About
Seniors' Acting Lab
ORIGINAL. RELEVANT. ACCESSIBLE.
We are a recognized group of all senior storytellers whose theatrical productions reflect, educate and challenge the status quo on seniors’ issues.
ABOUT US
We at Seniors Acting Lab wish to create original theatre that reflect’s what’s happening in our seniors community, These stories present issues that seniors and their caregivers should be talking about. We invite you into this unique world where the challenges are real and take their toll. While you are being entertained, we hope you leave the theatre with a greater insight and understanding of the issues confronting today’s seniors.
WHAT WE DO
We create original works written by and for the senior community. Our goals is to have 80% of the actors and backstage crew in our productions seniors.
Audience feedback and research direct our work. After the final performance of “ More than a Number,” which took a humorous look at Ageism, our talk back session gave us a list of issues our senior audiences believed should be examined. We have researched these issues and are currently in the process of producing our 4th play that focuses on them.
Seniors are underrepresented within the Calgary theatrical community. It is our desire to change that fact.
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
2011 was the year the first baby boomers turned 65. In 2014 170,000 Calgarians were 65 years of age or older, which comprised 10% of the population. These numbers are expected to rise significantly in the future.*
Senior stereotypes need to change. Today’s Senior’s have better health care, are more educated and are living longer. Their lives need to be filled with purpose, competence and supportive relationships. It is our desire to engage seniors in meaningful dialogue while helping to dispel myths long held about our capabilities.
Our Team
Louise Day - Director
Actor, playwright and producer born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1950. Day has cowritten 2 plays and written 3 independently, all of which she has self-produced locally. These include: See Me (Engineered Air Theatre,); More than a Number
(Tour of Calgary Library, Senior Homes and online); Signage (Film); A Pernicious Arrangement (Pumphouse Theatre) and her latest work, Bill C773 (Scheduled to be produced at Vertigo Studio, June 2023).
Day’s plays exhibit a strong social conscience focusing on the issues current for todays' seniors. The plays are designed to spark badly needed conversation about what’s happening in the seniors world. See Me begs the audience to acknowledge the invisibility that accompanies aging. More than a Number takes a humorous look at ageism. Both plays have underlying messages that senior stereotyping has to change.
Formerly Acting Coordinator for FLC Acting Club, Louise is now President of the Seniors Acting Lab Society, a theatrical group dedicated to creating original works written by and for the senior community. Their goal is have the actors and backstage crew 80% seniors and to pay them for their valuable skills.
She lives in Calgary with her partner Gary Bodeux to allow close proximity to her three awesome grand children.
Christopher Heatherington - Director
A woefully-underemployed professional copywriter, Christopher has spent decades creating and crafting messages for marketing communications organizations and agencies. After graduating from Art School back in the Stone Age (aka the 1970s), Christopher learned the craft of creating compelling and persuasive prose under the guidance and (very patient) mentorship of some of Canada's most brilliant Ad writers and Creative Directors. The 'creative revolution' in marketing, pioneered by the likes of Ogilvy and Bernbach owed much to the tradition of 'storytelling' and the recognition that what connects us all is our shared humanity and the common desire for love, acceptance, family and community. Our stories and
shared experiences are what define us and draw us together, whether they be a 30 second commercial or a two-hour stage play. At the very core of Seniors Acting Lab Society's mission and mandate is that which inextricably links us all; the Human heartbeat.
Anne Mulders - Director
Anne joined the Seniors Acting Lab Society as a Board Member in 2023. She has enjoyed learning and participating in the work, fun and creativity that goes on behind the scenes while bringing a script to life on stage. On a personal note, Anne has been acting on stage, in film, and in Murder Mystery Interactive Theatre, since 1993. When she is acting, Anne is in her happy place.
Tom Carver - Business Advisor
After retiring Carver has been involved in many aspects, both artistic and commercial, of live theatre in Calgary. Especially rewarding experiences have been his roles on stage in live performances with several senior’s theatre groups including Seniors Acting Lab Society. Carver has studied Acting Techniques, Playwriting, Voice, Improv and more, including his favourite, Shakespeare. After 40 years in the private sector theatre arts provide Carver the opportunity for personal expression as well as becoming a member of Calgary’s diverse artistic community. With a business background Carver also assists with the commercial Ins & Outs of a theatre production. When not studying, rehearsing, performing or adding columns of numbers - Carver enjoys history, travelling, cycling and Zen moments Alpine skiing.
