Live Age Festival 2019

The North Midlands LGBT Older People’s Group has been involved with the Live Festival Age Festival since it began in 2014. This year’s festival appeared to be on a somewhat smaller scale than in previous years…but perhaps for that very reason it seemed to have engaged more effectively with local people and community groups.

Perhaps the highlight for many was the production by Ages & Stages Theatre Group of a specially created piece working with professional theatre director Bryn Holding at the New Vic Theatre. Grandchildren of one of Ages & Stages oldest members said this was their best show ever…and they had seen everyone of them. If you missed the performance, there is another chance to see it restaged at the Mitchell Arts Centre on Monday 4 November.
 

Take Pride in Ageing Conference 2019

Maurice Greenham gave the opening keynote speech at this year’s conference at Chester Town Hall. He spoke openly as a gay man proudly ageing with HIV. He took the opportunity to praise the actions of Gareth Thomas and Johnathan Van Ness for coming out as HIV positive people with the aim of erradicating stigma. Maurice may lack the public profile of these celebrities, but he can justly claim to have been publicly fighting HIV stigma and discrimination for much longer. This was the third Take Pride in Ageing Conference organised by Body Positive Cheshire & North Wales.

  

The FRONTLINE Arts Festival is a pioneering project that features an inclusive programme of professional, high-quality, artistic work created by disabled people, which includes three arts commissions, performances, installations, inclusive workshops, talks, and discussions.

Members of our group have participated in some of the workshops as well as attending performances like Rockbottom…a challenging piece of dance theatre about a young gay man’s battle with mental health issues arising from Chemsex. Click here for more about FRONTLINEdance
 

Newcastle Operatic Society’s production of Oklahoma at Stoke Rep Theatre provided a wonderful night out for group members and friends. It was a pity we never got to see the live orchestra hidden away back stage…but no matter, the singing, dancing, settings and lighting were some of the best we have seen at the Rep. Excellent production.

October Meeting

We were back at Hanley Community Fire Station with a good turn out for our guest speakers from Royal Stoke Hospital bowel cancer screening team. Angela and her colleague gave a most informative and interesting presentation of recent development in the screening programme. We have lots of printed information for anyone interested. There is a new more efficient test available …You can call thre freephone helpine for advice on 0800 707 60 60

It was a pleasure to see a new face at the meeting, and even better to find it is someone who wants to become a regular member.    

Although the group’s new Canon Selphy photo printer failed to read from USB folders..at the meeting. We since have proof that it does work from camera cards and produces first rate prints.