| "The achievements of
this group have been enormous and unpredicted!
Indeed, the Mary Ward Over 60s Drama Group is
testament to the impact of education on people of
all ages and all stages of their lives. Mastery of text and
responding to direction might be the visible and
hoped for outcome of their endeavours. But below
the waterline and less noticeable lies the real
stuff of learning. The text for example would
have been impinged on or indeed written by the
participants, discovering long-dormant writing
skills in the process; group discussion would
have subjected texts to analysis and historical
contexts would have been shared to ensure
contextual understanding. Working towards
production would have given scope for other
creativity. Paintbrush, needle and hammer are
also tools of the over 60s thespian.
Learning
not only technical skills and facts but learning
how to work with others; to rebuild a confidence
eroded by feeling superfluous; to refind a
physical fitness lost when demands decreased;
finding fellowship, purpose and pride in shared
tasks and achievements. All this reaches a climax
in the performance when the group shares with
others - often a primary school, or a day centre
for the elderly - and in so doing demonstrates
that educationdoesn't have to be vocational or
certificated to be justified. Increasing the sum
total of human happiness and adding to the social
capital of society are justification enough"
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