The Weyfield Primary School team echoed the positive sentiments and highlighted the huge impact the performance had on the children involved.

“This opportunity has built the children’s confidence, they are enjoying the interaction with the residents and they love coming to see them,” a member of the team said.

“We had one child in the group who was extremely shy at the beginning of rehearsals and now you would think she is performing for the Oscars!

“This group is very good for everyone, they are building great relationships with the residents and bonding with them, it’s a nice little community.”

Shakespeare team member, Jemima Solway, added: “The aim is to reduce social isolation through intergenerational performance and theatre.

“This workshop has created the opportunity to break barriers down between different generations and it has enabled the residents and children to come together to produce a fun form of drama.”

Care home manager, Heather De-Ninis, concluded: “This collaboration is everything we are about at Queen Elizabeth Park, working with the community and offering a range of creative activities for our residents.

“The impact on both the residents and the children has been huge and seeing the children and residents working together to put this performance on has been really special.

“It was a wonderful production and it was amazing to collaborate with the Guildford Shakespeare Company and to open our doors up to our residents’ loved ones, the school children and their families and welcome them all into our home.”