This article is from page 37 of the 2008-05-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 37 JPG
YOUNG and old joined together for a one off production of Brian Friel’s celebrated play Philadelphia Here I Come, in St Flannan’s College last Thursday.
The production is a collaborative effort between local senior citizens and transition year students tak- ing part in the Living Scenes pro- eau baebeslen
Developed by the National Uni- versity of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) Living Scenes concerns intergenera- tional learning.
NUIG Living Scenes co-coordi- nator Mary Surlis, who developed
the concept, approached local ac- tive retirement organisations such as Probus and the Active Retirement Association to invite members to participate.
It brings together young and old to work in a school-based setting where they collaborate on various activity- based projects.
This is the third year that students from St Flannans have participated in the programme.
In all, six centres of learning in the west of Ireland have taken up the project. Feedback, from students and teachers alike, has been very posi- tive.
Living Scenes seeks to promote
and cultivate the enriching relation- ship that has been established in the course of the project’s six-year his- coats
The objectives are to discover common links between “perceived” diverse generations, to foster and promote mutual respect, and to em- power both groups through consul- tation to actively participate in the development of the curriculum.
The programme sets out to break down the perceived barriers that ex- ist between the generations.
Philadelphia, here I come, which in part examines the contrast between youth and old age, was the ideal project for the Living Scenes group.
Teacher Gary Shannon, one of those involved in the project, said the experience of staging the play has been greatly enjoyable for all.
He said, “It’s a great experience for both age groups and an interest- ing spectacle for the audience to see them acting side-by-side”.
Thursday night’s event also in- cluded an exhibition of papier mache sculptures of chairs made by the group during the first term of the project.
This year’s programme at St Flan- nans follows the success of last year when participants staged a Christmas concert and took part in workshops in creative writing and poetry.