Care Home Joins in New Project with the Chickenshed Theatre

Staff and residents at Barchester’s Southgate Beaumont care home in Southgate are taking part in a new project launched by The Chickenshed theatre. The Space Between Us was originally created as an intergenerational theatre project exploring the space between young and old. It has since developed into a creative and transformative programme derived from sharing stories, developing empathy amongst participants, while changing hearts and minds of their external community. The programme cultivates an environment where people, of all ages, can explore, celebrate and, in many cases, eliminate that space between us.

Music has been recognised as an effective way of engaging people including those with dementia.  Music evokes memories, it unites and connects people, no matter what their age, to a moment in time and brings joy both to those performing and those listening.

Rachel Yates and her team from The Space Between Us Programme have arranged monthly workshops at Southgate Beaumont with the opportunity for residents to attend The Glad Rags Secret Society event at The Chickenshed, where over 60+ are invited to “get glam” and enjoy an afternoon of live music. The first session at Southgate Beaumont visited the swinging 60’s – the music, the fashion and creating a 1960’s montage encouraged stories and music memories.

General Manager, Beatrice Godfrey said: “This project is such a brilliant idea, we’re so excited to be part of it.  Our residents love music and to interact with young people, it brings them so much joy.  Our residents especially love to hear live music, it gives them such a boost – we are delighted to be involved.”