Spring Chickens are back by popular demand

Following last year’s ground-breaking Spring Chickens event, which featured five stunning shows performed simultaneously in Northern Ireland's five major theatres, watched live on the Internet by 3,312 people from 68 cities in 14 countries, the dynamic Spring Chickens casts are back with even more to say.

Taking place over five nights, this year the Spring Chickens Two shows are based on the theme of Utopia, as our older people embark on unlimited flights of imagination and present their visions of a perfect world.

Each local show, with their own professional director and crew will be written and designed by local older people, celebrating their creativity and imaginations. Once again the world will be watching as the shows are streamed live on the web, all as part of Age Awareness Week.

Big Telly Artistic Director, Zoe Seaton said: “Older people have such a unique contribution to make to society. This year's Age Awareness Week will help challenge negate views of older people, empowering them as valuable members of Society. Spring Chickens Two is a platform from which their voices can be heard. I have no doubt the performances will be entertaining and inspiring, opening our minds to the opportunities offered by an ageing society.”

Now in its third year, the Spring Chickens programme was born out of a desire to use the arts to give old people a voice, with the shows being the flagship event.

Through a series of workshops the participants have worked towards performances which are devised by them with the guidance of a professional director and crew. Portstewart-based theatre company Big Telly has embraced what many would view as an artistic challenge as they believe that engagement in the arts can make a lasting change to the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged older people, as it can give them a voice.

The Spring Chickens Two performance will take place on Tuesday, September 28 at the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine at 8pm. All tickets 5. Please note availability is limited.