CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES

[Pages:7]CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES

PHOTO: MANUEL HARLAN

EVALUATION

03?14 DECEMBER 2018

CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 20181

INTRODUCTION

`What a great place to bring two generations together at Christmas time' Community Choir Member

In response to increased reports of loneliness and isolation within elder community members and a need for local primary schools to find a performance space, The Old Vic developed a project that utilised the theatre's foyer space to create a series of carol concerts delivered by local primary schools to community groups for the over 60s in London.

Running from 03 December through to 14 December, Christmas Through the Ages organised nine carol concerts by seven local primary school choirs, one 60+ community group choir and welcomed audience members from 12 community groups for the over 60s as well as opening up to the local community and friends of the theatre.

Teachers were also given the option of a Musical Director to assist them with their performance who then led the choir and audience members in a group sing-a-long to finish off the morning. The Old Vic provided free tea, coffee, mince pies and biscuits as well as some festive Christmas hats and carol song sheets for everyone to participate.

PHOTOS: MANUEL HARLAN

CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 20182

In total Christmas Through the Ages welcomed 259 `Warm, festive, unique,

primary school students and121audience members welcoming, easy to participate,

from local community groups. In addition to this we

intergenerational. Up our street'

invited participants from other Education & Community Community Group Leader

programmes, Old Vic staff and colleagues from The

Young Vic and The Donmar Warehouse. London Live `They felt very special, nervous

also ran a segment about the project on their television and exhilarated. Loved being

channel.

inside a theatre to do the singing,

The primary schools and community groups that took part were Snowsfields and Tower Bridge Primary

a very special performance' Teacher

Schools from The Bridges Federation, John Ruskin

Primary, Kender Primary School, Lyndhurst Primary

School, St James' Primary School Bermondsey, Walnut

Tree Walk Primary School, Age UK Lambeth, Coin

Street, HESTIA, LinkAge, Oasis Supported Living,

Second Half Foundation, Southwark Carers, St Mary's

Garden, The Nightingales Choir from Blackfriars

Settlement, Thornton Heath Community Action, Time

and Talents, Up Your Street and Waterloo Action

Centre.

PHOTO: MANUEL HARLAN

CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 20183

RESULTS

OUT OF THE 393 CHOIR AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS

71+29A

71%

were Southwark residents

9+91A

9%

were Lambeth residents

20+80A

20%

were from other London boroughs

PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIRS

We engaged with nine different choir groups from seven primary schools: five were in the borough of Southwark, one in Lambeth and one in Lewisham

`My choir club absolutely loved it. They were beaming afterwards' Teacher

`They thought it was really fun and loved interacting with members of the audience afterwards' Teacher

100+A

100%

rated the events as very good or excellent and wanted to be involved again in 2019

100+A

100%

rated the organisation of the event and the communication between The Old Vic and their school as excellent

Ages of ch ildren

10 ?11y rs

8?9 yrs

CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 20184

RESULTS

COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR THE OVER 60s

We welcomed 134 community members from 12 different community groups, two local theatres and one over 60s community choir

Four of these groups were from Lambeth, six were from Southwark, one each from Newham, Croydon, Kensington & Chelsea, Hackney and Camden.

AGES

22% aged under 65 36% aged 66?75 24% aged 76?85

13% aged 86?95

4% aged 95?105

`Very good. People really enjoyed being made to feel special and mixing with other people of different ages and backgrounds' Community Group Leader

ETHNICITY

673+A

67%

white background

2080+A

20%

black background

496+A

4%

Asian background

991+A

9%

rather not say or unsure

EXPERIENCE

71+29A 100+A 100+A 100+A

71%

had never been to The Old Vic before

100% 100% 100%

rated the event as

of Community Groups

voted most favourably

good or excellent

wanted to be involved

(yes very much) when

again in 2019

rating their enjoyment

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RECOMMENDATIONS

To create more opportunities for the primary school students and community group members to interact, we will create intergenerational choirs that will rehearse at least twice prior to performing in the foyer of The Old Vic. We will recruit 12 primary school groups and 12 over 60s community groups and match them based on location for ease of access. We will provide a Musical Director who will be present at both rehearsals as well as a project manager for any additional support. This will create 12 intergenerational choirs who will perform a carol concert in the foyer of The Old Vic in December 2019.

We will spend time throughout 2019 developing our audience ahead of the carol concerts through community engagements in the local area and new programmes such as Matinee Idols. We will also involve the Marketing team to promote and sell free tickets to ensure a full audience at each concert.

We will continue to work with people aged 60+ from a range of organisations and develop an access fund to support organisations and individuals with travel to the theatre ensuring that the project is engaging with those who would benefit most.

PHOTOS: MANUEL HARLAN

CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 20186

Education & Community Education & Community Director Hannah Fosker* Education Manager Euan Borland* Young Person's Programme Manager Naomi Lawson* Education & Community Coordinator Kate Lawrence-Lunniss* Project Manager Monique Odoom-Simpson Daisy Dockrill Musical Director Joseph Hancock Dylan Townley Photography Manuel Harlan

*The Old Vic staff

Old Vic Education & Community The Old Vic The Cut London SE1 8NB

E education@ @oldvictheatre

? The Old Vic, 2019

All information is correct at the

time of going to press, but may

be su bject to change

CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 20187

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