Christmas Through the Ages

CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES

EVALUATION

03 –14 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 2018 2018 1 HARLAN MANUEL PHOTO: 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 MANUEL PHOTOS:

CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 2018 2 In total Christmas Through the Ages welcomed 259 ‘Warm, festive, unique, primary school students and 121 audience 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, a very special performance’ The primary schools and community groups that took Teacher part were Snowsfields and Tower Bridge Primary 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 MANUEL PHOTO:

CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 2018 3 RESULTS

OUT OF THE 393 CHOIR AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS 71+29A 9+91A 20+80A 71% 9% 20% were Southwark were Lambeth were from other residents residents London boroughs

PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIRS

We engaged with nine different choir groups from 100+A seven primary schools: five were in the borough of 10 0 % rated the events as very Southwark, one in Lambeth good or excellent and and one in Lewisham wanted to be involved again in 2019

‘My choir ‘They thought club it was really absolutely fun and loved loved it. interacting 100+A They were with beaming members of afterwards’ the audience 10 0 % Teacher afterwards’ rated the organisation Teacher of the event and the communication between The Old Vic and their school as excellent

Ages of 10 – 11y r s 8–9 yrs children CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 2018 4 RESULTS

COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR THE OVER 60s ETHNICITY

We welcomed 134 community members from 12 different 67+33+A community groups, two local theatres and one over 60s 67% white background community choir

Four of these groups were from Lambeth, six were from Southwark, one each from Newham, Croydon, Kensington & Chelsea, Hackney and Camden. 20+80+A 20% AGES ‘Very good. black background People really enjoyed being 22% aged under 65 made to feel special and mixing with 36% aged 66–75 other people of 4+96+A different ages 24% aged 76–85 and backgrounds’ 4% Community Group Leader Asian background

13 % aged 86–95 4% aged 95–105 9+91+A 9% rather not say or unsure

EXPERIENCE 71+29A 100+A 100+A 100+A 71% 10 0 % 10 0 % 10 0 % had never been rated the event as of Community Groups voted most favourably to The Old Vic good or excellent wanted to be involved (yes very much) when before again in 2019 rating their enjoyment CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 2018 of the event 5 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 2 019 .

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 MANUEL PHOTOS:

CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE AGES 2018 6 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 [email protected] @oldvictheatre