Pelham’s SAY IT! On Stage program receives $10,000 support

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2023
Pelham, ON – Pelham’s SAY IT! On Stage will perform this November with a new original community theatre production, "Roundabout Now," with a $10,000 grant from HelpAge Canada.

Funding SAY IT! On Stage, the grant provides youth and seniors the opportunity to strengthen connections while working on an original stage production. SAY IT! – which stands for Seniors and Youth Intergeneration Theatre, is designed to showcase the broad range of talents and passions individuals bring to the project: drama, music, dance, visual arts, crafts, and trades. The grant, together with in-kind donations from the Town of Pelham and countless hours from community volunteers, will fund this unique intergenerational process.

"HelpAge Canada is proud to support the Town of Pelham's SAY IT! 2023 Production with an Age Better Innovative Programming grant," said Nicole Perry, the Director of National Programs for HelpAge Canada. "We firmly believe in the value of intergenerational relationships to both older and younger people alike, and we are so excited to see the positive impacts of this program come to life on stage." 

Through intergenerational conversation circles, senior participants share anecdotes and life experiences, which become the foundation for creating an original stage play. The volunteers, both youth and senior participants, then share their talents as they work together to produce and perform the show for a live audience.

"The individuals working on this project are delighted to put our imaginations to work, producing a carnival-inspired stage play for the community to enjoy," said Colleen Kenyon, the creative lead for the project. "As the show develops, it is wonderful to see the relationships that have developed between participants and seniors in the community who have contributed bits of their life stories for us to weave into our performance." 

The carnival-inspired performance of “Roundabout Now” will be at the Meridan Community Centre in Fonthill on November 18 and 19 with a show at 3:00 p.m. each day. The show is free for the public to attend.

For more information about the project, visit www.pelham.ca/sayitonstage 

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Leah Letford, Communications Specialist | 905-980-6653 | lletford@pelham.ca