Introduction

Heydays

Feeling Good Theatre Company

Community Network

Beautiful Octopus Club

First Floor

Heydays is our exciting project for people over 55 which is now entering its 18th successful year. It is an opportunity to take part in a diverse range of arts activities within a vibrant and friendly atmosphere, learning and socialising in an informal way.

Each term we offer a range of activities to suit all tastes; they range from performing arts to new media to topical and literary discussion groups. The selection of the activities are planned and selected by Nicky Taylor, Community Development Officer and the Heydays Advisory Group, who are all long-term members of Heydays.

Find out more about courses

How to join

To join call on 0113 213 7700 or drop by the Box Office at any point during the year; membership costs £22.50 and lasts one year from the day of purchase. All membership fees contribute directly to the running costs of Heydays.

Term dates
Summer: 16 April to 9 July 2008

heydays discounts

Heydays members can buy tickets at a discounted price of up to £2 off any ticket for all performances except on Saturday evenings. They also qualify for standby tickets which are available from Mondays to Saturday matinees and can be purchased on the day of the performance for half the full ticket price.

If you’re a senior citizen receiving Income Support, tickets for Thursday matinees are just £6 (bookable from one week before the performance).

Heydays members are entitled to a discount on certain items in the restaurant Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

To receive any of the above discounts, members must produce their
Heydays Membership card.

arts exchange

Groups of older people have been sharing their creative skills by taking part in the Playhouse’s new Arts Exchange project. Five groups from Leeds’ black and minority ethnic communities joined forces with members of Heydays - the Playhouse’s existing creative arts project for over 55s – to learn about new art forms and culture.

The groups involved – Amrit Day Centre, Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange, Roscoe Luncheon Club, Aasra Women’s Group at Ramgahria Sikh Centre and the Association of Blind Asians (all members of Leeds Older People’s Forum)– each took a turn in leading a session to share knowledge of an art form of their choice.

The aim of the project was to break down barriers and encourage understanding of other cultures. Participants were keen to find out more about the differences and similarities between the groups. During the ceramics session there was an overwhelming consensus that making clay or mud models had been part of this generation’s childhood, whether they grew up in Yorkshire or Punjab!

Representatives from Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange fascinated their fellow participants with tales of everyday life in their community. It was a unique chance for members to ask questions about people living differently to many in mainstream society.

The aim is now to encourage members of Arts Exchange to explore their creativity further by becoming regular attenders at Heydays. It is hoped that Arts Exchange, which was part funded by Leeds Community Chest, will become an annual event on the Playhouse calendar.

Feedback
They seemed mentally energised by the whole experience. I’m not sure what was different about it, but it worked!”
Stephanie Lewis of Roscoe Luncheon Club

“We’ve come into contact with people that we’d never normally meet. Now if we saw each other in town we’d all say ‘hello’.”
A participant

“If you don’t have the opportunity to interact, you won’t learn more English. Our members have really embraced this opportunity.”
Swapna McNeil of the Association of Blind Asians

“Our members didn’t just comment about what they did, they were so interested in what other people did. They were taken aback by how much they had in common with everyone else.
Stephanie Lewis of Roscoe Luncheon Club

"I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved through this project. We’ve formed lasting friendships, encouraged new enthusiasm for the arts and have made the Playhouse more accessible to a wider variety of communities."
Nicky Taylor, Community Development Officer, West Yorkshire Playhouse

other opportunities for people over 55

Feeling Good Theatre Company
5 years ago, a group of Heydays member founded the Feeling Good Theatre Company. The group’s overriding aim is to challenge the negative stereotyping that surrounds the older generation, instead presenting real and positive images of later life and retirement.

Find out more...

Organistions working with older people
The Experience Corps: www.experiencecorps.co.uk
Help the Aged: www.helptheaged.org.uk
The Byre Theatre, St Andrews: www.byretheatre.com
The Colisuem Theatre, Oldham: www.coliseum.org.uk
Leeds Older Peoples Forum: www.opforum.org.uk

If you wish to find out more about either of these projects please come along to the Playhouse on any Wednesday or contact Nicky Taylor on 0113 213 7296 or email: nicky.taylor@wyp.org.uk