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Written by: Wang Yuechen
2021-01-19 06:00
Last update date: 2021-01-19 06:00
"Every day shopping for vegetables, cooking and cleaning, life is the same. Sometimes people ask me what day of the week is today, but I can't remember it. It seems to be out of touch with society." This is what Chen Qiuyan said more than a year ago.
But now it's different. There are three days a week to rehearse. The schedule is dense, which makes her more energetic.
Full-time housewives step on the stage again to reconnect with society
Qiu Yan, 55, has been a full-time housewife for more than ten years. When she was young, she put down her beloved drama for work and family.
Recalling that when she was in her early twenties, she participated in an amateur theater troupe. She was totally involved: "Back then, I used to rehearse all night, and my mother still complained that she was like a "not a girl." But after becoming a mother, she had to bury her dreams. Watch a drama in 2016 to satisfy the drama addiction."
In 2020, Qiu Yan will play the role of Shaoxia in "Flying over the Home for the Elderly" curated by the "Long. Wisdom. Play" Elderly Drama Art Initiation Project
Qiu Yan's daughter has grown up in recent years, and she is also about to retire. Under the introduction of her friends in the drama circle, she participated in the "Long. Wisdom. Play" Elderly Drama Initiation Project founded by Arts' Options in 2019.
This program is designed to provide professional stage training for senior citizens aged 55 or above, hoping to improve their learning and creativity.
After more than ten months of drama training, Qiu Yan was incorporated into a tour group to perform in the community. In the play "Flying over the Home for the Elderly", she became Shaoxia. She was full of sweet words because of her coveting her father's wealth.
"The project is funded by Link's "Love Convergence Project". They also provide performance venues. I myself have performed in shopping malls such as Lok Fu Plaza and He Che Plaza. The most profound one was when a mother-in-law came backstage after the curtain call Scolded me, "You are not a good daughter!" Then she smiled and said, "You acted well." I am satisfied to be able to bring others entertainment and happiness, and I also feel connected with the reconstruction of society."
In 1990, Qiu Yan performed at the Hong Kong City Hall as an actor in the Tsuen Wan Youth Theatre Company
When many people reach middle age, they also start to feel melancholy about the long retirement life.
Qiuyan said: "I am also afraid that I will not be able to walk when I am old, but I must accept that people will grow old. The problem is how to live a wonderful life. For example, working with young people in a theater company, learn to let go of the dignity of the elders, communicate with them, and accept new things. To be happy."
Qiu Yan has just started exploring on the silver age line, but on the other side, 85-year-old Mo Jiqin has walked this runway for more than 20 years, and she has also acted "to live and learn."
Eighty-year-old Weng chasing acting dreams for professional and breakthrough
Uncle Qin, who lives alone, widowed his spouse 17 years ago. With the assistance of social workers, he got out of emotional depression. Since then, he has actively participated in various volunteer activities. From learning to sing and dance to teaching classes in community centers, he has rich experience in advertising and micro movies. , But he was unwilling to do so.
Uncle Qin learned about the "Long. Wisdom. Drama" project in the community center, which was led by the well-known senior stage worker Chen Guifen. He felt that he had finally found a way to make his acting skills more professional instead of just being in hobby classes.
Uncle Qin obtained the first year's graduation certificate from Chen Guifen, the founder of Arts' Options, and the administrative director of the "Long. Wisdom. Play" project
"Among the many trainings, the most difficult one is voice training. I have to practice with Cantonese vowels, combined with body movements and facial expressions. I have heard of the term apple muscle for the first time after so many years." Although Uncle Qin suffers from arthritis, Frozen shoulder, but it didn't stop him from continuing to practice.
He was later compiled in the theater version of "Flying over the Home for the Elderly" to play Qiu Guan, who is mainly singing.
"The unique thing about this plan is that the teachers will not lower your requirements just because you are old. This allows me to keep improving."
Uncle Qin has actively participated in community and volunteer activities over the past ten years and has rich experience in performing on stage and in front of the scene
Uncle Qin's open-mindedness comes from his life experience.
He was originally a liberal arts teacher. After returning to Hong Kong from the Mainland with his birth certificate in 1990, he was not recognized for his academic qualifications and worked as a messenger in the office to support his family, so many things have changed.
However, the knowledge of books has been deeply affecting him. He is convinced that Sun Yat-sen’s famous saying is suitable for the trend of the world and meets the needs of the crowd: "For example, science and technology are developing rapidly. If you don’t learn it, you have to rely on people at every turn, and I don’t want to Isolated. Hong Kong’s population is now seriously aging. In the drama, I play the role of the elderly, hoping to bring out the self-reliance and self-reliance of the elderly and have a positive effect on society."
The trainees of the first "Long. Wisdom. Play" were originally scheduled to perform "Flying over the Elderly Home" in theaters, but it was cancelled due to the epidemic, and the video performance was changed to be shown online
The goal is to establish Hong Kong's first professional elderly theater to help silver age people develop their second career
The "Long. Wisdom. Drama" Elderly Drama Art Instruction Program lasts for three years, with nearly 180 students enrolled in the first year.
Except for Qiu Yan and Uncle Qin, many students have no performance or stage experience.
Under the epidemic, a group of elderly people who are not familiar with computer technology must overcome difficulties and learn to take classes online.
According to the Arts' Options questionnaire survey, after completing 100 hours of drama training, most of the students consciously improved their self-esteem, interpersonal skills, memory, and even creativity compared to before participating in the program. This shows that professional drama training is beneficial to the elderly. Physical and mental health has a positive effect.
Many students of "Long. Wisdom. Drama" have improved in interpersonal skills and memory after participating in professional drama training.
The first trainees were originally scheduled to perform "Flying Over the Elderly Home" in a theater for the first time in December last year. Even though it was cancelled due to the epidemic, they still insisted on recording the performance and showing it online.
The current plan has recruited the second session of trainees, and some of the first trainees have also entered the second year of professional training, which includes elements such as troupe management and television performances.
The plan hopes to allow students to develop their interests into a second career and establish Hong Kong's first professional elderly theater.
Introduction of "Flying over the Home for the Elderly"
Performance clip: https://youtu.be/DoKjhltJNnU
Can money buy loyalty?
Boss Li, rich and powerful, once smashed shopping malls, but when he was old, he stayed in nursing homes, and he never had visitors!
Boss Li met all kinds of residents, some were rejected by his daughter-in-law, some were separated from his wife and children, and his unwilling friends decided to run away and vowed to fly over the nursing home!
The creative idea comes from "King Lear", one of Shakespeare's four tragedies.
The Hong Kong King Lear and his hospitality, are these four walls really going to fly over?
Can tragedy become comedy?
Screenwriter: Chen Lifen
Director: Chen Guifen
Producer/Associate Director: Bu Yunting
*Information and photos provided by the customer
Changzhi Opera Elderly Drama Art Instruction Project Love Gathering Project Drama feed